Impact Area Groundwater Study Program

Glossary

Combined glossary and acronym list for the Impact Area Groundwater Study Program

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Above ground storage tank	A tank that is located on or above the ground surface, usually used to store fuels or chemicals
ACO	Administrative Consent Order
Adsorb	To attach by physical or chemical attraction
AEC	Army Environmental Command The office within the U.S. Army that integrates, coordinates and oversees implementation of the Army's environmental programs for the Army Staff
AEHA	Army Environmental Hygiene Agency The former name of the Army's Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (CHPPM)
AF	Air Force
AFB	Air Force Base
AFCEE	Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment An Air Force organization, headquartered in San Antonio, TX that directs environmental work at military installations throughout the country; at the Massachusetts Military Reservation, AFCEE manages the Installation Restoration Program at Otis Air National Guard Base.
ANG	Air National Guard
ANGB	Air National Guard Base
AO	Administrative Order A legally binding document issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) if it believes a drinking water source is threatened. It requires the drinking water source to be protected. At Camp Edwards, the EPA issued a directive under the Safe Drinking Water Act that required the National Guard to investigate and cleanup the Impact Area and training ranges.
AOC	Area of contamination, or area of concern A specific location where possible or actual contamination exists
APC	Armored Personnel Carrier
Aquifer	An underground water source
AR	Administrative Record A collection of documents generated during the investigation of a site that form the basis for selection of a remedial action and are placed in a central location for public review; the documents include environmental investigation reports, proposed work plans, proposed cleanup methods, etc.
ARARs	Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements Federal and/or state laws and regulations that must be met during the cleanup process
Army Environmental Hygiene Agency	The former name of the Army's Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (CHPPM)
ARNG	Army Reserve National Guard
ASCC	Air Station Cape Cod
ASP	Ammunition Supply Point A secure area where ammunition used for training purposes is stored
Asphalt batching	A state-approved method to clean low-level contaminated soil by mixing it with paving material; the final product is used as a base for paving roads, parking lots, etc.
ASR	Archive Search Report A confidential interview process used to gather and evaluate information on past environmental practices
ASVE	Air sparging and soil vapor extraction A mechanical process that cleans contamination from both soil and shallow groundwater
AT	Abandoned Tank
ATSDR	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Attenuation	see natural attenuation
AVGAS	Aviation Gasoline A petroleum mixture used as aircraft fuel that is more stable than motor gasoline; it typically contains lead
Axial	Aligned with the direction of groundwater flow

B

Background levels	A background level is the concentration of a hazardous substance that represents the level of the substance in an undisturbed environmental setting at or near the site. It can be used to evaluate whether or not a release from the site has occurred.
BEHA	Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment (Massachusetts Department of Public Health)
Benzene	A colorless component of fuels
bgs	Below ground surface
Biodegradation	The natural process that breaks contaminants down in the environment into non or less-harmful by-products
BIP	Blow In Place
Bivouac	Training exercise or camp area
BMP	Best Management Practice
BOMARC	Boeing Michigan Aeronautical Research Center The former Air Force missile facility at Otis that was closed in the early 1970's
BTEX	Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl benzene, Xylene A group of compounds that are commonly found together in products such as gasoline
BWSC	Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup The office within the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection that oversees the investigation and cleanup of hazardous waste sites

C

CAA	Clean Air Act
CCl₄	Carbon tetrachloride A chlorinated compound generally used in the past as a solvent
CDC (1)	Centers for Disease Control
CDC (2)	Contained Detonation Chamber A chamber used to safely blow up unexploded ordnance or munitions in an environmentally friendly way
CERCLA	Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act A law, commonly known as Superfund, that authorizes the federal government to respond directly to releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment
CG	Coast Guard
Chemical stabilization	A reduction in the ability of a contaminant to move in the soil or groundwater caused by chemical processes
Chloroform (Also called trichloromethane)	A colorless liquid, which has been found in many groundwater locations, both on and off the Massachusetts Military Reservation
CHPPM	Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (U.S. Army) An office within the U.S. Army whose mission is to implement preventive medicine, public health, and health promotion/wellness services
CI	Community Involvement
cis-1,2 DCE	cis-1,2, Dichloroethene
CLAMS	Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing
Cleanup	Actions taken to remove contaminants from the environment
Cleanup alternative	See "remedial alternative"
COC	Contaminant Of Concern, Chemical Of Concern
CPEDW	Camp Edwards
CS	Chemical Spill
CWA	Clean Water Act
cy	Cubic Yard
CY	Coal Yard

