| A-weighted decibel (dBA)
|
See Decibel, A-weighted.
|
| Absolute risk
|
An expression of excess risk based on the assumption that the excess risk
from radiation exposure adds to the underlying (baseline) risk by an
increment dependent on dose but independent of the underlying natural risk.
See Relative risk.
|
| Absorbed dose
|
The mean energy imparted to matter by ionizing radiation per unit mass.
The unit of absorbed dose is the rad, which is equal to 100 erg/g.
|
| Accelerator
|
An apparatus for imparting high velocities to charged particles.
|
| Active fault
|
In this EIS/EIR, a fault known to be recent because it has displaced
materials 35,000 years old or younger. Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zones Act
of 1972 defines an active fault as one that has had surface displacement during
Holocene time (the last 11,000 years).
|
| Activity
|
The number of nuclear transformations occurring in a given quantity of
material per unit time. See Curie; Radioactivity.
|
| Acute
|
With respect to dose or toxicity, one that occurs in a short time.
|
| Administrative limit
|
A limit imposed administratively on the quantity of a radionuclide
permitted in a building or part of a building.
|
| AIRDOS
|
A computer code endorsed by the EPA for predicting radiological doses to
members of the public due to airborne releases of radioactive material. It
accounts for inhalation, external exposure to direct radiation, and food
ingestion pathways.
|
| Air stripper
|
A ground water treatment system in which volatile organic compounds are
removed from soil by aeration.
|
| Alluvial
|
Referring to alluvium, which is any stream-laid sediment deposit found in a
stream channel and in low parts of a stream valley subject to flooding.
|
| Alpha, alpha particle
|
A heavy particle consisting of two neutrons and two protons and thus having
a charge of +2; the nucleus of a helium-4 atom.
|
| Ambient noise
|
The residual (background) sound in the absence of specific identifiable
noise sources.
|
| Americium
|
An artificial radioactive element of atomic number 95. Am-241 is produced
by the beta decay of Pu-241.
|
| Anticline
|
A fold in rocks in which the strata dip outward from both sides of the
axis, where the oldest strata are in the core of the fold. The opposite of a
syncline.
|
| Aquifer
|
A water-bearing stratum of permeable rock or sediments capable of producing
economically significant quantities of water to wells and springs.
|
| Archaeological resources
|
See Cultural resources (prehistoric).
|
| Archival research
|
Examination of records at the regional offices of the State Historic
Preservation Office for evidence of recorded historic and/or prehistoric sites;
the use of other archival sources (libraries, private collections, museums) to
gather information on historic and prehistoric sites that have not been formally
recorded or that have not been completely documented.
|
| Arcuate
|
Curved like a bow, curved or bowed.
|
| Area of Potential Effect (APE)
|
In the context of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act,
the area in which planned development may directly or indirectly affect a
cultural resource. The area is determined by the federal lead agency in the
Section 106 process.
|
| Aromatic hydrocarbons
|
Volatile organic compounds characterized by unsaturated ring structures; in
this EIS/EIR, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes.
|
| As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA)
|
A philosophy of protection that controls and maintains exposures to
individuals and to the work force and general public as low as technically and
economically feasible below the established limits.
|
| Aseismic slip
|
A slip along an underground fault consisting of many small movements so
that very little seismic energy is emitted.
|
| Assignable space
|
That part of the building space that is not taken up by halls, stairs,
elevators, restrooms and so on, and that can be occupied by Laboratory personnel
carrying out the Laboratory mission.
|
| Atmospheric dispersion, dilution
|
The greater the spread downwind of airborne material, the greater the
spread of dilution, and the smaller the concentration along the hotline.
|
| Atmospheric stability
|
The tendency of the atmosphere to slow the rise of a contaminant plume; the
more stable the atmosphere, the smaller the cloud rise and the greater the
concentration of the contaminant along the hotline.
|
| Augering
|
Use of a hand or power auger to investigate areas for evidence of
archaeological midden deposits.
|
| Autoclave
|
An apparatus for sterilizing that uses superheated steam under pressure.
|
| Background radiation
|
Radiation arising from radioactive material other than that directly under
consideration. Background radiation due to cosmic rays and natural
radioactivity is always present. There may also be external background
radiation from the presence of radioactive substances in building material
itself and internal radiation from natural radioactive substances such as
potassium-40 in the body.
|
| Bedrock mortar
|
Depression worn in the floors of rock shelters or on the flat portions of
exposed bedrock where prehistoric peoples ground grass seeds and acorns into
meal. The depression is created by the continual grinding motion of a stone
pestle, which is alternately used to pound and grind from side to side.
|
| Beryllium
|
A toxic metal of atomic number 4. Natural beryllium consists entirely of
Be-9.
|
| Best estimate
|
An estimate made with the numerical inputs that are believed to be
representative of the real situation, not biased conservatively.
|
| Beta particle
|
Charged particle emitted from the nucleus of an atom, with a mass and
charge equal in magnitude to that of the electron.
|
| Bioassay
|
Urinalysis used to monitor the intake of tritium and plutonium in an
individual. Blood, breath, feces, sperm, and sputum are also sometimes used in
bioassays.
|
| Bioremediation
|
Cleanup of contaminated ground water by bacteria.
|
| Bioturbation
|
Disturbance of the surface layer of the soil by worms, rodents, and so on.
|
| Blind thrust fault
|
A thrust fault that does not intersect the surface of the earth; a buried
thrust fault.
|
| Bounding
|
An accident is bounding if no reasonably foreseeable, equally probable
accident can be found with greater consequences. A bounding envelope consists
of a set of individual bounding accidents that cover the range of probabilities
and possible consequences.
|
| Budgeted construction
|
Construction for which Congress has not yet appropriated the necessary
funds but that appears in the proposed FY 1992 DOE budget.
|
| Candidate species
|
Species being reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for possible
listing as endangered or threatened, but for which substantial biological
information to support a listing is lacking.
|
| Carcinogen
|
A substance that directly or indirectly causes cancer.
|
| Catalytical oxidation
|
A ground water treatment system in which volatile compounds are destroyed
by oxidation mediated by a material such as a noble metal that increases the
rate of the oxidation but emerges from the process unchanged.
|
| Centroid
|
A point within a traffic zone that represents the assumed focal point of
the land use activity. For modeling purposes, a centroid is a point in the zone
from which traffic generated by the zone can be connected to the surrounding
roadway system.
|
| CHARM™
|
A Gaussian puff model of atmospheric dispersion of gases.
|
| Chromosome
|
One of the bodies within a cell nucleus that contains most or all of the
DNA or RNA comprising the genes of the individual.
|
| Clastic
|
Pertaining to a rock or sediment composed principally of broken fragments
that are derived from preexisting rocks or minerals and that have been
transported some distance from their places of origin.
|
| Collective (effective) dose equivalent
|
The sum of the doses to all exposed groups of people times the number of
individuals receiving each dose. For example, if 20 persons receive a dose of 5
rem, 10 a dose of 10 rem, and 5 a dose of 20 rem, the collective dose is (20×5)+(10×10)+(5×20)=100+100+100=300
person-rem.
|
| Colluvium
|
A general term applied to loose and incoherent deposits, usually at the
foot of a slope or cliff and brought there chiefly by gravity. Talus and cliff
debris are included in such deposits.
|
| Committed dose
|
The time integral of the dose equivalent rate for a specified time period.
