Frequently Used Terms

Click on a term to see it in practice:

  1. Hazardous Waste: Ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and/or toxic discarded substances

  2. Tar Sands: Land that contains "clay, sand, water, and bitumen, a heavy black viscous oil"-http://ostseis.anl.gov/guide/tarsands/

  3. Byproducts: Leftover material from a manufacturing process, generated while making the desired material

  4. Environmental Justice: "The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies."
    -https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice

  5. ECHO: Enforcement and Compliance History Online-contains facility level compliance data

  6. Cancer-causing: A substance that can cause cancer by disrupting cellular processes

  7. Toxic Release Inventory: "A resource for learning about toxic chemical releases and pollution prevention activities reported by industrial and federal facilities. TRI data support informed decision-making by communities, government agencies, companies, and others."
    -https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program

  8. Shipment: A unique amount of waste sent, as recorded on a shipping manifest

  9. Import: Hazardous waste brought into the United States from Canada and/or Mexico

  10. Export: Hazardous waste sent to Canada and/or Mexico from the United States

  11. Carcinogens: Cancer-causing substances