D

DCE	Dichloroethylene
DCM	Decision Criteria Matrix A decision-making tool used to include the community and affected neighborhoods as full partners, along with the military and environmental regulators, in comparing and evaluating alternatives for groundwater cleanup
DD	Decision Document A document that outlines the rationale and public comment early in the investigation stage leading to the decision that a "remedial investigation/feasibility study" is not required
DDE	Dichlorodiephenyl Dichlorethylene
DDESB	Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board
DDOU	Drum Disposal Operable Unit
DD/RS	Decision Document and Responsiveness Summary
DEIR	Draft Environmental Impact Report
DEIS	Draft Environmental Impact Statement
DEM	Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management
DERA	Defense Environmental Restoration Account
DERP	Defense Environmental Restoration Program
DFWELE	Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Environmental Law Enforcement
DNAPL	Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid A group of chemicals containing chlorine compounds that are denser than water and dissolve only slightly; when introduced into the environment, they tend to accumulate as a separate layer below the water table and serve as a long-term source of groundwater contamination
DNT	Dinitrotoluene
DO	Dissolved Oxygen A measure of the amount of oxygen that is dissolved in surface water or groundwater
DoD	U.S. Department of Defense
DOE	U.S. Department of Energy
Downgradient	The area toward which groundwater flows
DPA	Diphenylamine
DPH	Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Drawdown	Lowering of the groundwater level caused by pumping a well
Drum Disposal Operable Unit	A clearing in a wooded area near the Massachusetts Military Reservation's old wastewater treatment plant where 11 abandoned storage drums were discovered on the ground surface
DSRP	Drainage Structure Removal Program
DU	Depleted uranium A very dense metal by-product of the uranium enrichment process that is 40 percent less radioactive than naturally occurring uranium; it is commonly used in armor piercing projectiles fired from weapons, as well as in ballast for the keels of sailboats and counterweights for aircraft
DUSD	Deputy Under Secretary of Defense

E

EA	Environmental Assessment An assessment of the likelihood of impacts from alternative courses of action. This assessment is a requirement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
EBS	Environmental Baseline Survey
EDB	Ethylene Dibromide An additive in aviation gas used to control the buildup of lead in engines
EE/CA	Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis An evaluation of the costs of implementing an environmental regulation versus the overall benefits to society of the proposed action
EIR	Environmental Impact Report
EIS	Environmental Impact Statement
Emergency removal action	An action that is taken to immediately clean up a hazardous material spill or other source of contamination
EO	Executive Order
EOD	Explosive Ordnance Disposal
EOEEA	Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
EPA	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPS	Environmental Performance Standards
E&RC	Environmental and Readiness Center
ESD	Explanation of Significant Differences
ETI	Extraction, Treatment, and Infiltration A system that extracts groundwater, treats it to remove contaminants, and returns the treated water to the aquifer
ETR	Extraction, treatment, and reinjection A system that takes groundwater out of the ground, treats it to reduce or remove contaminants, and reinjects the treated water back into the ground
Exposure pathway	The route by which a human, for example, may come into contact with a contaminant (e.g. drinking the groundwater)
EW	Extraction well A well where water is pumped out of the ground to treat the water, and to redirect groundwater movement

F

FAR	Federal Acquisition Regulation
FEIR	Final Environmental Impact Report
FEIS	Final Environmental Impact Statement
Fence	A series of wells aligned in a row, usually at right angles to the direction of groundwater flow
FFA	Federal Facility Agreement An agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and individual federal facilities (such as the Massachusetts Military Reservation) that establishes a legal framework for investigating and cleaning up Superfund sites
FFCA	Federal Facilities Compliance Act
FOIA	Freedom of Information Act
FS	Feasibility Study A report that identifies and evaluates potential cleanup alternatives
FUDS	Formerly Used Defense Site
FY	Fiscal Year

G

GAC	Granular Activated Carbon
GC	Gas Chromatograph
GC/MS	Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
GIS	Geographic Information System
G&M	Gun and Mortar
GP	Gun Position
gpm	Gallons Per Minute
GPS	Global Positioning System
Groundwater	The supply of fresh water found beneath the earth's surface