|
| Committed Effective Dose Equivalent (CEDE)
|
"The sum of the committed dose equivalents to various tissues in the
body, each multiplied by its weighting factor. It does not include
contributions from external dose. Committed dose equivalent is expressed in
units of rem (or sievert)" (DOE Order 5480.11, section 8e(8)).
|
| Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL)
|
A time-weighted 24-hour average noise level based on the A-weighted
decibel. The CNEL scale includes an additional 5-dB adjustment to sounds
occurring in the evening (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and a 10-dB adjustment to
sounds occurring in the late evening and early morning hours (10:00 p.m. to 7:00
a.m.).
|
| Confined aquifer
|
An aquifer bounded above and below by impermeable beds, or beds of
distinctly lower permeability than that of the aquifer itself.
|
| Conjugate fault
|
A fault or set of faults that are of the same age and deformation episode.
|
| Conservative
|
Having consequences that are greater than the most likely consequences;
using assumptions that tend to overestimate consequences, that err on the safe
side.
|
| Controlled material
|
Materials designated by DOE, LLNL, or SNL, Livermore for special control
because they are classified, hazardous, of national interest, or of high
monetary value.
|
| Coseismic slip
|
A slip directly associated with a particular earthquake, as opposed to a
later slip.
|
| Criteria air pollutant
|
An air quality pollutant for which the EPA has established criteria
documents and for which concentration standards exist. These pollutants are
sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulates, carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3),
hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and lead.
|
| Critical habitat
|
"Specific areas within the geographical area occupied by [an
endangered or threatened] species . . . , essential to the conservation of the
species and which may require special management considerations or protection;
and specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species . . .
that are essential for the conservation of the species" (Endangered Species
Act section 3).
|
| Criticality
|
The state of a mass of fissionable material when it is sustaining a chain
reaction.
|
| Cultural resources (historic)
|
Material remains, such as trash dumps and architectural features, including
structures, foundations, basements, and wells; any other physical alteration of
the landscape, such as ponds, roads, landscaping, and fences.
|
| Cultural resources (prehistoric)
|
Any material remains of items used or modified by people, such as artifacts
of stone, bone, shellfish, or wood. Animal bone, fish remains, bird bone, or
shellfish remains used for food are included. Physical alteration of the
landscape, such as hunting blinds, remains of structures, excavated house pits,
and caches of artifacts or concentrations of stones (such as cooking stones) are
also prehistoric cultural resources.
|
| Cumulative impacts
|
As defined by CEQA, ". . . two or more individual effects which, when
considered together, are considerable or which compound or increase other
environmental impacts. "(a) The individual effects may be changes
resulting from a single project or a number of separate projects.
|
|
"(b) The cumulative impact from several projects is the change in the
environment which results from the incremental impact of the project when added
to other closely related past, present, and reasonably foreseeable probable
future projects. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but
collectively significant projects taking place over a period of time."
|
| Curie (Ci)
|
A special unit of activity. One curie equals 37 billion nuclear
transformations per second.
|
| Day-night average level (LDN)
|
The average noise level in dBA over a 24-hour period with a 10 dB
adjustment for events occurring during the night (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.), and
ignoring an evening-hour adjustment.
|
| Decibel (dB)
|
A unit measure of a sound pressure ratio. The reference sound pressure is
0.0002 dynes per square centimeter, or the equivalent of 200 micro-bar or 20
Pascal (Pa). This is the smallest sound a human can hear.
|
| Decibel, A-weighted (dBA)
|
A frequency correction that correlates overall sound pressure levels with
the frequency response of the human ear.
|
| Decollement
|
A low-angle fault that forms the base of an overlapping series of thrust
faults.
|
| Decommissioning
|
The process of removing a facility from operation. The facility is then
mothballed, entombed, or decontaminated, after which it is dismantled or
converted to another use.
|
| Decontamination
|
The removal of unwanted material, especially radioactive material, from the
surface or from within another material.
|
| Default parameters
|
Inputs to a computer code that are supplied by the code if the operator
fails to supply them.
|
| Demand criteria
|
Values of maximum ground acceleration that buildings should be able to
withstand and remain operational.
|
| Department of Health Services, Toxic Substances Control Program (DHS)
|
The state agency with responsibility for administering the California
Hazardous Waste Control Law. Effective July 17, 1991 this program became the
Department of Toxic Substances Control within the newly formed California
Environmental Protection Agency.
|
| Depleted uranium
|
Uranium from which most of the uranium-235 isotope has been removed.
|
| Depletion of the plume
|
Removal of contaminants from the plume by rain or deposition on the ground.
|
| Design basis accident
|
A postulated abnormal event that is used to establish the performance
requirements of structures, systems, and components necessary to maintain a safe
shutdown condition indefinitely, so that the general public and operating staff
are not exposed to hazards in excess of appropriate guidelines.
|
| Design capacity
|
The capacity at which a street, water distribution pipe, pump, reservoir,
wastewater pipe, or treatment plant is intended to operate.
|
| Deterministic
|
With results determined by input assumptions and data, but without the
probability of occurrence.
|
| Detonation table
|
See Firing table.
|
| Detonators
|
A device used to initiate detonation in a high explosive. Typically these
are much more sensitive to shock than the high explosives they initiate.
|
| Deuterium
|
The hydrogen isotope that is twice the mass of ordinary hydrogen and that
occurs in water; also called heavy hydrogen.
|
| Dextral motion
|
Right-lateral motion on a strike-slip fault. If one stands on one side of
the slip facing it, the other side is displaced to the right.
|
| Diffusion
|
The process whereby particles of liquids, gases, or solids intermingle as a
result of spontaneous movement caused by thermal agitation; in dissolved
substances, diffusion is from a region of higher to a region of lower
concentration.
|
| Dip
|
The angle at which a stratum or other planar feature is inclined from the
horizontal.
|
| Disconformity
|
An unconformity in which the bedding planes above and below the break are
essentially parallel, indicating a significant interruption in the orderly
sequence of sedimentary rocks, generally by a considerable interval of erosion
(or sometimes of nondeposition), and usually marked by a visible and irregular
or uneven erosion surface of appreciable relief. (An unconformity is a
substantial break or gap in the geologic record where one rock unit is overlaid
by another not next in the stratigraphic succession.)
|
| DOE Orders
|
Rules indicating the procedures and responsibilities of the various units
of DOE. DOE orders give details on how overall federal rules and regulations
apply to DOE operations and indicate who shares responsibilities for
administering them.
|
| Doppler
|
Relating to the change in frequency with which radar or sound waves from a
given source reach an observer when they are in rapid motion with respect to
each other. Doppler radars measure velocity, not range and distance.
|
| Dose
|
A general term denoting the quantity of radiation or energy absorbed. For
special purposes, it must be appropriately qualified.
|
| Dose equivalent
|
"The product of absorbed dose in rads (or gray) in tissue, a quality
factor, and other modifying factors. Dose equivalent is expressed in units of
rem (or sievert)" (DOE Order 5480.11, section 83(2)). The relative
biological effectiveness of different kinds of radiation is expressed in the
quality factor. (Note: The International Commission on Radiological Protection
(ICRP) now uses the term radiation weighting factor to replace the term
quality factor.)
|
| Dosimeter
|
An instrument or device used to detect and measure accumulated radiation
exposure.
|
| Edaphic characteristics
|
Soil factors.
|
| Effective Dose Equivalent (EDE)
|
The dose equivalent from irradiation of an organ or part of the whole body
that bears the same risk of cancer as uniform irradiation of the whole body. "The
sum over specified tissues of the products of the dose equivalent in a tissue
and the weighting factor for that tissue. The effective dose equivalent is
expressed in units of rem (or sievert)" (DOE Order 5480.11, section 8e(5)).
