ABCD | EFGH | IJKL | MNOP | QRST | UVWXYZ
ABCD
Absorption
Any process that causes one substance to penetrate the inside of another substance. In cases of oil spill cleanup, oil is drawn into porous sorbent materials.
Acre
A unit of area equivalent to 43,560 square feet.
Acute Pollution
Pollution that either last a short time or is very severe
Adhesive
a substance used for sticking materials together
Air pollution
Degradation of air quality resulting from unwanted chemicals or other materials occurring in the air.
Aluminum Angle Berm
Are designed with 6061 aluminum angles spaced between 18" and 24" depending on the height of the berm. The berms offer a range of 6" to 24" sidewalls in standard lengths and sizes. Berm will fold up for compact storage and can be set up in minutes.
Anchor Point
a structural point on an end connector or along the length of a boom section designed for the attachment of anchor or mooring lines.
Ballast
weight applied to the skirt to improve performance.
Ballast water
Water taken on board a ship to control trim, list draught, stability or stresses of a ship.
Barrel
Unit of liquid measure equivalent to 42 US gallons.
Barrels per day (BPD)
In the United States, a measure of the rate of flow of a well, total amount of oil and other fluids processed or transported in one day.
Beach Raking
Used to remove tar balls (coagulated oil) left on beaches after a spill can be picked up by simply raking the beach
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
The rate at which organisms use the oxygen in water or wastewater while stabilizing decomposable organic matter under aerobic conditions.
Bioremediation
The process of accelerating the rate of natural biodegradation of hydrocarbons by adding fertilizer to improve nitrogen and phosphorus.
Bioremediation
Process which utilizes the use of microorganisms or biological agents to break down or remove oil
Blowout
Uncontrolled flow of oil or gas from a well that occurs when formation pressure exceeds the pressure applied to it by the column of drilling fluid.
Blowout Preventer (BOP)
Known in the industry as a BOP, this is essentially an enormous safety value that automatically seals the well if there is a problem.
Boom
A device to contain oil on water without impeding the water.
Bridle
a device attached to a boom to distribute the load exerted by towing or anchoring the boom.
Chronic Pollution
Pollution that is either recurring or continually present.
Clean Water Act
Passed in 1972, the objective of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA), is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of wastewater treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands. NOTE: This act was amended in 1977 and 1987.
Containment Booms
Floating barriers that corral the oil and keep is from spreading thus making oil removal easier
Controlled burning
This can effectively reduce the amount of oil in water if done correctly. It can only be done in low wind and can cause air pollution
Controller
A microprocessor that controls electro hydraulic valve functions.
Dispersants
Can be used to dissipate oil slicks and were widely used during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. A dispersant is either a non-surface active polymer or a surface-active substance added to a suspension of particles. Dispersants can rapidly dispense large amounts of certain oil types from the sea surface by transferring it into the water column. They will cause the oil slick to break up and form water-soluble micelles that are rapidly diluted. Watch and wait method is also used. In some cases the best way to fight an oil spill is to rely on Mother Nature and natural attenuation of oil and this is most effective in ecologically sensitive areas such as wetlands
Drain Plugs and Custom Fittings
Additional fittings and drains can be added to help effectively drain and transport spilled fluids.
Dredging
an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location. This technique is often used to keep waterways navigable.
Dredging
Utilized for oils dispersed with detergents and other oils denser than water
EFGH
Edge Skirt
Excess fabric welded to bottom of the berm that protects from wind uplift. The skirt can be staked down through the grommets on the edge of the skirt. If the surface is impenetrable, place sandbags onto the skirt to prevent uplift of the berm.
Effluent
wastewater or other liquid flowing from a reservoir or basin.
End connector
a device permanently attached to a boom used for joining boom sections to one another or to other accessory devices.
Environmental remediation
the removal of pollution or contaminants from environmental media such as soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water.
