Advocacy Guide – Glossary

Terms and Abbreviations to Know

Terms A-D

  • Administrative Procedure Act (APA): The APA standardizes the process by which federal agencies create regulations, including publishing public notices, publishing final decisions, and providing public comment periods.
  • Air Quality Control Region (AQCR): Under the Clean Air Act, States set AQCRs to maintain air quality standards in each region, reporting nonattainment, attainment, and unclassifiable areas for meeting primary and secondary ambient air quality standards. 
  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): Under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ATSDR is a public health agency that works to protect populations from exposure to hazardous substances.
  • Clean Air Act (CAA): The CAA regulates air emissions from both stationary sources and mobile sources. It delegates the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants with the goal of protecting public health. 
  • Clean Water Act (CWA): The CWA regulates pollutants entering water bodies and surface water quality standards.
  • Clean Water Commission (CWC): Under Missouri’s DNR, the Clean Water Commission is a seven-member citizen’s board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. 
  • Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): The CFR is the codification of the rules published in the Federal Register
  • Community Advisory Group (CAG): A Community Advisory Group is created during Superfund site remediation, and consists of diverse community interests that includes local community members. A CAG can allow community concerns to be represented in the Superfund decision-making process.
  • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA): CERCLA, also known as Superfund, established requirements for abandoned hazardous waste sites and provided liability of those responsible for the release of hazardous waste at the sites. 
  • Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO): CAFOs are where animals are raised for agriculture in confined situations. A CAFO is defined by having either over 1000 animal units present or a site that discharges manure or wastewater into a ditch, stream, or waterway. They are regulated by the CWA under the “CAFO” rule.
  • Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ): The CEQ is a division of the Executive Office of the President, and implements NEPA through the interpretation of regulations and recommends national policy to the President.
  • Department of Energy (DOE): The DOE addresses issues surrounding energy, the environment, and nuclear challenges, emphasizing the use of science and technology. 
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): The HHS is a federal agency that focuses on protecting the health of U.S. populations.
  • Department of Interior (DOI): The DOI manages the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Parks Service (NPS). The USGS provides science on land use, water quality, and other natural resources. The NPS manages our national parks, monuments, and provides environmental impact studies on those sites. 

Terms E-H

  • Endangered Species Act (ESA): The ESA conserves threatened and endangered plant and animal species and their habitats, and is implemented by FWS and NOAA.
  • Environmental Assessment (EA): EAs are completed to determine if a federal action has a “significant” impact on the human environment. They include the need for the proposed project, the alternatives considered, and the environmental impact of the alternative options. Depending on the findings of the EA, an Environmental Impact Statement may be required.
  • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): An EIS shows the environmental impact of a proposed project, and may be required for developments that significantly impact the quality of the human environment.
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA drafts regulatory programs to comply with federal legislation, such as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. The EPA delegates to the Missouri DNR some of its authority to regulate air pollution, water quality, and beyond. The EPA retains oversight over Missouri’s implementation and enforcement efforts. Missouri is part of the EPA Region VII office, located in Lenexa, Kansas. 
  • EPA Superfund Program: EPA’s Superfund Program is responsible for cleaning up some of Missouri’s most contaminated land and responds to environmental emergencies, oil spills, and natural disasters. 
  • Farm Bill: the Farm Bill is a federal omnibus bill that covers a number of agricultural and food related programs, such as crop insurance, crop subsidies, and more. 
  • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA): FIFRA is a federal regulation for pesticide distribution, sale, and use, and states that the EPA must register all pesticides sold in the United States and approve that they do not have any “unreasonable adverse effects on the environment”.
  • Federal Register: The Federal Register is a daily publication where the federal government compiles public notices about a variety of topics 
  • Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI): Based on an Environmental Assessment, a FONSI may be issued if the agency determines that their proposed action will not significantly impact the environment, and documents how this conclusion has been reached.
  • Formerly Utilized Site Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP): FUSRAP is a program directed by the USACE, that directs the cleanup of sites contaminated by the United States’ early atomic weapons and energy programs. 
  • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): The FOIA gives members of the public the ability to access records from federal agencies through a request process.
  • Government in the Sunshine Act: The federal-level law that gives members of the public access to public meetings of federal agencies. 
  • Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA): HSWA are amendments to RCRA that emphasized waste minimization and phasing out of land disposal of hazardous wastes. It also made hazardous waste management standards more strict and increased the capacity for the EPA to enforce RCRA.
  • Hazardous Waste: Hazardous waste is waste that is harmful to human health or the environment. It is managed through RCRA.

