Environmental Assessment
EBS
Environmental Baseline Study
ECHO
Enhanced Characteristic Option
ECD
Electron Capture Detector; Used with a Gas Chromatograph; Excellent for the analysis of halogenated compounds.
Ecosystem
The interaction system of a biological community and its non-living environmental surroundings.
ECRA
New Jersey ’s Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act
EDB
Ethylene Dibromide
EDF
Environmental Defense Fund
EE/CA
Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis
Effluent Guidelines
Direct discharge standards applicable to NPDES permits
EFTA
European Free Trade Agreement
EHS
Extremely Hazardous Substance (SARA Title III)
EIL
Environmental Impairment Liability
EIS
Environmental Impact Statement (NEPA)
Electrolytes
Compounds that conduct electricity when dissolved or melted. Three types of compounds are electrolytes: acids, bases and salts.
Electroplating
Includes the production processes in common and precious metals electroplating, anodizing, chemical conversion coating (i.e., coloring, chromating, phosphating and immersion plating), electroless plating, chemical etching and milling and printed circuit board manufacturing.
EMAS
ECO-Management and Audit Scheme
EO
Executive Order
EP
Extraction Procedure (for EP-Toxicity)
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency; also known as the “Agency”; primary agency responsible for enforcing federal environmental laws that should theoretically protect the environment.
EPA Code
A 4-character code used by the US Environmental Protection Agency to designate regulated contaminants in waste.
EPCRA
Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (SARA Title III, also known as “Community Right to Know”, 40 CFR Part 355).
Ephemeral streams
A river or stream in which no flow is common.
EP-Toxicity
Extraction Procedure for Toxicity; replaced in March 1990 by TCLP as the standard test for RCRA characteristic wastes.
ERG
Emergency Response Guidebook (DOT orange book)
ERNS
Emergency Response Notification System
ERTK
Employee Right-To-Know
ESA
Environmental Site Assessment
Estuary
Region of interaction between rivers and near-shore ocean waters, where tidal action and river flow mix fresh and salt water. Such areas include bays, mouth of rivers and lagoons.
EU
Emissions Unit
EUG
Emissions Unit Group
Eutrophication
An increase in mineral and organics causing a reduction in dissolved oxygen in a body of water, producing an environment that favors plant over animal life.
Evaporation
rate
The rate of evaporation for a liquid, in unitless values relative to butyl acetate, which is assigned an evaporation rate of 1.
Exposure
A term relating to the amount of ionizing radiation that is incident upon living or inanimate material.
ex situ
Generally refers to treatment of disposal not in place, (e.g.) a waste or soil is removed from the ground, then treated.