Glossary

There is no doubt that environmental compliance in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin or any other city in Texas or the rest of the U.S. can be a daunting task!

This environmental glossary shows how complex and intimidating environmental compliance can be for industries and communities!

RSB Environmental is one of the most trusted full-service environmental consulting firm, specializing in turnkey environmental solutions and environmental compliance.

Whether you are checking out stormwater management companies, or Phase 1 environmental site assessment companies in Houston or beyond, to help you with any environmental issues such as stormwater, waste water, air quality, waste management, multi-media environmental, agricultural compliance, etc., we can help.

We hope this environmental glossary will be helpful for you, our clients, colleagues, and friends!

ABC – Associated Builders and Contractors – RSB Environmental is affiliated with this national construction industry trade association. ABC helps their members develop people, win work and deliver work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work.

ACM – Asbestos Containing Materials – A mineral that is toxic when more than 1% of it is used in products. Contact RSB Environmental to make sure your company is in asbestos compliance!

ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act – The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. RSB Environmental provides Property Condition Assessments and Commercial Building Inspections, to include ADA access.

ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials – An international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services. For reports that meet ASTM contact RSB Environmental.

BMPs – Best Management Practices – Best management practices (BMPs) are methods that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means of preventing or reducing nonpoint source pollution to help achieve water quality goals. Stormwater runoff is generated from rain and snowmelt events that flow over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground. The runoff picks up pollutants like trash, chemicals, oils, and dirt/sediment that can harm rivers, streams, lakes, and coastal waters. To protect these resources, communities, construction companies, industries, and others, use stormwater controls, known as best management practices (BMPs). These BMPs filter out pollutants and/or prevent pollution by controlling it at its source. RSB Environmental is known for its expertise and above average customer service for stormwater BMPs.

CAFOs – Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations – A CAFO is an AFO with more than 1000 animal units (an animal unit is defined as an animal equivalent of 1000 pounds live weight and equates to 1000 head of beef cattle, 700 dairy cows, 2500 swine weighing more than 55 lbs, 125 thousand broiler chickens, or 82 thousand laying hens or pullets) confined on site for more than 45 days during the year. CAFOs are regulated by EPA under the Clean Water Act in both the 2003 and 2008 versions of the “CAFO” rule. RSD provides design, project management, and certification of wastewater facilities for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). RSB Environmental provides Engineering assessments of existing wastewater retention facilities for CAFOs in order to obtain compliance under state and federal requirements.

CM – Construction Monitoring – RSB Environmental provides construction and loan monitoring services for commercial lenders and investors.

EAP – Emergency Action Plan – An emergency action plan, a written document is required by certain OSHA standards to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. RSB Environmental will, on request, include EAP procedures in the discharge response area of your SPCC project.

EPA – The United States Environmental Protection Agency – One of EPA’s top priorities is to prevent, prepare for, and respond to oil spills that occur in and around inland waters of the United States. RSB Environmental is experienced with EPA issues in Texas including oil gas wells and state Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) regulations which you will find in their Phase II Environmental Site Assessment package.

EPC – Engineering, Procurement And Construction – A form of contracting arrangement used in some industries where the EPC contractor is made responsible for all the activities from design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover of the project to the end-user or owner.

EPCM – Engineering, Procurement And Construction Management – EPCM stands for Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management. In an EPCM contract the Contractor is not directly involved in the construction but is responsible for administering the construction contracts. RSB Environmental is an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) energy solutions provider with services in upstream, midstream and downstream markets.

EPCRA – The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 was created to help communities plan for chemical emergencies. It also requires industry to report on the storage, use and releases of hazardous substances to federal, state, and local governments. RSB’s Environmental certified professional engineers will help you to comply with EPCRA requirements.

FRP – Facility Response Plans – This rule requires facilities that store and use oil to prepare and submit an FRP which a preparedness to respond to a worst case oil discharge. RSB Environmental will help you with these plans as part of their complete services.

GTL – Gas-To-Liquids – A technology that converts natural gas, into high-quality liquid products. RSB Environmental, an established engineering and construction company provides services to the GTL industry. https://rsbenv.com/services/engineering/

HCP – Hearing Conservation Program – The hearing conservation program requires employers to monitor noise exposure levels in a way that accurately identifies employees exposed to noise at or above 85 decibels (dB) averaged over 8 working hours, or an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). RSB Environmental assess facilities for hazardous noise exposures and assists with developing a hearing protection program that meets OSHA regulations.

IAQ – Indoor Air Quality – RSB Environmental performs IAQ assessments at commercial and residential buildings.

ISO 9001 – International standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. RSB Environmental provides ISO consulting services to help you transition to the latest ISO management system standards.

