Hazardous Waste Code - acute
P
Pounds
P3
Pollution Prevention Plan
PA
Preliminary Assessment
PADS
PCB Activity Data System
PAHs
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (same as PNAs)
PAN
Peroxyacetyl nitrate, a photochemical oxidant
PARCC
Precision, Accuracy, Representativeness, Comparability and Completeness
Part A
The 1st part of the two-part application that must be submitted by a TSD Facility to receive a permit to treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste. Eventually, all Part A permits will be phased-out or converted to a Part B permit. (Regulated by RCRA).
Part B
The 2nd part of the permit application that includes detailed and technical information about the TSD Facility. Also known as a Final Permit. Regulated by RCRA.
Particulate
Matter
Any finely divided solid or liquid material (other than water), as measured by the reference method (see PM-10)
Pathogen
Any substance (usually a microorganism) capable of causing disease.
PBT
Chemicals
Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic Chemicals; PBT chemicals exhibit varying degrees of three properties: Persistent (P) chemicals do not readily breakdown in the environment; Bioaccumulative (B) chemicals are not easily metabolized and can accumulate in human or ecological food chains through consumption or uptake; and Toxic (T) chemicals may be hazardous to human health or the environment in a variety of ways, depending on the chemical and the organism that is exposed. (63 FR 60332, November 9, 1998 ).
PCB
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (regulated by TSCA)
PCDF
Polychlorinated dibenzofurans
PCE or
PERC
Perchloroethylene (Tetrachloroethylene)
pCi
picocurie: one one-trillionth (1/1,000,000,000,000) curie
pCi/g
Picocuries per gram
pCi/L
Picocuries per liter
PCM
Phase Contrast Microscopy
PCP
Pentachlorophenol
PCS
Permit Compliance System - NPDES
PEL
Permissible Exposure Limit: Represents the airborne concentration that has been established by OSHA as the enforceable exposure limit. Unless otherwise specified, the PEL represents an eight hour average exposure limit. (29 CFR, Part 1910.1200).
PEP
Preventive Engineering Practices
PF
Protective Factor
PFD
Process Flow Diagram
PG
Packing Group - assigned by DOT per hazard class
pg
Picogram: one one-trillionth (1/1,000,000,000,000) of a curie.
pH
by definition, -log [H+], the negative base 10 logarithm of the molar concentration of the hydrogen ion. pH scale is from 0 to 14, with pH 7 being neutral.
Phytoremediation
The use of vegetation (usually at root-soil interface) for the in-situ treatment of contaminated soils.
PIC
Products of Incomplete Combustion
P&ID
Piping and Instrument Combustion
PID
Photoionization Detector. A PID uses ultraviolet light energy, measured in electron volts (eV) to ionize or displace electrons for encountered chemical compounds. Since chemicals ionize at different energy levels, each chemical has a characteristic Ionization Potential (IP). Generally, a PID will ionize chemicals with an ionization potential less than 10.6 eV.
PIO
Public Information Officer
pK
Negative logarithm of the equilibrium constant K
PL
Public Law
PLM
Polarized Light Microscopy: An analytical technique to determine the presence of asbestos.
PM or TPM
or TSP
Particulate Matter or Total Particulate Matter or Total Suspended Particulates
PMN
Pre-Manufacture Notice (TSCA); requires that manufacturer notify EPA 90 days before manufacturing a new chemical product.
PM-2.5
Particulate Matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 microns.
PM-10
Particulate Matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 10 microns. PM-10 is a criteria air pollutant. Particulate matter includes dust, soot and other tiny bits of solid materials that are released into and move around in the air. Particulates are produced by many sources, including burning of diesel fuels by trucks and buses, incineration of garbage, mixing and application of fertilizers and pesticides, road construction, industrial processes such as steel making, mining operations, agricultural burning (field and slash burning) and operation of fireplaces and wood stoves. Particulate pollution can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and other health problems.
PNAs
Polynuclear Aromatics (same as PAHs)
POGO
Privately Owned/Government Operated
POHC
Principal Organic Hazardous Constituent
POP
Performance Oriented Packaging (DOT)
POTW
Publicly Owned Treatment Works (Sewer Department) (40 CFR 403.3(o))
PPA
Pollution Prevention Act
PPB
Parts Per Billion (ug/kg: Solids; ug/L: DI Water)
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
PPEP
Public Policies for Environmental Protection
ppg
Pounds Per Gallon
PPH or lb/hr
Pounds Per Hour
PPM
Parts Per Million (mg/kg: Solids; ug/L: DI Water)
PPP
Pollution Prevention Plan
ppm
Parts Per Million
ppmv
Parts Per Million By Volume
ppmw
Parts Per Million By Weight
PPT
Parts Per Trillion (ng/kg: Solids; ug/L: DI Water)
PPQ
Parts Per Quadrillion
PQL
Practical Quantitation Limit
Pretreatment standards
Regulations which establish industrial wastewater effluent quality required for discharge to a POTW (indirect discharges).
Priority
Pollutants
The pollutants designated by EPA as priority as per 40 CFR part 423, Appendix A.
Proton
A small particle, typically found within an atom’s nucleus, that possesses a positive electrical charge.
PRP
Potentially Responsible Party (CERCLA); an individual, business or organization most likely responsible for a pollution incident.
PSD
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (CAA); Regulations established by the 1997 Clean Air Act Amendments to limit increases in criteria air pollutant concentrations (see Criteria Pollutants) where ambient standards have been met (attainment areas).
PSES
Pretreatment Standards for Existing Sources, for indirect discharges, under Section 307(b) of CWA
psi
Pounds Per Square Inch
psia
Pounds Per Square Inch Absolute
psid
Pounds Per Square Inch (differential pressure)
psig
Pounds Per Square Inch Gauge
PSM
Process Safety Management of highly hazardous chemicals standard (CFR 1910.119)
PSN
Proper Shipping Name (DOT)
PSNS
Pretreatment Standards for New Sources, for indirect discharges, under Section 307(b) & (c) of the CWA
PTE
Potential to emit - Title V permit criteria
PTFE
Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)