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Definition
| A fire-resistant mineral that was once used extensively as insulation to strengthen other materials. |
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| As asbestos ages, asbestos fibers easily break down into tiny, very light filaments that stay in the air a long time when it is disturbed or exposed. |
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| Sealing off of disintegrating asbestos. |
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| Used as a pigment and drying agent in alkyd oil based paint; popular prior to 1978. |
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| Lead Based Paint Hazard Act (LBPHRA) |
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Definition
| Requires disclosure of the presence of any know lead based paint hazards to potential buyers or renters. |
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Definition
| naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas produced by the decay of other radioactive substances; can cause lung cancer. |
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| colorless chemical with a strong, pronounced odor, is used widely in the manufacture of building materials and many household products because of its preservative characteristics. |
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Definition
| colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that occurs as a by product of burning fuels such as wood, oil, and natural gas, owing to incomplete combustion. |
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| polychlorinated biphenyls |
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Definition
| Consist of more than 200 chemical compounds that are not found naturally in nature. |
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| nontoxic, nonflammable chemicals used as refrigerants in air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers. |
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Definition
| Can grow on almost any organic substance as long as moisture, oxygen, and an organic food source are present. |
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| water that exists under the earth's surface within the tiny spaces or crevices in geological formations. |
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| the natural level at which the ground is saturated. |
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Term
| hydraulic fracturing (fracking) |
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Definition
| the process used to extract natural gas from the deep layers of rock in which it is embedded. |
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Term
| underground storage tanks |
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Definition
| commonly found on sites where petroleum products are used or where gas stations and auto repair shops are or were located. |
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Definition
| defunct, derelict, or abandoned commercial or industrial sites, many of which are suspected to contain toxic waste. |
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| the process of laying two to four feet of soil over the top of the site and then planting grass on it to enhance the landfill's base through the cap to vent off accumulated natural gases created by the decomposing waste. |
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Term
| Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (or Brownfields Law) |
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Definition
| Signed in 2002; provides funds to assess and clean up brownfields, clarifies liability protections, and provides tax incentives toward enhancing state and tribal response programs. |
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| Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) |
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Definition
| Created in 1980; established a fund of $9 billion called the Superfund to clean up uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and to respond to spills. |
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Term
| Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) |
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Definition
| created an "innocent landowner" immunity status. |
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