Is there a glossary of environmental terms? How can I locate what an EPA abbreviation or acronym means?

"Terms of Environment defines in non-technical language the more commonly used environmental terms appearing in EPA publications, news releases, and other Agency documents available to the general public, students, the media, and Agency employees. The definitions do not constitute the Agency's official use of terms and phrases for regulatory purposes, and nothing in this document should be construed to alter or supplant any other federal document. Official terminology may be found in the laws and related regulations as published in such sources as the Congressional Record, Federal Register, and elsewhere.

Terms of Environment: http://www.epa.gov/glossary/

There are numerous other terminology resources on the EPA Web site.

A Terminology Repository, available through Terminology Services, consists of environmental terms, their relationships, definitions, and relevant metadata (e.g., synonyms) and a tool for the creation and management of terminology resources (e.g., glossaries, taxonomies, thesauri).

Terminology Services: http://iaspub.epa.gov/sor_internet/registry/termreg/home/overview/home.do

The following are topical and program related glossaries that are provided for your information. Some of these glossaries are provided in PDF format. If you need more information about PDF files you can view EPA’s "About PDF" Web page here: http://epa.gov/epahome/pdf.html

Air

Glossary of Climate Change Terms
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/glossary.html

Indoor Air Quality: Glossary of Terms
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/glossary.html

Ozone Layer Protection Glossary
http://www.epa.gov/docs/ozone/defns.html

SNAP Glossary
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/snapdefs.html

SunWise Program Glossary
http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/glossary.html

Pesticides

Pesticides: Glossary
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/glossary/

Waste

Abbreviations and Acronyms Commonly Used by the Office of Solid Waste (OSW)
http://www.epa.gov/waste/inforesources/pubs/abb-acro.pdf

Consumer Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste: Reusable Vocabulary
http://www.epa.gov/wastes/wycd/catbook/you.htm

Decision Maker's Guide to Solid Waste Management Glossary, Volume II
http://www.epa.gov/waste/nonhaz/municipal/dmg2/glossary.pdf

Land Disposal Restrictions Glossary
http://www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/tsd/ldr/glossary.htm

Radiation Glossary (contains information about Mixed Waste)
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/glossary/index.html

RCRA Orientation Manual Glossary: Appendix C
http://www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/pubs/orientat/romapc.pdf

Water

NPDES Permit Writers' Manual: Glossary of Terms
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/glossary.pdf

Watershed Academy Glossary
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/watershed/wacademy/acad2000/glossary.htm

Other

Clean Energy Glossary of Terms
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/glossary.html

Integrated Risk Information System: Glossary of IRIS Terms
http://ofmpub.epa.gov/sor_internet/registry/termreg/searchandretrieve/glossariesandkeywordlists/search.do?details=&glossaryName=IRIS%20Glossary

National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center: Ag 101 Glossary
http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/glossary.html

Records: Glossary
http://www.epa.gov/records/gloss/

Glossary of Contracting-Related Terms
http://www.epa.gov/oam/glossary.htm

You may also find other useful glossaries by visiting http://www.epa.gov and typing "glossary" into the search box in the upper right corner of the page.

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Is there a glossary of environmental terms? How can I locate what an EPA abbreviation or acronym means?

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