(Note: The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)
decided in ICRP Publication 60 to use the term effective dose to replace
the term effective dose equivalent.)
|
| Emergency Response Planning Guidelines
|
Estimates of concentration ranges at which adverse effects can be expected
if exposure to a specific chemical lasts more than 1 hour.
|
| En echelon
|
Parallel structural features that are offset like the edges of shingles on
a roof when viewed from the side.
|
| Endangered species
|
Species of plants and animals that are threatened with either extinction or
serious depletion in their range and that are formally listed as such by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
|
| Engineered barrier
|
In the context of a high-level waste repository, a barrier to release of
radioactivity made by man, such as a corrosion- resistant container.
|
| Enriched uranium
|
Uranium enriched in the fissile nuclide U-235.
|
| Epicenter
|
The point on the earth's surface directly over the point at which
earthquake motion starts.
|
| Equivalent noise level (Leq)
|
A single-number representation of the fluctuating sound level in decibels
over a specified period of time. It is an average of the fluctuating level of
sound energy.
|
| Ergonomic factors
|
Environmental stresses such as repetitive motion and mental or physical
fatigue that can create health concerns when uncontrolled. Ergonomics is also
known as human engineering.
|
| Eutrophic
|
Rich in dissolved nutrients.
|
| Evapotranspiration
|
Loss of soil water by evaporation and transpiration.
|
| Explosives
|
See High explosives.
|
| Exponential notation
|
A means of expressing large or small numbers in powers of ten. For
instance, 4.3×106 = 4,300,000 and 4.3×10-5 =
0.000043. This relationship is also sometimes expressed in the form 4.3E+6
= 4,300,000, and 4.3E-5 = 0.000043.
|
| Exposure assessment
|
The determination of the magnitude, frequency, duration, and route of
exposure.
|
| External exposure
|
Radiation exposure from sources outside the body: cloud passage, material
deposited on the ground, and nearby surfaces.
|
| Facultative plant species Facultative-upland plant species Facultative-wet
plant species Fault
|
Species that are equally likely to occur in wetlands and nonwetlands.
Species that occur in nonwetlands 67 to 99 percent of the time. Species that
occur in wetlands 67 to 99 percent of the time. A fracture in the earth's crust
accompanied by displacement of one side of the fracture with respect to the
other and in a direction parallel to the fracture.
|
| Fault creep
|
Slow ground displacement usually occurring without accompanying
earthquakes. It may be of tectonic origin or result from oil or groundwater
withdrawal.
|
| Fault plane solution
|
A determination of the underground plane on which a slip occurs in an
earthquake; a determination of the focal plane. The distribution of
first-motion compressional and dilatational waves from an earthquake calculated
from many seismological stations.
|
| Fault zone
|
The region of rock failure along a fault.
|
| Feral FHWA Highway Noise Model
|
Escaped from domestication and became wild. A highway noise prediction
model developed for the Federal Highway Administration. Model input data
include average daily traffic levels; day/night percentages of autos and medium
and heavy trucks; vehicle speeds; ground attenuation factors; and roadway widths
(FHWA-RD-77-108, December 1978).
|
| Firing table
|
A table placed on a gravel or concrete pad on which experiments with
explosives are set up and, when ready, fired. The term is also used to refer to
the pad on which the test is conducted.
|
| Fissile
|
Capable of being fissioned by slow neutrons. The principal fissile
isotopes are U-233, U-235, and Pu-239.
|
| Fission
|
The splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus into two nuclei of lighter
elements, accompanied by the release of energy and generally one or more
neutrons. Fission can occur spontaneously or be induced by neutron bombardment.
|
| Flash x-ray
|
An x-ray apparatus that emits short pulses of x rays useful for examining
the behavior of rapidly changing mechanical systems.
|
| Floodplain
|
The valley floor adjacent to the incised channel of a stream, which may be
inundated during high water.
|
| Focal depth
|
The depth from the earth's surface to the point of initial rupture of an
earthquake.
|
| Focal plane
|
The plane on which the initial rupture of an earthquake occurs.
|
| Fold
|
A bend in strata or any other planar structure.
|
| Forbs
|
Herbs other than grasses.
|
| Frequency
|
Number of complete oscillation cycles per unit of time. The unit of
frequency is the hertz (Hz).
|
| Fuel-grade plutonium
|
Plutonium-239 with enough admixture of other plutonium isotopes (such as
plutonium-240) that it cannot be used in weapons although it can be used in
reactors.
|
| Funded construction
|
Construction for which Congress has already appropriated the necessary
funds.
|
| Fusion
|
The energy-releasing process in which atoms of very light elements such as
deuterium and tritium combine to produce heavier elements.
|
| g notation
|
Accelerations measured relative to the acceleration of gravity at the
earth's surface. Thus, 0.1g = 3.2 ft/sec2 or 98.3 cm/sec2.
|
| Gamma radiation
|
Shortwave-length electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus with
typical energies ranging from 10 keV to 9 MeV. Individual gammas considered as
particles are also called photons.
|
| Gamma spectroscopy
|
Analysis of the radionuclides in a sample by measurement of the intensities
of the various gammas given off.
|
| Gaussian plume
|
A plume of contaminants is said to be Gaussian when the contaminant
concentrations are greatest at the centerline and decrease to either side as
exp[-(x/s)2/2], where x is the distance from the centerline and s is the
distance to the point where the concentration is down to 37 percent of the
centerline concentration. See Standard deviation.
|
| General Plan
|
A compendium of city or county policies regarding long-term development in
the form of maps and accompanying text. The General Plan is a legal document
required of each local agency by California Government Code section 65301 and
adopted by the City Council or Board of Supervisors. The General Plan may also
be called "City Plan," "Comprehensive Plan," or "Master
Plan."
|
| Geodetic
|
Of, relating to, or determined by geodesy, which is a branch of applied
mathematics that determines the exact positions of points and the figures and
areas of large portions of the earth's surface, the shape and size of the earth,
and the variations of terrestrial gravity and magnetism.
|
| Geologic ages
|
The ages of rocks, formations, and so on. The present age is the Holocene
or Recent Age.
|
| Geometric center
|
A centroid is located in the geometric center of a zone, which is another
way of describing the focal point of land use activity. Locating the geometric
center is important because the model assigns proportionally more traffic to
that part of the surrounding roadway system. As such, the location tends to be
a compromise between the point in the zone where activity is most dense and the
need to place the centroid closer to the section of the roadway system where the
most traffic use is expected. (Traffic may not use the nearest main roadway
section if it does not lie along the direction of travel.)
|
| Geometrics
|
In traffic studies, the features of roadway design, roadway alignment,
grade, cross-section, access control, intersections, and interchanges.
|
| Glovebox
|
A sealed box in which workers, while remaining outside and using gloves
attached to and passing through openings in the box, can safely handle and work
with radioactive materials, other hazardous materials, and nonhazardous
air-sensitive compounds.