Terms I-N

  • Mississippi River Collaborative (MRC): The MRC is a partnership of environmental organizations and legal centers from states surrounding the Mississippi River, with the goal of reducing pollution entering the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Mississippi River Network (MRN): MRN is a coalition of organizations from states surrounding the Mississippi River, with priority issues including protection of the Mississippi River through public awareness, promotion of sustainable agriculture, and restoration of wetlands, flood plains, and natural infrastructure.
  • Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA): MDA regulates pesticide use, animal health, and is responsible for food assistance programs.
  • Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC): MDC licenses hunting, trapping, and fishing. MDC promotes Missouri’s natural plant and animal wildlife. Outdoor sports and recreation enthusiasts can be good allies on environmental and conservation causes. 
  • Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS): The DHSS is Missouri’s public health agency and collaborates with other state agencies, like DNR, to help interpret health data and risks for people near an environmental threat. 
  • Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR): DNR is the first state agency to go to when looking for information about environmental protection. Most permits to pollute (e.g., air, water, soil) are issued by the DNR. The DNR directs other environmental agencies in Missouri, some of which are listed below. 
  • Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC): The PSC approves monopoly utility rates, including electric, natural gas, water, and telecommunications. The PSC has public comment periods, including public meetings, to solicit input when considering rate increases. The PSC has public hearings whenever a utility requests a rate increase. Information desks and testimony at these hearings can be a good source of information about current construction projects or renewable energy subsidies. 
  • Missouri River Restoration Implementation Committee (MRRIC): MRRIC includes federal, state, tribal, and stakeholder representatives from regions surrounding the Missouri River, to provide input about the Missouri River Recovery Program.
  • Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC): MRCC supports family farms in Missouri and works with rural Missourians to engage with public policies relating to farms and food.
  • Missouri State Parks: The Division of State Parks administers Missouri state parks, including programs in outdoor recreation and trails, and is directed by DNR. 
  • National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS): Required by the Clean Air Act, the EPA sets standards for six “criteria” air pollutants in the interest of protecting public health and the environment.
  • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): NEPA requires that federal agencies assess the environmental impact of their proposed actions, including decisions on permit applications, adopting federal land management actions, and constructing highways and publicly-owned facilities.
  • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits: NPDES Permits regulate point source discharge of pollutants into water bodies under the CWA, and includes monitoring and reporting requirements. 
  • New Source Review (NSR): NSR requires that stationary sources of air pollution receive permits prior to construction. 

Terms O-T

  • Potentially Responsible Party (PRP): PRPs are those who are identified by the EPA to be potentially liable for contributing to waste at Superfund sites. PRPs are usually asked by the EPA to investigate and perform cleanup before using Superfund funding.
  • Public Hearing: All legislation introduced in a given Legislative Session must receive a public hearing in a committee of jurisdiction before advancing to either the House or Senate floor. These are opportunities designed to collect public feedback regarding legislation.
  • Public Meeting: Local, state, and federal government agencies conduct frequent meetings. Federal and state laws require that many of these meetings be open to the public.
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): RCRA is a law that directs the management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. 
  • Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): The SDWA regulates public drinking water supply and its sources (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater wells) and sets standards for contaminants in the interest of public health.
  • Soil and Water Conservation Districts: Under DNR, Missouri has 114 Soil and Water Conservation Districts which direct soil and water conservation programs at a local scale.
  • State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO): Part of DNR, SHPO assesses and protects historic, architectural and archaeological resources in the state of Missouri.
  • Sunshine Law: Missouri’s Sunshine Law is the state-level version of the FOIA, allowing the public access to records from local and state agencies. 
  • Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA): SARA is an amendment to CERCLA, providing new tools to enforcement and increasing State involvement throughout the Superfund process. It increased focus on the impacts of human health and the importance of permanent solutions.
  • Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL): TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant that may enter a waterbody without exceeding water quality standards for that particular pollutant, and determines a pollutant reduction target.
  • Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): TSCA regulates chemical substances and/or mixtures from production to disposal states, including pre-manufacture notice, testing of chemicals, and record keeping. 

Terms U-Z

  • Underground Storage Tank (UST): USTs store petroleum and hazardous substances; groundwater is threatened by leaking USTs.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): The Corps manages and maintains everything involving the nation’s big rivers including floodplains, watersheds, dams, levees, locks, and navigation. The Corps is also responsible for the cleanup of radioactively contaminated sites related to the processing of uranium for nuclear weapons, called the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): The USDA administers several federal programs and issues regulations related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. This includes financial resources for conservation on agricultural land, organic production, nutrition assistance programs, and production of commodity crops such as corn and soybeans.