A berm is a raised barrier, typically made of earth, used to control water runoff, reduce erosion, or serve as a visual or sound barrier. Berms are common in landscaping, construction, and environmental protection.
A buffer zone is a designated area used as a transitional space between two distinct land uses. This zone helps reduce the potential conflicts and impacts between differing land uses by providing a physical and sometimes functional separation.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a federal organization tasked with researching, monitoring, regulating, and enforcing laws related to environmental protection, to maintain and improve the health of the natural environment.
Hazardous waste is a type of solid waste that poses a substantial or potential threat to human health or the environment due to its quantity, concentration, or characteristics. Proper identification, management, and disposal of hazardous waste are crucial for ensuring safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
An irrigation district is a special-purpose, quasi-governmental entity designed to provide water and other utilities to rural areas, primarily for agricultural use.
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUSTs) are a major environmental concern, as they can release hazardous substances into the ground, posing risks to both the environment and human health.
A Mitigation Land Bank is a program designed to preserve environmentally sensitive natural land areas, including wetlands. The program is overseen mainly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Owners are required to set aside key portions of sensitive land, either on the development site or nearby, and they can sell credits to developers needing to offset the environmental impact of their projects.
The National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) is a professional association dedicated to advancing the field of environmental protection by promoting a community of environmental professionals who maintain high standards of practice.
The act of clearing up a contaminated site, involving specialized techniques and compliance with regulatory standards. Often referred to as 'remediation.'
A preservation district is a zoning designation covering environmentally sensitive areas, parkland, scenic areas, or historic districts, imposing strict limitations on land use to maintain the essential character of these sites.
A scenic easement is an encumbrance on the title to a property intended to preserve its natural or undeveloped state, often to protect the aesthetic or environmental values of the area.
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) is a law that confirmed the continued existence of the Superfund program and strengthened the enforcement of hazardous waste site remediation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
An Underground Storage Tank (UST) is a tank and its underground piping with at least 10% of its combined volume buried underground, primarily used to store liquids such as fuel products, industrial chemicals, or waste.
An Underground Storage Tank (UST) is a tank and its connected piping system that has at least 10% of its combined volume underground, commonly used for storing petroleum products or other hazardous substances.
Wetlands are areas of land where water saturation is the dominant factor determining the soil and the types of plant and animal communities living there. Commonly recognized wetlands include marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens.