|
| Gray Gross alpha
|
A unit of absorbed dose equal to 100 rad. The concentration of all
alpha-emitting radionuclides in a sample.
|
| Gross beta
|
The concentration of all beta-emitting radionuclides in a sample.
|
| Gross gamma
|
The concentration of all gamma-emitting radionuclides in a sample.
|
| Ground acceleration
|
The intensity of the strong phase of ground shaking in units of g (earth's
gravitational attraction).
|
| Half-life, Biological
|
The time required for the body to eliminate one-half of an administered
dosage of any substance by regular processes of elimination.
|
| Half-life, Ecological
|
The time required for removal of one-half of the amount of a material
deposited in the local environment
|
| Half-life, Radioactive
|
Time required for a radioactive substance to lose 50 percent of its
activity by decay.
|
| Hazard Index (HI)
|
The ratio between the intake of a chemical and an acceptable health-based
reference level. A hazard index of less than 1 indicates a safe level of
intake.
|
| Hazardous waste
|
Any solid, semisolid, liquid, or gaseous waste that is ignitable,
corrosive, toxic, or reactive as defined by RCRA and identified or listed in 40
C.F.R. part 261.
|
| Health-conservative scenario
|
Refers to a scenario in which the highest possible source parameters are
used to predict the highest offsite concentrations. Also called the worst-case
scenario.
|
| Health physics
|
The science and practice of radiation protection and management.
|
| HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter
|
Filter material that captures entrained particles from an air stream,
usually with efficiencies in the range of 99.95 percent and above for particle
sizes of 0.3 micron. Filter material is usually a paper or fiber sheet that is
pleated to increase its surface area.
|
| High explosives (HE)
|
Chemically energetic materials with the potential to react explosively;
nuclear explosives are not included.
|
| High-level waste (HLW)
|
Radioactive waste resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.
Discarded, unreprocessed spent fuel is also high-level waste. It is
characterized by intense penetrating radiation and by high heat-generation
rates.
|
| Hispanic era
|
The period in California history from the arrival of the Spanish missions
in central California, circa 1776, to the start of the Gold Rush era in 1849.
|
| Historic resources
|
The sites, districts, structures, and objects considered limited and
nonrenewable because of their association with historic events or persons, or
social or historic movements.
|
| Holocene
|
A standard epoch of geological time, from 10,000 years ago until the
present.
|
| Hood
|
An enclosure or canopy provided with a draft to carry off toxic or
otherwise noxious vapors.
|
| Hotline
|
The line of maximum intensity in a downwind radiation pattern.
|
| Human genome
|
A set of chromosomes with the genes they contain.
|
| Hydraulic head
|
Ground water pressure, measured as the height of a column of fresh water in
equilibrium with the water.
|
| Hydric soils
|
Soils that are saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough (7 days or longer)
during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in their upper layer.
|
| Hydrodynamic testing
|
Testing the properties of solid materials or the behavior of components
made of such materials by subjecting them to strong shock from explosives or
high-velocity impact.
|
| Hydrograph, rainfall
|
A graph of water level versus time.
|
| Hydrophytic vegetation
|
Vegetation that grows in water, soil, or on a substrate that is at least
periodically deficient in oxygen as a result of excessive water content.
|
| Hyetograph
|
A graph of rainfall versus time.
|
| Immediately-Dangerous-to-Life-or-Health (IDLH)
|
Immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations (IDLHs) represent
the maximum concentration from which, in the event of respirator failure, one
could escape within 30 minutes without a respirator and without experiencing any
escape-impairing (e.g., severe eye irritation) or irreversible health effects.
|
| Impact
|
The effect, influence, or imprint of an activity on the environment.
Impacts include direct or primary effects, which are caused by the project and
occur at the same time and place, and indirect or secondary effects, which are
caused by the project and are later in time or farther removed in distance, but
still reasonably foreseeable. Indirect or secondary effects may include
growth-inducing and other effects related to induced changes in the pattern of
land use, population density, or growth rate, and related effects on air and
water and other natural systems, including ecosystems.
|
| Infrastructure
|
Utilities and other physical support systems needed to operate a laboratory
or test facility. Included are electric distribution systems, water supply
systems, sewage disposal systems, roads, and so on.
|
| Internal exposure
|
Radiation exposure from sources inside the body: from materials ingested,
inhaled, or (in the case of tritium) absorbed through the skin.
|
| Intersection Capacity Utilization method
|
In traffic studies, a method for analyzing intersection operating
conditions by calculating a volume-to-capacity (V/C) ratio for each governing "critical"
movement during a traffic signal phase. The V/C ratio for each phase is summed
with the others at the intersection to produce an overall V/C ratio for the
intersection as a whole. The V/C ratio represents the percentage of
intersection capacity utilized. For example, a V/C ratio of 0.85 indicates that
85 percent of the capacity is being used.
|
| Inventory
|
The amount of a radioactive or hazardous material present in a building or
laboratory.
|
| Isoconcentration map
|
A map showing contours of equal concentration of the contaminant.
|
| Isotopic uranium analysis
|
Determination of the relative amounts of uranium present by gamma
spectroscopy.
|
| Jurassic
|
A standard period of geologic time, from about 181 million to 135 million
years ago.
|
| Kit fox biologist
|
See Trained kit fox biologist.
|
| Laboratories, heavy
|
Laboratories characterized by high-bay construction, overhead cranes, and,
in some cases, shielding. Heavy laboratories are typically used for large
research apparatus or large mechanical test equipment.
|
| Laboratories, light
|
Laboratories characterized by small equipment and apparatus. Light
laboratories are typically used for direct bench-scale research.
|
| Lagomorphs
|
Rabbits, conies, and hares.
|
| Land use
|
The purpose or activity for which a piece of land or its buildings is
designed, arranged, or intended, or for which it is occupied or maintained.
|
| Left-lateral motion
|
On a strike-slip fault, if one stands on one side of the slip facing it,
the other side is displaced to the left.
|
| Level of Service (LOS)
|
In traffic studies, the different operating conditions that occur in a lane
or roadway when accommodating various traffic volumes. A qualitative measure of
the effect of traffic flow factors such as special travel time, interruptions,
freedom to maneuver, driver comfort, convenience, and (indirectly) safety and
operating cost. In this study, levels of service are described by a letter
rating system of A through F, with LOS A indicating stable traffic flow with
little or no delays and LOS F indicating excessive delays and jammed traffic
conditions.
|
| Liquefaction
|
A type of soil failure in which a mass of saturated soil is transformed
from a solid to a liquid state.
|
| Lithic scatter
|
Concentrations of stone once used for the manufacture of artifacts. The
stone includes finished artifacts, roughly formed artifacts, the cores of the
stone from which they were made, and the waste flakes from the manufacturing
process.
|
| Livermore Atmospheric Propagation Model (LAP)
|
A computer code developed by LLNL to compute the trajectories of rays
(waves) that radiate from a point source following a detonation. The code
includes the weather conditions both at the source and downstream.
|
| Low-level waste (LLW)
|
Waste that contains radioactivity and is not classified as high-level
waste, transuranic waste, or spent nuclear fuel or byproduct material.
