Groundwater in the Great Lakes Basin

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GLOSSARY
AST – above ground storage tank
Backlog – total number of LUST sites that are in the
process of being remediated as well as those that have not
yet begun to be remediated.
BTEX – the volatile organic compounds benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene and xylenes found in gasoline
DCA - 1,2-dichloroethene. Occurs in two forms known as
cis and trans which have similar properties. It is a highly
flammable, colorless liquid with a sharp, harsh odor. It is a
synthetic chemical used in chemical mixtures as well as to
manufacture solvents.
De Minimus Concentration – There are two requirements,
both which must be satisfied. First – the concentration
of a regulated substance in a UST system, when
mixed with a non-regulated substance, is less than 110
gallons of regulated substance when the storage tank is
full. Second – the UST system, of any size or capacity,
contains less than the reportable quantity of hazardous
substance or substances in the product stored, as identified
in the United States Environmental Protection
Agency Table 302.4 list of hazardous substances and
reportable quantities, when the storage tank is full.
DIPE – diisopropyl ether. Having the chemical formula
C 6
H 14
O, it is a colourless liquid that is slightly soluble in
water. Commonly used as an oxygenate for gasoline.
E10 – fuel blends of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline.
E85 – fuel blends of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.
EDB – ethylene dibromide, also known as 1,2-dibromoethene.
Having the chemical formula BrCH 2
CH 2
Br, it is
a colorless liquid with a mild, sweaty odor and is mainly
synthetic.
ETBE – Ethyl tertiary butyl ether. Having the chemical
formula (CH 3
) 3
COC 2
H 5
, it is a colourless, flammable,
oxygenated hydrocarbon. It has low volatility and
low water solubility. It has a high octane value and is
commonly used as an oxygenate in gasoline.
Ethanol – Ethanol fuel is a biofuel alternative to gasoline.
It is a liquid alcohol produced from the fermentation of
sugar or converted starch, which is then distilled and
dehydrated to create a high-octane, water-free alcohol.
It is used as an oxygenate additive for gasoline. It can be
combined with gasoline in any concentration up to pure
ethanol (E100) in an attempt to reduce the use of petroleum
fuels and air pollution.
Ethylbenzene – is an organic chemical compound having
the chemical formula C 8
H 10
. It is an aromatic hydrocarbon,
colorless, flammable liquid and smells like gasoline.
LUST – leaking underground storage tank.
Methanol – also known as methyl alcohol, methyl
hydrate, carbinol or wood alcohol. Having the chemical
formula CH 3
OH, it is a clear, colorless liquid with a faint
odor like alcohol. Can be used as an additive to gasoline.
MTBE – methyl tert-butyl ether is a fuel oxygenate that
is used in gasoline to reduce the atmospheric pollution
associated with automobile emissions.
Naphthalene – is a crystalline, aromatic, white, solid
hydrocarbon having the chemical formula C 10
H 8
. It is
volatile and occurs naturally in fossil fuels.
Orphaned Site – underground storage tanks that have
been abandoned and no financially viable responsible
party can be found.
Oxygenate – compound containing oxygen that is added
to gasoline in order to reduce emission.
PCB – polychlorinated biphenyls having the general
chemical formula C 12
H 10-x
Cl x
. There are no known natural
sources of PCBs. PCBs are oily liquids or solids that are
colorless to light yellow. PCBs have no known smell or taste.
PERC – perchloroethylene, also known as tetrachloroethylene
or tetrachloroethene. Having the chemical formula
Cl 2
C=CCl 2
, it is a nonflammable liquid at room temperature,
evaporates easily and has a sharp, sweet odor. It is a
synthetic liquid that is widely used for dry cleaning and
removing grease from metal.
TAME – tert-amyl methyl ether. Having the chemical
formula C 2
H 5
C(CH 3
) 2
OCH 3
, it is a volatile, low viscosity
clear liquid at room temperature which is highly flammable
and slightly soluble in water. Commonly used as an
oxygenate for gasoline.
TCE – Trichloroethylene is a colorless liquid commonly
used as an industrial solvent. Having the chemical formula
ClCH=CCl 2
, it is a nonflammable, colorless liquid with a
somewhat sweet odor and a sweet, burning taste.
UST – underground storage tank.
Underground Storage Tank System – a tank or combination
of tanks, including underground pipes connected to
the tank or tanks, which is, was, or may have been used
to contain an accumulation of regulated substances, and
the volume of which, including the volume of the underground
pipes connected to the tank or tanks, is 10% or
more beneath the surface of the ground.