Environmental glossary

Air emissions – discharge of harmful substances (pollutants), such as SO₂, CO, NO_x, and hydrocarbons from stationary, mobile and other sources

Components of the natural environment – earth, subsoil, soil, surface and ground water, air, flora, fauna, and other organisms, as well as the ozone layer and the near-Earth space environment, generally providing favorable conditions for life on Earth

Contaminant – a substance or a mixture of substances, the quantity and/or concentration of which exceed the limits set for chemical substances, including radioactive and other substances and microorganisms, thus having a negative impact on the environment

Environmental monitoring – a comprehensive system of actions that include monitoring the status of the environment, assessing and projecting changes resulting from natural factors and human activity

Environmental protection – carried out by governmental bodies, local self-governance bodies, non-governmental and non-commercial organizations, legal entities and individuals in order to preserve and rehabilitate the natural environment, to rationally use and reproduce natural resources, to prevent negative impacts from economic and other activities on the environment and to carry out environmental recovery

Inhibition – application of chemicals (inhibitors) to pipelines to slow down metal corrosion

Landfill – an environmental facility used for centralized accommodation, detoxification and burial (storage) of waste generated by industrial enterprises, scientific and research institutions and organizations and for the burial of solid household waste, preventing pollution of the air, soil, surface and ground waters and hindering the spread of pathogenic germs, etc.

Landfill for neutralization and burial of production and consumption wastes – a set of facilities used to accommodate industrial and household waste, completed and operated as per their design.

Negative environmental impact – an impact resulting from economic and other activities, with negative implications for the environment

Waste production and consumption– remains of raw produce, materials, semi-finished products or other products generated in the process of production or consumption. It is accommodated in designated locations as per the specified rules, with mandatory subsequent usage, processing or disposal and burial. In the oil industry, oil sludge , drill cuttings and drilling wastewater are the major examples of waste.

Waste management – accumulation, collection, decontamination, transporting, and disposal of waste.

Water intake – withdrawal of water from a body of water for drinking and domestic use.