|
| Low specific activity
|
"'Low Specific Activity material (LSA)' means any of the following: "(1)
Uranium or thorium ores and physical or chemical concentrates of those ores. "(2)
Unirradiated natural or depleted uranium or unirradiated natural thorium. "(3)
Tritium oxide in aqueous solutions provided the concentration does not exceed
5.0 millicuries per milliliter. "(4) Material in which the radioactivity is
essentially uniformly distributed and in which the estimated average
concentration of contents does not exceed: "(i) 0.0001 millicurie per gram
of radionuclides for which the A2 quantity* is not more than .05 curie; "(ii)
0.005 millicurie per gram of radionuclides for which the A2 quantity* is more
than .05 curie, but not more than 1 curie; or "(iii) 0.3 millicurie per
gram of radionuclides for which the A2 quantity* is more than 1 curie. "(5)
Objects of nonradioactive materials externally contaminated with radioactive
material, provided that the radioactive material is not readily dispersible and
the surface contamination, when averaged over an area of 1 square meter, does
not exceed 0.0001 millicurie (220,000 disintegrations per minute) per square
centimeter of radionuclides for which the A2 quantity* is not more than .05
curie, or 0.001 millicurie (2,200,000 disintegrations per minute) per square
centimeter for other radionuclides" (49 C.F.R. section 173.403(n)). * "`A2
quantities' are the maximum activities of radioactive material permitted in the
package being transported. These quantities are listed in 49 C.F.R. 173.435;
they depend on the isotopes included(49 C.F.R. 173)."
|
| Machine count
|
A traffic count made using an automatic counting machine that tallies
vehicles as they pass over a pressurized hose laid across a vehicle path.
|
| Magazine
|
An approved structure designed for the storage of explosives, excluding
operating buildings.
|
| Magnitude
|
A measure of the strength of an earthquake or the strain energy released by
it; the logarithm of the amplitude of motion recorded on a seismograph.
|
| Major emergency
|
To the fire department, an emergency requiring more than a one-company
response. Such situations include big fires, medical emergencies with multiple
casualties, and other special situations.
|
| Maximum credible accident
|
An accident that has the greatest offsite consequence from hazardous
material release and that has a frequency of occurrence greater than 10-6 per
year, when credit for mitigation is allowed. Such an accident is one of the set
of reasonably foreseeable accidents.
|
| Melanoma
|
A skin cancer characterized by black pigmentation, given to metastasis.
|
| Metamorphic rock
|
Any rock derived from preexisting rocks by mineralogical, chemical, and/or
structural changes, essentially in the solid state, in response to marked
changes in temperature, pressure, shearing stress, and chemical environment,
generally at depth in the earth's crust.
|
| MeV
|
A unit of energy equal to 1.6×10-6 ergs or 1.6×10-13
joules. Short for "million electron volts," an electron volt being
the energy acquired by an electron when it is accelerated through a potential
drop of one volt.
|
| Microearthquakes
|
Very small earthquakes that can only be detected by seismometers.
|
| Microseismicity
|
Weak seismic signals in an earthquake region that are too small to notice
but that indicate continued slow slip.
|
| Midden
|
Characteristic soils containing cultural resources and other evidence of
use of an area, such as the decomposed organic remains of vegetal foods,
animals, and evidence of fires (e.g., ash, carbon, charcoal). Because of the
organic content, midden soils tend to differ from surrounding soils in texture
and color.
|
| Miocene
|
A standard epoch of geologic time between the Pliocene and Oligocene, from
about 28 million to 5.3 million years ago.
|
| Misfire
|
Failure of an explosive to detonate (completely) when the firing signal is
given. Also called a hang-fire.
|
| Mitigation
|
NEPA and CEQA define mitigation identically: "'Mitigation' includes: "(a)
Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an
action. "(b) Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the
action and its implementation. "(c) Rectifying the impact by repairing,
rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment. "(d) Reducing or
eliminating the impact over time by preservation and maintenance operations
during the life of the action. "(e) Compensating for the impact by
replacing or providing substitute resources or environments" (40 C.F.R.
1508.20; CEQA Guidelines 15370). NEPA also says regarding alternatives: ".
. . Include appropriate mitigation measures not already included in the proposed
action or alternatives" (40 C.F.R. 1502.14(f)).
|
| Mitigation measure
|
An action taken to reduce or eliminate environmental impacts. Mitigation
includes avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts
of an action; minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the
action and its implementation; rectifying the impact by repairing,
rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment; reducing or eliminating
the impact over time by preservation and maintenance during the life of the
action; and compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute
resources or environments.
|
| Mixed fission products
|
The ensemble of fission products resulting from the fission of a heavy
element such as uranium. See Fission.
|
| Mixed waste
|
Radioactive waste also containing RCRA-designated hazardous constituents.
|
| ML
|
Local magnitude. Logarithm of the maximum amplitude of ground motion from
an earthquake measured on a seismogram at a distance of 100 km from the
epicenter.
|
| Mode choice
|
A choice of means of travel (e.g., car, public transit, walking, cycling).
|
| Modified Mercalli Scale
|
An earthquake intensity scale, with 12 divisions ranging from I (not felt
by people) to XII (damage nearly total).
|
| mrem, millirem
|
1/1000 rem.
|
| MS
|
Surface-wave magnitude; magnitude determined from measurements of the
amplitude of seismic surface waves.
|
| Mutagen
|
A substance that causes genetic or inheritable defects.
|
| National Register of Historic Places
|
A register of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects
significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and
culture. It is in the Department of the Interior and was established pursuant
to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. section
470a).
|
| Natural uranium
|
Uranium as it occurs in nature. The natural substance is 99.28 percent
uranium-238, 0.72 percent uranium-235, and 0.0055 percent uranium-234. Only the
uranium-235 isotope is fissionable by slow neutrons.
|
| Negligible individual risk level
|
A level of average excess risk of fatal health effects attributed to
irradiation below which further effort to reduce radiation exposure is
unwarranted. The value recommended by the National Council on Radiation
Protection (NCRP) is 1 mrem.
|
| Network building
|
In traffic studies, redrawing the roadway system in a format that can be
understood by the model program. The extent of the network developed to
accurately study an area must take into account traffic expected to be generated
locally and from the surrounding region. A network looks like a simplified and
stylized version of a roadway map, with a series of straight lines (links) used
instead of curves. Links are coded with data such as their distance, speed of
travel, roadway capacity, and number of travel lanes.
|
| Noble gas
|
In this EIS/EIR, neon, argon, krypton, or xenon. With rare exceptions,
these gases do not enter into chemical reactions.
|
| Noncriteria air pollutants
|
Air pollutants other than criteria air pollutants. Pollutants for which
the EPA has not yet produced criteria documents. Only initial limits have been
established for these.
|
| Nonionizing radiation
|
Electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths greater than 10-7 m (1000Å),
such as laser, thermal, or radio-frequency radiation.
|
| Normal fault
|
A fault in which the block above appears to have moved downward relative to
the block below.
|
| Obligate plant species
|
Species that occur in wetlands most of the time (99 percent) .
|
| Open space
|
Any area of land or body of water set aside and left essentially unimproved
that is dedicated, designated, or reserved for public or private use or
enjoyment, or for the use and enjoyment of owners and occupants of land
adjoining or neighboring such open space.
|
| Oralloy
|
Enriched uranium.
