Glossary of Environmental Terms
This glossary provides definitions for key terms used throughout Pollution Near Me. It is designed to help visitors understand the datasets, regulatory programs, and terminology that appear in our maps and dashboards.
- TRI (Toxics Release Inventory)
- A program run by the U.S. EPA requiring facilities to report annual releases of certain toxic chemicals into the air, water, and land.
- ECHO (Enforcement and Compliance History Online)
- An EPA database that tracks violations, penalties, and compliance records for facilities regulated under environmental laws.
- NPL (National Priorities List)
- The list of the most serious hazardous waste sites in the U.S., commonly referred to as “Superfund sites.”
- Superfund
- A federal program established to clean up contaminated sites, funded through the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
- Penalty
- A monetary fine imposed on a facility for violating environmental laws or regulations.