Glossary

Below, a list of terms commonly used in relation to general environmental remediation efforts that can be found throughout this Web site.

Aquifer — An underground layer of rock, sand, silt or clay that contains water. Aquifers are sources of groundwater for wells and springs.

Consent Order — A legally enforceable agreement between the Federal Department of Environmental Protection and a company requiring the company to participate in the investigation or clean-up of a contaminated site.

Groundwater — Water beneath the earth's surface, consisting largely of surface water that has seeped down often between saturated soil and rock, supplying wells and springs.

Parts per Billion (ppb) — A measurement expression used to describe the concentration of a substance in air, water or soil. In water, one part per billion is roughly equal to one half teaspoon of water in an Olympic-sized pool (660,000 gallons).

Plume — A body of contaminated groundwater moving away from its source. The movement of the groundwater is influenced by such factors as local groundwater flow patterns, the character of the aquifer in which the groundwater is contained and the thickness of contaminants.

Remediation — Also known as cleanup, remediation is taking action to reduce, isolate or remove contamination from an environment with the goal of preventing exposure to people or animals.

Trichloroethene (Trichloroethylene, TCE) — A nonflammable, colorless liquid with a slightly sweet odor that can be found in air, soil and water. It has been used as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts and in household and consumer products such as typewriter correction fluid, paint removers, adhesives and spot removers.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) — A group of chemicals that evaporate at room temperature into the atmosphere. They often have a sharp smell and can come from many products such as office equipment, adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, paints, solvents and cleaning products.

1, 4-Dioxane — A clear, flammable liquid mainly used as an industrial solvent during a variety of manufacturing processes including electronics, metal finishing, fabric cleaning, pharmaceuticals, herbicides, pesticides, antifreeze, paper, etc. It is also found in household products such as detergents, shampoos, body lotions, dishwashing soap and cosmetics.