|
| Order of magnitude
|
A factor of ten. When a measurement is made with a result such as 3×107,
the exponent of 10 (here 7) is the order of magnitude of that measurement. To
say that this result is known to within an order of magnitude is to say that the
true value lies (in this example) between 3×106 and 3×108.
|
| Overpressure
|
In a blast wave, the pressure above ambient. The pressure in the wave
rises sharply to the peak overpressure, then falls more slowly to and below
ambient.
|
| Packaging
|
In the NRC regulations governing the transportation of radioactive
materials (10 C.F.R. part 71), the term "packaging" is used to mean
the shipping container together with its radioactive contents.
|
| Paleontological resources
|
Fossils.
|
| Paleosol
|
A buried soil; a soil of the past.
|
| Path building
|
The development of travel paths for traffic. The model determines the
minimum impedance path from a selected origin to its destination. This would
depend on the variables related to the various possible routes, such as distance
and travel time or speed.
|
| Perched aquifer
|
An aquifer containing unconfined ground water separated from an underlying
main body of ground water by an unsaturated zone.
|
| Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
|
Occupational exposure limits endorsed by OSHA. May be for short term or
8-hour duration exposure.
|
| Person-rem
|
A unit of collective dose.
|
| Petroglyph
|
Art that was carved or inscribed into bedrock by historic or prehistoric
people.
|
| pH
|
The negative logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a liquid
measured in gram equivalents per liter. A pH of 7 is neutral; smaller numbers
indicate an acid condition, larger ones a basic condition.
|
| Phenologic period
|
Period during the year when characteristic activities take place, such as
(for vegetation) flowering and fruiting.
|
| Piercing point
|
A point at which an underlying structure penetrates to the earth's surface.
|
| Plasma
|
A cloud of charged particles containing about equal numbers of positive
ions and electrons and exhibiting some properties of a gas but differing from a
gas in being a good conductor of electricity and being affected by magnetic
fields.
|
| Plate tectonics
|
A theory of global-scale dynamics involving the movement of rigid plates of
the earth's crust.
|
| Pleistocene
|
A standard epoch of geological time, from about 1.6 million to 10,000 years
ago.
|
| Pliocene
|
A standard epoch of geological time, from about 5.3 million to 1.6 million
years ago.
|
| Plunge
|
The inclination of a linear geologic structure measured as the angle it
makes with the horizontal.
|
| Plutonium
|
An artificial fissile metal of atomic number 94.
|
| Plutonium-239–equivalent activity
|
A radioactive hazard index factor that relates the radiotoxicity of
transuranic nuclides to that of plutonium-239.
|
| Population exposure
|
The collective radiation dose received by a population group. See
Collective dose equivalent.
|
| ppb
|
Parts per billion; equivalent to mg/kg when referring to contaminant
concentrations in soils; equivalent to mg/L when referring to contaminant levels
in ground water.
|
| ppm
|
Parts per million.
|
| Prehistoric resources
|
See Cultural resources (prehistoric).
|
| Primary and secondary containment
|
Primary containment is that set of engineered safety features immediately
around a radioactive or hazardous material designed to prevent its release;
secondary containment is the set of backup features outside the primary
containment.
|
| Probabilistic
|
With results taking into account the probability of occurrence.
Probabilistic calculations sometimes combine the results of several
deterministic calculations, weighting their results by their probabilities.
See Deterministic.
|
| Programmatic EIS
|
An EIS that, when complete, will examine a nationwide issue. The two that
are related to the present decisions are the Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for the Integrated Restoration and Waste Management Program (55 FR
42633, October 22, 1990) and the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for
Reconfiguration of DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex (56 FR 5590, February 11, 1991).
|
| Prompt radiation
|
Gamma or neutron radiation emitted during the fission process is said to be
prompt (within microseconds) or delayed (as much as seconds).
|
| Protective (Preventive) Action Guide
|
FDA-recommended levels of radiation exposure above which actions should be
taken to prevent or reduce the radioactive contamination of human food or animal
feeds.
|
| Pyrotechnic material
|
A combustible substance such as gunpowder that gives off a display of
sparks when burning.
|
| Quaternary
|
The period of geologic time since the end of the Pliocene, comprising the
Pleistocene and Holocene, from about 1.6 million years ago to the present.
|
| Rad
|
A unit of absorbed dose equal to 100 erg/g. The equivalent 51 unit is the
gray, abbreviated Gy; 1 Gy=100 rad.
|
| Radiation source
|
In context, a small sealed source of ionizing radiation. Sealed sources
are generally used to supply a material that has a known radiation intensity or
a specific type of radiation and are not easily dispersed or altered chemically
under normal use.
|
| Radioactive material
|
Any material having a specific activity greater than 0.002 microcuries per
gram, as defined by 49 C.F.R. part 173.4-3(y).
|
| Radioactive waste
|
Material that contains radionuclides regulated under the Atomic Energy Act
of 1954, as amended, and is of negligible economic value given the cost of
recovery.
|
| Radioactivity
|
The properties that certain nuclides have of spontaneously emitting
particles, gamma radiation, or x radiation.
|
| Radionuclide
|
An unstable nuclide of an element that decays or disintegrates
spontaneously, emitting radiation.
|
| Radius of impact
|
The distance to which a specified peak overpressure will extend. In this
EIS/EIR, the level at which it is calculated is 1 psi.
|
| RADTRAN
|
An NRC-approved code for estimating the radiological impacts of
transportation of radioactive materials.
|
| Ray-trajectory method
|
A method of following the propagation of individual acoustic rays through
the atmosphere as they are refracted by changes in sound speed with height above
the ground.
|
| RCRA Part B permit
|
A permit issued by the EPA under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
that would have allowed LLNL to operate landfills at LLNL Site 300 for the
disposal of debris from high explosives tests.
|
| Reasonably foreseeable
|
An accident whose impacts "have catastrophic accident consequences,
even if their probability of occurrence is low, provided that the analysis of
the impacts is supported by credible scientific evidence, is not based on pure
conjecture, and is within the rule of reason" (10 C.F.R. part
1502.22(b)(4)).
|
| Refraction
|
The change in direction of propagation of a sound upon passage into a
medium with different sound speed.
|
| Relative risk
|
An expression of excess risk based on the assumption that the excess risk
from radiation exposure depends on the underlying natural risk.
|
| Release fraction
|
The fraction of the amount of a substance present that is released in an
accident.
|
| Relevé
|
A descriptive technique for sampling vegetation.
|
| Rem
|
The special unit of dose equivalent that expresses the effective dose
calculated for all radiation on a common scale. It is the absorbed dose in rads
multiplied by certain modifying factors (e.g., the quality factor). The
equivalent SI unit is the sievert, abbreviated Sv; 1 Sv=100 rem.
|
| Reserve capacity
|
The unused capacity of a vehicle travel lane. The number of additional
vehicles that could make a particular turning movement before that movement
reaches capacity.
|
| Response spectra
|
Spectral content of earthquake accelerations for specified peak
accelerations and damping factors.
|
| Resuspension
|
The process by which material deposited on the ground is again made
airborne, such as by wind or vehicle disturbance.
|
| Retention tanks
|
Tanks in which liquid wastes and other effluents are held pending
determination of what, if any, treatment they require before disposal.
|
| Reserve capacity
|
The unused capacity of a vehicle travel lane. The number of additional
vehicles that could make a particular turning movement before that movement
reaches capacity.