LEPCs – Local Emergency Planning Committees – Must develop an emergency response plan, review the plan at least annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens. RSB Environmental will help you comply with these requirements.

LNG – Liquefied Natural Gas – RSB Environmental provides provide a spectrum of EPC services to a variety of markets including the LNG market.

MS4’s – Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System -Presents the definition of municipal separate stormwater sewer system as taken from federal rules. … And to be a “municipal separate storm sewer system” the system must be owned or operated by a public agency such as a city. RSB Environmental can help you identify these systems and assess them for stormwater discharges.

NCCER – The National Center for Construction Education and Research – RSB Environmental is a leading engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) solutions provider with a focus on services that span the upstream, midstream and downstream markets in energy.

NPDES – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System- The NPDES stormwater program regulates some stormwater discharges from three potential sources: municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4’s), construction activities, and industrial activities. RSB Environmental aids with regulatory compliance and wastewater permit applications including those for the NDPES.

OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Assures safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women. RSB Environmental provides OSHA inspections assistance for environmental services.

PCR – Plan And Cost Reviews – Plan, Specification and Cost Review (PSCR) are the first steps in review of a construction project. RSB Environment has a team of licensed professionals to provide consultations with pre-construction due diligence analysis.

PE – Professional Engineer – RSB Environmental is a professional engineering, procurement and construction management solutions provider for the upstream, midstream and downstream markets in energy.

PEM – Project Execution Model – The Department of Energy (DOE) developed a guide to provide project management principles and guidelines to small and medium projects. RSB Environmental can help you stay in compliance with the PEM.

PSM – Process Safety Management -Created in response to the Clean Air Act. Its main goals involves involving both the EPA and OSHA to manage activities to protect workers and communities. RSB Environmental has a Risk management plan that includes hazard assessment, a prevention program and a emergency response program.

PST – Petroleum Storage Tank – Tanks, found both underground and aboveground, are used to store fuel and other petroleum substances. RSB Environmental can help understand attributes particular to Texas including oil gas wells and state Petroleum Storage Tank regulations.

RECs – Recognized Environmental Conditions -identifies environmental liability within the context of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, to include the presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at a property. RSB Environmental performs environmental testing, reports, and recommendations as part of its Phase II service.

RMP – Risk Management Program – Involved with the EPA and OSHA, it manage activities to protect workers, communities, and their environments. RSP Environmental provides RMP programs for its clients.

SARA Tier II Report – Superfund Amendments & Reauthorization Act – Reports information about the types, quantities and locations of hazardous chemicals at company’s facility . RSB Environmental will help you comply with all of these Tier II reports in Houston, Texas and beyond and help you to keeps up with deadlines.

SDS – Safety Data Sheet contains information concerning hazardous chemicals present at a company’s facility. RSB Environmental offers guidance concerning what is to be included on these reports and how to appropriately them submit.

SBS – Sick Building Syndrome – Building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects. RSB Environmental is experienced in investigating “Sick Building Syndrome”, indoor air quality, HVAC systems, and other building related issues.

SERCs – State Emergency Response Commissions – Responsible for implementing the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) provisions within each state. RSB Environmental’s engineers enable RSB’s clients to be in compliance with regulations and provides solutions for their environmental concerns.

SPCC – Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures – This regulation prevents oil from reaching navigable waters and adjoining shorelines and contains discharges of oil. It requires facilities to develop and implement plans and establishes procedures, methods, and equipment requirements. RSB Environmental’s SPCC plans are prepared and certified by Licensed Professional Engineers.

SWPPP – Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan – A SWPPP is a sediment and erosion control plan describing the construction site operator’s activities to prevent stormwater contamination, control sedimentation and erosion, and comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act. RSB Environmental has conducted SWPPP compliance projects nationwide.

SWQ – Stormwater Quality – RSB Environmental is a full service environmental consulting firm specializing in SWQ Compliance in Harris County and beyond!

TCEQ – Texas Commission on Environmental Quality – Environmental agency for Texas. RSB Environmental performs Phase II Environmental Testing to meet the requirements of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

VAPs – Voluntary Action Programs | VCPs – Voluntary Cleanup Programs – Programs vary from industry initiated commitments to state and regional voluntary initiatives mostly focusing on the environment and environmental issues. Need more information? RSB Environmental has designed, installed, and operated remedial systems such as bioremediation, soil vapor extraction, stabilization and solidification, groundwater recovery, and air stripping systems.

VIP – Value Improving Practices – Research-backed methods to improve project performance. Contact RSB Environmental for more information about VIPs for the upstream, midstream and downstream markets in energy.

    REQUEST A FREE QUOTE

    *All fields are required