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Description of Selected General Terms and Acronyms Term/Acronym Description Asbestos Containing Material. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, three varieties of which (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite) have been commonly used as fireproofing or binding agents in construction materials. Exposure to asbestos, as well as ACM, has been documented to cause lung diseases including asbestosis (scarring of the lung), lung cancer and mesothelioma (a cancer of the lung lining). Regulatory agencies have generally defined ACM as a material containing greater that one (1) percent asbestos, however some states (e.g. California) define ACM as materials having 0.1% asbestos. In order to define a homogenous material as non-ACM, a minimum number of samples must be collected from the material dependent upon its type and quantity. Homogenous materials defined as non-ACM must either have 1) no asbestos identified in all of its samples or 2) an identified asbestos concentration below the appropriate regulatory threshold. Asbestos concentrations are generally determined using polarized light microscopy or transmission electron microscopy. Point counting is an ACM analytical method to statistically quantify the percentage of asbestos in a sample. The asbestos component of ACM may either be friable or non-friable. Friable materials, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure and have a higher potential for a fiber release than non-friable ACM. Non-friable ACM are materials that are firmly bound in a matrix by plastic, cement, etc. and, if handled carefully,will not become friable. Federal and state regulations require that either all suspect building materials be presumed ACM or that an asbestos survey be performed prior to renovation, dismantling, demolition, or other activities that may disturb potential ACM. Notifications are required prior to demolition and/or renovation activities that may impact the condition of ACM in a building. ACM removal may be required if the ACM is likely to be disturbed or damaged during the demolition or renovation. Abatement of friable or potentially friable ACM must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor in accordance with state rules and NESHAP. Additionally, OSHA regulations for work classification, worker training and worker protection will apply. AHERA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act Aboveground Storage Tanks. ASTs are generally described as storage tanks less than 10% of which are below ground (i.e., buried). Tanks AST located in a basement, but not buried, are also considered ASTs. Whether, and the extent to which, an AST is regulated, is determined on a case-by-case basis and depends upon tank size, its contents and the jurisdiction of its location. BGS Below Ground Surface Brownfields State and/or tribal listing of Brownfield properties addressed by Cooperative Agreement Recipients or Targeted Brownfields Assessments. BTEX Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes. BTEX are VOC components found in gasoline and commonly used as analytical indicators of a petroleum h drocarbon release. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (a.k.a. Superfund). CERCLA is the federal act that regulates CERCLA abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Under this Act, joint and several liability may be imposed on potentially responsible parties for cleanup-related costs. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System. An EPA compilation of sites having suspected or CERCLIS actual releases of hazardous substances to the environment. CERCLIS also contains information on site inspections, preliminary assessments and remediation of hazardous waste sites. These sites are typically reported to EPA by states and municipalities or by third parties pursuant to CERCLA Section 103. CESQG Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators CFR Code of Federal Regulations