Floatation Chamber
enclosed compartment of air or other buoyant material providing floatation for the boom.
Floating Baffles
a guide or similar device constructed or placed in flowing water, wastewater, or slurry systems to cause more uniform flow velocities, to absorb energy, and to diver, guide, or agitate liquids.
Foam Wall Berms
Are enclosed or non-enclosed secondary containment berms with closed cell foam, square planks as the sidewalls. The berms offer a range of 4" to 12" sidewalls and cross seals allow for easing packing and setup. Non-enclosed foam walls are inserted on site while enclosed foam walls are sealed into place during the manufacturing process.
Freeboard
the minimum vertical height of a boom above the water line.
Freeboard
The part of the boom above the water that contains the oil and keeps from washing oil over the top.
Furling Lines
are typically cable or rope attached from the top of the floating baffle to the chain ballast in order help with moving or de-silting the floating baffle.
Gross Buoyancy
the weight of fresh water displaced by a boom totally submerged.
Gross Buoyancy to Weight Ratio
gross buoyancy divided by boom weight.
Ground Pad
Protect the bottom of the berm from the terrain with an 8 ounce geotextile pad. Ground pad dimensions match the berm's dimensions.
Handhold
any strap, handle, depression or other provision for grasping a boom by hand.
HazWoper
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) set of guidelines produced and maintained by the Occupations Safety and Health Administration that regulates hazardous waste operations and emergency services conducted around inside of the United States and its territories. The auspices of this regulation are an effort for the US Government to regulate hazardous wastes and dangerous goods from the inception into society and their handling throughout the lifetime of that hazardous waste or material.
Heat Gun
is a device used to emit a stream of hot air, usually at temperatures between 200 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit
Heavy Duty Disposal Bags with Ties
polyethylene bags that prevent tears, punctures and broken bags. Bags are used to store waste prior to disposal.
Hinge
a location between boom segments where a boom can be folded back 180 degrees upon itself.
Horsepower
The work produced per unit of time.
Hose
A flexible line.
Hose Bridge
Welded aluminum tubing that protects berm walls from cables and hoses placed into the berm. Each unit is custom fabricated to hold the weight of hoses and cables while keeping the berm wall upright.
Hydraulic
Operating by the pressure of a fluid.
Hydraulic motor
A device for converting fluid energy into mechanical force and motor, usually rotary motion.
Hydraulics
The engineering science of liquid pressure and flow.
Hydrophobic
Water repelling.
IJKL
Influent
wastewater or other liquid flowing into a reservoir or basin.
Lifting point
a structural point on the end connector or along the length of a boom section designed for attachment of a lifting device, such as a crane.
MNOP
Membrane
continuous portion of a boom that serves as a barrier to the movement of a substance.
Miracle Sorb
granular sorbent used to absorb oil in the case of a spill
Oil
Oil of any kind or any form including petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, and oil mixed with other waste.
Oil
Oil of any kind or in any form, including petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil.
Oil Sorbents or oil absorbents
Often used to absorb the oil by collecting the hydrocarbons and not the water
Oil spill cleanup
The collection and removal of oil that has been accidentally introduced to an environment
Oil Spill Kit
a collection of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), materials and equipment used to properly clean up a spill
Oil-Only Sorbent Boom
5" and 8" diameter absorbent booms used to contain and absorb oil
Oil-Only Sorbent Pads
17" x 19" absorbent pads used to absorb oil
Oleophilic
Oil loving, having a strong affinity for it.
Oleophilic skimmer
Type of skimmer that recovers oil that absorbs oil.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. Congress established the agency under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which President Richard M. Nixon signed into law on December 29, 1970. OSHA's mission is to "assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance". The agency is also charged with enforcing a variety of whistleblower statutes and regulations.
OSRO
Oil Spill Removal Organization.
Patch
a piece of 22, 24 or 40 ounce fabric applied to a damaged piece of fabric on an oil spill containment boom
Pneumatic
Using air pressure to move or work.