H

Hazardous waste	A waste material that may pose a threat to human health or the environment
HAZWRAP	Hazardous Waste Remedial Actions Program
HE	High Explosive
HMX	High Melting Explosive; Her Majesty's Explosive
Hot spot	Within a body of contaminated groundwater (plume), an area that has higher concentrations
HQ	Headquarters
HRS	Hazard Ranking System
HTW	Hazardous and Toxic Waste
HUTA	High-use Target Area
Hydraulic control	Controlling the flow of a groundwater plume by pumping or injection of the aquifer
Hydrocarbon	An organic (carbon containing) compound composed of hydrogen and carbon
Hydrology	The science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water

I

IAGWSP	Impact Area Groundwater Study Program
IART	Impact Area Review Team; this team has evolved to become part of MMRCT
Impact Area	The training location where artillery and mortar targets were placed and fired at (Camp Edwards has a 5,000 acre impact area)
Infiltration gallery	A shallow subsurface structure into which treated groundwater is discharged so that it can re-enter the aquifer
Information repository	A collection of information that contains important facts relating to the cleanup of a Superfund site; it can include items such as technical reports and documents, maps, information out for public comment, and general program information
Inorganic	A chemical that does not contain carbon
Institutional controls	Enforceable restrictions placed on land that reduce or eliminate exposures such as fencing, deed restrictions, covenants, or land use restrictions
IRA	Immediate Response Action
IRP	Installation Restoration Program The U.S. Department of Defense program used at U.S. military bases to identify, investigate, and clean up contamination resulting from past operations; an IRP is located at Otis Air National Guard Base on the Massachusetts Military Reservation.

J

J Ranges	A series of three former training ranges at the Massachusetts Military Reservation
JBT	J. Braden Thompson
JP-4	A type of jet propellant, used extensively in the past that contains both gasoline and kerosene

K

Kilogram

L

L	Liter
LEL	Lower Explosive Limit
LNAPL	Low Density Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid
Lobe	A separate portion of a main body of a groundwater plume
LOCID	Location Identification A unique identifier assigned to a specific point (location) where measurements or samples are taken
LRWS	Long Range Water Supply
LSP	Licensed Site Professional An environmental professional licensed by the State of Massachusetts to manage the investigation and cleanup of hazardous waste sites; LSPs can be used in place of Department of Environmental Protection personnel at all but the most contaminated of sites in Massachusetts
LTM	Long-Term Monitoring
LTO	Long-Term Operation
LUC	Land Use Control
Lysimeter	A device for measuring the percolation of water through soils and for determining the soluble constituents removed in the drainage

M

MAARNG	Massachusetts Army Reserve National Guard
MassDEP MA DEP	Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
MANHESP	Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
MEPA	Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act The set of state regulations passed in 1977 that requires that, for every action that may have an impact on the environment, at least three alternatives be considered, one of which must be "no action"
MCL	Maximum Contaminant Level The maximum concentration of a given contaminant allowed in drinking water
mcg	Microgram (one one-millionth of a gram)
MCP	Massachusetts Contingency Plan The state laws and regulations that govern the investigation and cleanup of oil and hazardous materials
MD/RRD	Munitions Debris/Range-Related Debris
MEC	Munitions and Explosives of Concern
MEK	Methyl Ethyl Ketone
MDFW	Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
MDL	Method detection limit The lowest level to which a compound can be detected using testing equipment
MDPH	Massachusetts Department of Public Health
mg	Milligram (one one-thousandth of a gram)
MGD	Million Gallons Per Day
Migration	The movement of groundwater and contaminants through an aquifer
Mitigation	Measures taken to reduce negative impacts on the environment
MMR	Massachusetts Military Reservation
MMRCT	Massachusetts Military Reservation Cleanup Team
MNA	Monitored Natural Attenuation. See "Natural Attenuation"
MOA	Memorandum of Agreement
MOU	Memorandum of Understanding
MW	Monitoring well A well drilled into the groundwater used to collect data on water level and/or water quality
MP (1)	Military Police
MP (2)	Mortar Position
MPS	Minimum Performance Standards
MTBE	Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether; a gasoline additive