|
| Reverse fault
|
A fault dipping steeper than 45·, in which the block above appears to
have moved upward relative to the block below.
|
| Right-lateral motion
|
On a strike-slip fault, if one stands on one side of the slip facing it,
the other side is displaced to the right.
|
| Riparian
|
Located along the banks of streams, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of
water.
|
| Risk assessment or analysis
|
Integration of the toxicity and exposure assessment into qualitative and
quantitative expressions of risk.
|
| Risk estimator
|
A number used to convert the measured or calculated effective dose
equivalent to estimates of latent fatal cancers that can be attributed to the
exposure.
|
| Rock shelter
|
An opening in exposed rock of sufficient size to allow people to be
sheltered from the weather. Used by both historic and prehistoric people, rock
shelters contain midden deposits, grinding holes, evidence of fires, artifacts,
and sometimes artwork carved or inscribed onto the walls of the shelters.
|
| Run card
|
A fire department folder that contains information on a building that would
be useful on a call, such as a response plan, building layout, location and
nature of special hazards, and names of key people.
|
| Satellite waste accumulation area
|
The initial point of waste accumulation at waste-generating facilities.
Waste is held here for later transfer to the waste management organization.
|
| Saturated zone
|
The zone of soil and rock below the water table.
|
| Scat
|
Animal droppings, feces.
|
| Scenario
|
A particular chain of hypothetical circumstances that could, in principle,
release radioactivity or hazardous chemicals from a storage and handling site,
or during a transportation accident.
|
| Screening-level assessment
|
An assessment of potential health effects used to determine relative risks
of various procedures and/or hazards.
|
| Sealed source
|
In context, a small source of ionizing radiation. Sealed sources are
generally used to supply a material that has a known radiation intensity or a
specific type of radiation and are not easily dispersed or altered chemically
under normal use.
|
| Section 106 process
|
A process under the National Historic Preservation Act for identifying,
evaluating, and nominating historic properties for inclusion in the National
Register.
|
| Sedimentary rock
|
A rock resulting from the consolidation of loose sediment that has
accumulated in layers.
|
| Seeps
|
A spot where water or petroleum oozes from the earth, often forming the
source of a small trickling stream.
|
| Seiche
|
A wave oscillation of the surface of water in an enclosed basin (such as
lake or bay) initiated by an earthquake or changes in atmospheric pressure.
|
| Seismogenic source
|
A fault capable of producing earthquakes.
|
| Shear
|
Force or motion tangential to the section on which it acts.
|
| Sievert (Sv)
|
A unit of dose equivalent equal to 100 rem.
|
| Significant effect
|
As defined by CEQA, a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse
change in any of the physical conditions within the area affected by the
project, including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and
objects of historic or aesthetic significance. An economic or social change by
itself shall not be considered a significant effect on the environment. A
social or economic change related to physical change may be considered in
determining whether the physical change is significant.
|
| Sitewide EIS
|
An EIS that examines the environmental impacts of the operation of a
complete site, not just of a particular activity within it.
|
| Slickensides
|
A smoothly striated surface that results from friction along a fault plane.
|
| Slip
|
To move or displace; a movement dislocating adjacent blocks of crust
separated by a fault.
|
| Sludge
|
Precipitated solid matter produced by water and sewage treatment processes.
In the context of this EIS/EIR, also the moist precipitate resulting from the
dewatering of hazardous waste.
|
| Solid waste
|
Any nonhazardous garbage, refuse, or sludge that is primarily solid; but
may also include liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from
residential, industrial, commercial, agricultural, or mining operations, and
community activities.
|
| Sound level
|
The quantity in decibels measured by a sound level meter satisfying
requirements of the American National Standard Specifications for Sound Level
Meters SI.4-1971. Sound level is the frequency-weighted sound pressure level
obtained with the standardized dynamic characteristic "fast" or "slow"
and weighting A or C.
|
| Sound pressure level (SPL)
|
The level of the A-weighted sound pressure referenced to 20 level
micropascal (for air).
|
| Source term
|
In a calculation of contaminant dispersion, the amount of that contaminant
assumed available to be dispersed.
|
| Special Isotope Separation (SIS)
|
At LLNL, the process of Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation applied to
plutonium.
|
| Special nuclear material
|
Plutonium, uranium enriched in the isotope U-233 or in the isotope U-235,
and any other material that, pursuant to the provisions of section 51 of the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, has been determined to be special nuclear
material, but does not include source material, or any other material enriched
by any of the foregoing.
|
| Specific activity
|
The amount of radioactivity per unit volume or mass.
|
| Splays
|
Divergent small faults that comprise a fault zone.
|
| Standard deviation
|
A description used in statistical theory for the average variation of a
random quantity. The root-mean-square deviation from an average value.
|
| Standard of significance
|
The limit of acceptable performance of the traffic network. Exceeding this
limit would constitute a significant adverse effect in terms of traffic
conditions.
|
| Strata
|
Plural of stratum which is a single sedimentary bed or layer.
|
| Stratigraphic offset
|
Displacement of a formerly continuous stratigraphic horizon.
|
| Strike (of a stratum or fault)
|
The direction of the line of intersection of a horizontal plan with an
uptilted geologic stratum or fault plane.
|
| Strike-slip fault
|
A fault in which the net slip is horizontal, parallel to the strike of the
fault.
|
| Surface faulting
|
As opposed to a thrust fault, a fault that does intersect the surface of
the earth; the displacement of ground along the surface trace of a fault.
|
| Syncline
|
A fold in rocks in which the strata dip inward from both sides of the axis,
where the youngest strata are in the core of the fold.
|
| Taxon (pl: taxa)
|
The name applied to a plant or animal group in a formal system of
nomenclature.
|
| Terraces
|
Relatively horizontal or gently inclined surfaces or deposit sometimes long
and narrow, which are bounded by a steeper ascending slope on one side and by a
steeper descending slope on the opposite side.
|
| Tertiary
|
The period of geologic time between the Cretaceous and the Pleistocene,
comprising the Pliocene, Miocene, Oligocene, Eocene, and Paleocene, from about
65 million to 1.6 million years ago.
|
| Thermoluminescent detector (TLD)
|
A dosimeter that operates on the principle that energy absorbed from
ionizing radiation raises the molecules of the detector material to a metastable
state until they are heated to a temperature high enough to cause the material
to return to its normal state accompanied by the emission of light. The amount
of light emitted is proportional to the energy absorbed.
|
| Thermonuclear
|
Related to the fusion process.
|
| Threatened species
|
A species that is likely to become an endangered species within the
foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
|
| Threshold limit concentration, total or soluble (TTLC or STLC)
|
California standards for determining whether a waste is hazardous. A solid
waste is considered hazardous if any of the extractable concentrations of its
toxic constituents (in mg/L) equals or exceeds the STLS and/or any of the total
concentrations of its toxic components equals or exceeds the TTLC. The
so-called Waste Extraction Test is used to determine extractable concentrations.