Poly Drum
corrosion-free polyethylene drums that come in sizes of 5, 30, 55 and 95 gallons. Drums are used to store PPE, materials and equipment as well as waste in the event of a spill. All drums have a lid with a lever-lock to keep items inside dry.
PPE
Personal protective equipment.
PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards, and airborne particulate matter. Protective equipment may be worn for job-related occupational safety and health purposes.
Pressure
Forcer of a fluid per unit area, usually expressed in pounds per inch.
Pump
A device which converts mechanical force into hydraulic fluid power. Basic design types are gear, valve and piston units.
QRST
Reportable Injury
Employers, not employees, determine whether an injury is reportable. The employer may refer the employee to a doctor to determine if the injury is reportable to OSHA but is not required to do so. The injury must be work related. A work-related injury includes injuries or illnesses that are a direct result of the work environment of the employee. If an employee injures himself while on a break, the injury is considered work related and reportable as long as it occurred during normal working hours.
Reserve Buoyancy
gross buoyancy minus boom weight.
Reservoir
A container for keeping supply of working fluid in a hydraulic system.
Retention Time
average period of time wastewater stays in a treatment system.
Roller
a cylinder that rotates around a central axis used to apply pressure onto a patch for repairing a tear in an oil spill containment boom
Rubber Gloves
used to protect hands while cleaning up an oil spill
Safety Glasses
toughened glasses or goggles for protecting the eyes from splashes and irritating vapors
Silt Curtain
A flexible fabric barrier attached to a floating boom that prevents the spread of solid
particulate (silt) in the water. Silt curtains are often used near construction zones
where large amounts of silt may be disturbed.
Skimmer
A device to remove oil from the water without changing its physical or chemical properties.
Skimming
Requires relatively calm waters and can utilize mechanical devices that effectively remove the oil from water by skimming the oil off the surface of the water
Skirt
the continuous portion of a boom below the floats.
Skirt
The subsurface part of a boom that prevents oil from being carried underneath the boom.
Solidifying
Happens when solidifiers are composed of dry hydrophobic polymers that absorb. The cleanup of spills by changing the physical state of the spilled oil from a liquid to a semi-solidified or rubber like material that floats on water. Solidifiers have proven to be relatively non-toxic to aquatic and animal life. Some solidifiers are biodegradable and can be deposited in landfills
SPCC Plan
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Rule provides requirements for oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response to prevent oil discharges to navigable waters and adjoining shorelines.
SPCC Plan
Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan. An oil spill prevention and control plan required by the EPA.
Spill Kits
A spill kit is a collection of items used for oil spill cleanup, packaged in a convenient
kit which helps ensures immediate response.
Stiffener
a component that provides support to the membrane.
Tension member
any component that carries horizontal (axial) tension loads imposed upon an oil spill containment boom.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
include all particles suspended in water which will not pass through a filter.
Track Guard
Protect berms from heavy truck traffic with Acme's reinforced belting guards. Each guard is 36" wide and extends an addition foot on each end of the berm. Track guards are ordered in sets of two.
Travel Bag
Custom 22 ounce PVC bag with handles that allow for easy transport and efficient storage. Travel bag not available for all berm types and sizes.
UVWXYZ
Urethane or Polyurethane
A polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links
Valve
A device which controls either pressure of fluids, direction of fluids or rate of flow.
Vapor Sock
A urethane-coated fabric tube which covers vent tubes on petroleum tanks,
controlling the release of contaminants into the atmosphere.
Viscosity
The gummy or sticky texture quality of oil. It depends on the type of oil molecule and the temperature.
Wastewater
the used water and solids from a community to a treatment plant. Storm water, surface water, and groundwater infiltration also may be included in the wastewater that enters wastewater treatment plant.
Weir skimmer
Type of skimmer that allows oil to flow over the top edge of the weir into the collecting vessel.