N

NAPL	Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids
Natural attenuation	The process by which a compound is reduced in concentration and/or toxicity over time by natural processes
Natural resource injury and damages	A measurable negative impact on the natural environment (land, fish, wildlife, groundwater, etc.), and the amount of money sought by the natural resource trustee as compensation for the injury to these natural resources
NBC	Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical
ND	Non-Detect
NEPA	National Environmental Policy Act The set of Federal regulations passed in 1969 that serves as the basic national charter for protection of the environment; it requires that, for every action that may have an impact on the environment, at least three alternatives be considered, one of which must be "no action"
NFA	No Further Action A designation that no additional cleanup work is necessary
NFRAP	No Further Response Action Planned
NG	National Guard
NGB	National Guard Bureau
Nitrates	A compound containing nitrogen that can have harmful effects on humans, animals, and water resources; nitrates in water can cause severe illness in infants and domestic animals
NOI	Notice of Intent
Non-time-critical removal action	A regulatory approach used when actions are needed to clean up a hazardous material spill that does not need to be addressed right away
NOR	Notice Of Responsibility
NRC	National Research Council
NRDA	Natural Resource Damage Assessment
NRTC	National Research Trustee Council

O

OB/OD	Open Burn/Open Detonation The destruction of waste explosives by burning or detonating them in the open
Organics	Chemicals that contain carbon
OSHA	Occupational Safety and Health Administration

P

PA (1)	Public Affairs
PA (2)	Preliminary assessment, Information about potential contamination at a site or plume to determine if further information is necessary
PAH	Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon
PCB	Polychlorinated biphenyl A mixture of synthetic organic chemicals used as insulating heat- exchange materials in equipment such as electrical transformers and capacitors; the manufacture of PCBs in the United States ceased in 1977
PCE	Perchloroethylene or Tetrachloroethylene (Also called Perc or tetrachloroethylene, chemical symbol C₂Cl₄), a manmade chemical widely used in dry cleaning and for removing grease from metal surfaces
Perchlorate	Perchlorate is a contaminant that can exist in the environment as part of other compounds also containing ammonium, potassium or sodium; approximately 90% of the perchlorate produced by US manufacturers has been for use as a rocket fuel oxidizer, and most of the remaining 10% is utilized in military and civilian explosives, munitions, and pyrotechnics (which includes items such as flares and smoke grenades).
PFSA	Petroleum Fuels Storage Area
Phosphorus	A nonmetallic element that occurs widely, especially as phosphates; an essential chemical food element that can contribute to the choking of lakes and other water bodies by plants
Pilot test	A demonstration of a technology in order to evaluate performance under field conditions
PIP	Public Involvement Plan A formal document that states how the public will be involved in the decision-making at high-profile hazardous waste sites
Plume	A body of groundwater that contains contaminants in excess of amounts allowed by law; the plume is defined by multiple samples from multiple monitoring wells
Potentially Responsible Party	Any entity (individual, corporate, military) thought to have contributed to the contamination at a hazardous waste site, or owned, operated, or used the site
PP	Proposed plan A document that summarizes for the public the preferred cleanup alternative for a site and presents the rationale for the preference
ppb	parts per billion A measure of concentration of contaminants; in water, it is equivalent to micrograms per liter; in soil, it is equivalent to micrograms per kilogram
ppm	parts per million A measure of concentration of contaminants; in water, it is equivalent to milligrams per liter; in soil, it is equivalent to milligrams per kilogram

R

RA (1)	Remedial action The environment from exposure to contaminants
RA (2)	Remedial alternative An option outlining a specific design for treatment to be compared and evaluated with other cleanup options
RA (3)	Risk assessment An evaluation to determine the risk posed to human health and the environment as a result of exposure to contaminants
RCRA	Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RD	Remedial design A phase of the cleanup that includes development of engineering drawings and specifications for a site cleanup
RDX	Royal Demolition Explosive; Royal Dutch Explosive; Research Department Explosive A white crystalline solid used as an explosive
Reactive wall	An innovative cleanup technology that involves placing a barrier, or "wall," of granular iron filings vertically into the ground across a groundwater plume; as the contaminated groundwater flows through the wall, chlorinated compounds react chemically with the iron to produce various non-toxic compounds
Recirculating well	A process for capturing, treating, and releasing groundwater within the same well
Reinjection well	A well where clean water is pumped into the aquifer to replace contaminated water that had been removed
Remediation	Cleanup or other methods used to remove or contain a toxic spill or hazardous materials
Remedy	A method, technique, or process designed to treat or clean up contaminated air, soil, sediments, or water
Removal action	A short-term immediate action taken to address a release of hazardous substances that requires quick response
RfC	Reference Concentration
RfD	Reference Dose
RFR	Request for Response
RI	Remedial investigation An investigation to gather and analyze the data necessary to determine the nature and extent of contamination at a site, evaluate the risks to human health and the environment, and provide information for identifying and evaluating options for cleanup action
RI/FS	Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
RIFSAP	Remedial Investigation Field Sampling and Analysis Plan
Risk	A measure of the chance that negative impacts to life, health, or the environment may occur
RRA	Rapid Response Action
RS	Responsiveness summary A document presenting formal comments received during the public comment period, along with responses to the comments