A liquid waste is hazardous if any of the total concentrations of its toxic
constituents exceeds the STLC.
|
| Threshold Limit Values/Time-Weighted Average (TLV/TWA)
|
Guidelines or recommendations that refer to airborne concentrations of
potentially hazardous substances. A time-weighted average TLV is an average for
a normal 8-hour workday or 40-hour workweek, to which all workers may be
repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse effect.
|
| Threshold of feeling
|
The intensity of a 120-dB sound produces a tickling sensation to human
ears. This level of sound is called the threshold of feeling.
|
| Threshold of pain
|
As the noise level is increased from the threshold of feeling, the tickling
sensation gives way to one of pain at about 140 dB, and this level is called the
threshold of pain.
|
| Thrust fault
|
A fault dipping less than 45·, in which the block above appears to
have moved upward relative to the block below.
|
| Tiger Team
|
A team set up by the Secretary of Energy in 1989 to assess the environment,
safety, and health operations at all DOE facilities to determine whether changes
were needed to improve the protection of the environment, safety, and health.
|
| Tonal contrast
|
A contrast in color value or hue in a photograph. Often referred to a
change or contrast in color along a linear trend in aerial photographs of the
earth's surface, suggesting the presence of a fault or structural boundary.
|
| Total detriment
|
The total number of deleterious effects (fatal and nonfatal cancers, severe
hereditary effects, other deleterious effects, and the associated morbidity)
that would eventually be experienced by persons exposed to ionizing radiation
and by their descendants.
|
| Toxicity assessment
|
Identification of the types of adverse health effects associated with
exposures and the relationship between the magnitude of the exposure and of the
adverse effects.
|
| Trace
|
A line on one plane representing the intersection of another plane with the
first one (e.g., a fault trace).
|
| Trained kit fox biologist
|
A trained kit fox biologist must have at least 4 years of college or
university training in wildlife biology or a related field, and have
demonstrated field expertise in the identification and life history of the San
Joaquin kit fox.
|
| Transect
|
A sample area (as of vegetation), usually in the form of a long continuous
strip.
|
| Transuranic (TRU) waste
|
Waste containing 100 nCi/g or more of alpha-emitting isotopes of elements
above uranium in the periodic table with half-lives of over 20 years.
|
| Trend (of a fault)
|
If the fault intersects the surface, the general direction of that
intersection.
|
| Trinomial designation
|
A numeric site designation assigned by the regional offices of the State
Historic Preservation Office for recording a prehistoric or historic site.
|
| Trip assignment
|
The allocation of vehicle trip ends to available routes between locations
in a traffic study area.
|
| Trip distribution
|
The allocation of vehicle trip ends to available routes between locations
in a traffic study area.
|
| Trip generation
|
The number of vehicle trip ends associated with (produced by) a particular
land use of a traffic study site.
|
| Trip matrix adjustment
|
This process factors the person trips generated to vehicle trips. The
vehicle occupancy factor is typically 1.5.
|
| Trip matrix balancing
|
This process converts a production-attraction matrix to an
origin-destination trip table.
|
| Tritiated water
|
Water in which one of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by a tritium
atom; sometimes shown as HTO.
|
| Tritium
|
A radioactive isotope of the element hydrogen, with two neutrons and one
proton in its nucleus. Common symbols for the isotope are, 3H, and T.
|
| TRU
|
See Transuranic waste.
|
| TRUPACT-II
|
The package designed to transport contact-handled transuranic waste to the
WIPP site. (TRUPACT=Transuranic Package Transporter)
|
| Tuff
|
A rock formed of compacted volcanic fragments, generally smaller than 4mm
in diameter.
|
| Type A packaging
|
"A packaging designed to retain the integrity of containment and
shielding . . . under normal conditions of transport as demonstrated by" a
water spray test, a free-drop test, a compression test, and a penetration test
(40 C.F.R. parts 173.403(gg), 173.465).
|
| Type B packaging
|
An NRC-certified container that must be used for the transport of
transuranic waste containing more than 20 curies of plutonium per package. Type
B packaging must be able to withstand both normal and accident conditions
without releasing its radioactive contents. These containers are tested under
severe, hypothetical-accident conditions that demonstrate resistance to impact,
puncture, fire, and submersion in water (49 C.F.R. part 173).
|
| U-AVLIS
|
At LLNL, the process of Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation applied to
uranium.
|
| Uranium
|
See Natural uranium.
|
| Uranium hydride
|
A bed of the porous form of the material used to transport and store
tritium.
|
| Vacuum-induced stripping or venting
|
A ground water treatment system in which a vacuum soil draws off volatile
organic contaminants for treatment and/or disposal.
|
| Vadose zone
|
The zone of unsaturated material in soil or rock above the water table.
|
| Valley fever (coccidioidomyocosis)
|
A fungal disease of the lungs endemic to the southwest United States
characterized in severe cases by high fever and extreme fatigue.
|
| Vascular plants
|
Plants characterized by channels or ducts for the transfer of sap upward
from the roots to their above-ground growing portions.
|
| V/C ratio
|
Volume-to-capacity ratio.
|
| Vehicle trip ends
|
A single or one-directional vehicle movement with either the origin or
destination inside a traffic study site.
|
| Vernal pool
|
A wetland created from standing water, typically in the spring, hence its
name.
|
| View corridor
|
A long, axial vista formed by regularly placed buildings or landscaping.
|
| Viewpoint
|
A location from which a site is visible.
|
| Viewshed
|
The geographic area from which a site is visible; a collection of
viewpoints.
|
| Volatile organic compound (VOC)
|
A compound containing carbon and hydrogen in combination with any other
element that has a vapor pressure of 1.5 psi absolute (77.6 mm Hg) or greater
under storage conditions.
|
| Volcanic rock
|
A generally finely crystalline or glassy igneous rock resulting from
volcanic action at or near the Earth's surface, either ejected explosively or
extruded as lava (e.g., basalt). The term also includes near-surface intrusions
that form a part of the volcanic structure.
|
| Waste Accumulation Area
|
An area specifically designed for temporary storage of wastes until they
are picked up by the waste management staff. Hazardous and mixed waste may only
be stored in these areas for up to 90 days. Radioactive waste may also be
stored in these areas prior to being transferred to Waste Management storage
facilities or being shipped offsite.
|
| Waste Generator
|
Any individual or group of individuals that generate radioactive, mixed, or
hazardous wastes at LLNL or SNL, Livermore. Waste generator responsibilities
are discussed in section B.3.1.1.
|
| Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)
|
A facility in southeastern New Mexico being developed as the disposal site
for transuranic and transuranic mixed waste, not yet approved for operation.
|
| Waste Management Facilities
|
One or more of the waste management units for LLNL Livermore site, LLNL
Site 300, and SNL, Livermore respectively.
|
| Waste Management Staff
|
Group of individuals whose sole responsibility is to manage wastes
generated at the Laboratories (including offsite leased properties) and perform
tasks associated with the management of those wastes.
|
| Wetland
|
Land or areas with abundant moisture, saturated or inundated during some
portion of the year, or plant species tolerant of such conditions.
|
| Wetland hydrology
|
Permanent or periodic inundation for at least 7 days during the growing
season.
|
| Whole-body radiation
|
Radiation to the whole body, as opposed to individual organs or parts of
the body.
|
| Wind rose
|
Diagram showing wind speeds and directions from which they blow.
|
| Work station waste management unit
|
See Satellite waste accumulation area.
|
| Zoning
|
The division of a city or county by legislative regulations into areas, or
zones, that specify allowable uses for real property and size restrictions for
buildings within these areas; a program that implements the policies of the
General Plan.
|
| Zoning District
|
A designated section of a city or county wherein prescribed land use
requirements and building and development standards are uniform.
|
