Appendix A Glossary

Appendix A

Glossary

Attenuation A reduction in concentration of a contaminant with increasing

distance from the source. Attenuation is specifically used in this document to

describe reductions in leachate concentrations as a result of mixing with

groundwater, adsorption of contaminants in foundation soils, degradation,

volatilization, and precipitation.

Aquatic habitat Bodies of water that serve as habitat for plants and animals.

Background sediment or soil Sediment used as a point of comparison for

plant and animal bioaccumulation evaluations.

Beneficial uses Placement or use of dredged material for some productive

purpose. Beneficial uses may involve either the dredged material or the

placement site as the integral component of the beneficial use.

Bioaccumulation The accumulation of contaminants in the tissues of plants or

animals through any route, including respiration, ingestion, or direct contact with

contaminated water, sediment, or dredged material.

Complete exposure route A set of chemical, biological, and/or physical

processes by which a receptor of concern (ROC) can come into direct

physiological contact with a contaminant of concern (COC).

Confined disposal Placement of dredged material within a confined disposal

facility (CDF). Confined disposal as used in the UTM does not refer to subaque-

ous capping or contained aquatic disposal.

Confined disposal facility (CDF) An engineered structure consisting of dikes

or other structures that extend above any adjacent water surface and enclose a

disposal area for containment of dredged material, isolating the dredged material

from adjacent waters or land. Other terms used for CDFs that appear in the

literature include "confined disposal area," "confined disposal site," and

"dredged material containment area." In the context of the UTM, CDFs may be

constructed in upland, nearshore, or island location types, and a CDF in any type

of location may contain terrestrial, wetland, or aquatic habitat.

Appendix A Glossary