S

SAP	sampling and analysis plan
SDWA	Safe Drinking Water Act A law enacted to ensure that public water supply systems meet national minimum standards for the protection of public health; EPA has primary responsibility for ensuring that the requirements of the Act are being met.
Sediments	Soil deposited by wind, water, or glaciers
SERDP	Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program A joint program between the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency that identifies, develops, and transitions environmental technologies that relate directly to defense mission accomplishment
SI	Site investigation The initial investigation phase at a site or plume, including data analysis to confirm or deny the presence of contamination
Silt	Soil that has grains finer than sand but coarser than clay
SMB	Senior Management Board An advisory team consisting of the selectmen of the four towns adjacent to the Massachusetts Military Reservation (Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Massachusetts National Guard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Wampanoag Tribe; it provides input on policy and management issues involving response actions of public concern, and to review the work of all other citizen involvement teams
Soil Target Cleanup Level	The level to which soil must be cleaned, per Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulations
Soil vapor extraction	See "Air sparging and vapor extraction"
Solvent	A compound, usually a liquid, which dissolves or disperses other substances
Sorption	The ability of some substances to soak up or attract contaminants and hold on to them
SOU	Source Operable Unit
Source area	The location where contaminants entered the soil, water, air, or sediment
SPEIM	System Performance and Ecological Impact Monitoring
SSI	Supplemental site investigation
STCL	Soil Target Cleanup Level
STP	Sewage treatment plant
Superfund	See "Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act"
SVE	Soil vapor extraction. See "Air sparging and vapor extraction"
SVOC	Semi-volatile organic compound Any compound containing carbon that partially vaporizes when exposed to air

T

TAG (1)	The Adjutant General The head of the state's National Guard
TAG (2)	Technical assistance grant
TBD	To Be Determined
1,1,1 TCA	1,1,1 Trichloroethane
TCA	Trichloroethane
TCE	Trichloroethylene A compound used to dissolve or disperse another substance such as oil and grease. It is widely used for dry cleaning and for removing grease from metal surfaces
TCRA	Time-Critical Removal Action A regulatory approach used when quick actions are needed to clean up a hazardous material spill
TDS	Total Dissolved Solids
Toluene	A hydrocarbon typically found in fuel products; it also is used as a solvent in paints and oils
TNT	Trinitrotoluene A compound that is used as a constituent in many types of explosives
TOSC	Technical Outreach Services for Communities
Treatment	A method, technique, or process used to change the physical, chemical, or biological composition of contaminated groundwater, soil or air
Trichloromethane	See "chloroform"

U

Upgradient	The area from which groundwater flows
USACE	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USACHPPM	U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine An office within the U.S. Army whose mission is to implement preventive medicine, public health, and health promotion/wellness services
US EPA	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
USGS	U.S. Geological Survey
UST	Underground storage tank
UTES	Unit Training Equipment Site
UXO	Unexploded Ordnance — Military munitions that have been primed, fuzed, armed, or otherwise prepared for action and that have been fired, dropped, launched, projected, or placed in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to operations, installation, personnel, or material and remain unexploded by malfunction, design, or any other cause
UXORM	Unexploded ordnance related materials

V

Vinyl chloride	A compound generally formed from the chemical breakdown of the compounds trichloroethylene and dichloroethylene
VOC	Volatile organic compound Any compound containing carbon that evaporates readily to the atmosphere
Volatilization	The transformation of a chemical from liquid to vapor; evaporation

X

Xylene

A compound typically found in fuel products, and used as a solvent

Z

ZOC	Zone Of Contribution The area, including the aquifer and ground above it, from which a well draws its water
Zone of recirculation	A circular zone of groundwater movement created by flow into and out of a recirculating well