glossary and acronyms - albertaglossary – page 2 alkalinity a measure of water’s capacity to...

Glossary, Acronyms and Abbreviations

Suncor Energy Inc. Lewis In Situ Project Environmental Impact Assessment February 2018

Glossary – Page 1

Glossary, Acronyms and Abbreviations

%EPT relative abundance of Ephemeroptera Plecoptera Trichoptera combined

°C degrees Celsius

µg/L micrograms per litre

µg/m3 micrograms per cubic metre

2D two dimensional

3D three dimensional

7Q10 seven day 1:10 year flow

7Q-10 discharge The 7Q-10 is the lowest 7-day average flow that has a 10% chance of occurring any year.

AAAQO Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives

AAC annual allowable cut

AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic

AAFRD Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development

ABMI Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute

ACFN Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

Acid soil A soil having a pH of less than 7.0.

Acidity Amount of both weak and strong acids expressed as milliequivalents of a strong base necessary to neutralize those acids.

ACIMS Alberta Conservation Information Management System

ACO Alberta Aboriginal Consultation Office

ADD average daily doses

AEM airborne electromagnetic data

AENV Alberta Environment

AEP Alberta Environment and Parks

AER Alberta Energy Regulator

Aerobic Environmental conditions characterized by the presence of dissolved oxygen; used to describe biological or chemical processes that occur in the presence of oxygen.


Glossary – Page 2

Alkalinity A measure of water’s capacity to neutralize an acid. It indicates the presence of carbonates, bicarbonates and hydroxides and, to a lesser extent, borates, silicates, phosphates and organic substances. It is expressed as an equivalent of calcium carbonate. The composition of alkalinity is affected by pH, mineral composition, temperature and ionic strength. However, alkalinity is normally interpreted as a function of carbonates, bicarbonates and hydroxides. The sum of these three components is called total alkalinity.

Alluvial deposits/ alluvium

Particles of minerals or rocks that are transported by a river and deposited along its valley.

Al-Pac Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc.

ALSA Aquatic Local Study Area

Amec Foster Wheeler Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure

Anaerobic Environmental condition characterized by zero oxygen levels. Describes biological and chemical processes that occur in the absence of oxygen.

ANC acid neutralizing capacity

Anoxic Aquatic environmental conditions containing little or no dissolved oxygen.

ANPC Alberta Native Plant Council

AOSA Athabasca Oil Sands Area

AOSC Athabasca Oil Sands Corp.

AOSERP Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program

API American Petroleum Institute

AQLSA Air Quality Local Study Area

AQMG Air Quality Modelling Guidelines

AQRSA Air Quality Regional Study Area

Aquifer Any water-saturated body of geological material from which enough water can be drawn at a reasonable cost for the purpose required. A common usage of the term aquifer is to indicate the water-bearing material in any area from which water is most easily extracted.

Aquitard A material of intermediate permeability between an aquifer and an aquiclude. An aquitard allows some measure of leakage between the aquifers it separates.

Argo amphibious all-terrain vehicle

ARSA Aquatic Regional Study Area

ARU acoustic recording units

ASL ambient sound level


Glossary – Page 3

ASWQG Alberta Surface Water Quality Guidelines

At Risk Any species known to be “At Risk” after formal detailed status assessment and designation as “Endangered” or “Threatened” in Alberta.

ATR Automated Traffic Recorder

ATS Advanced TriStar

ATV all-terrain vehicle

Available nutrients That portion of any element or compound in the soil that can be readily absorbed and assimilated by growing plants.

AVI Alberta Vegetation Inventory

AWCS Alberta Wetland Classification System

AWC-WPAC Athabasca Watershed Council-Watershed Planning and Advisory Council

Background concentration (environmental)

The concentration of a chemical in a defined control area during a fixed period of time before, during or after a data-gathering operation.

Background concentration (in an airshed)

Representative value obtained from monitoring data for the existing concentration of a pollutant for a given averaging period in the airshed.

Baseflow The portion of stream flow that is not runoff and results from seepage of water from the ground into a channel slowly over time. During extended periods of low precipitation, baseflow may account for most, or all, of the streamflow.

BBRC Back to Business Resource Centre

Bedrock The body of rock that underlies unconsolidated surficial material.

Benthic invertebrates

Organisms without a backbone and internal skeleton that live at the bottom of lakes, ponds or streams.

BFW boiler feed water

Bioaccumulation A general term, meaning that an organism stores within its body, a higher concentration of a substance than is found in the environment. This is not necessarily harmful. Many toxicants, such as arsenic, can be handled and excreted by aquatic organisms, so that they are not included among the dangerous bioaccumulative substances.

BLC Boreal Leadership Council

BLL blood lead level

BMF Biodiversity Management Framework

BMFO bulk mass fraction oil


Glossary – Page 4

BMP Best Management Practices

BOD biochemical oxygen demand

bpd barrels per day

BTEX benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene

Buffering capacity A measure of the ability of a soil or water system to neutralize acid input.

C&C conservation and construction

C&R conservation and reclamation

CAAQS Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard

CAC criteria air contaminants

Calcareous soil Soil containing sufficient calcium carbonate, commonly including magnesium carbonate, to effervesce visibly when treated with cold 0.1N hydrochloric acid.

CALGRID California Petrochemical Grid Model

CALMET California Meteorological model; used to process meteorological data for input into the CALPUFF model.

CALPUFF California Puff model, used to estimate ambient concentrations of substances in air, and deposition of those substances (e.g., acid deposition).

Carbonaceous BOD Biochemical oxygen demand accounted for by decomposition of organic carbon derived from plant and animal residues.

CASA Clean Air Strategic Alliance

CCME Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment

CCV critical chemical values

CDWQ summary of guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality

CEAA Canadian Environmental Enhancement Act

CEC cation exchange capacity

CEMA Cumulative Effects Management Association

CERI Canadian Energy Research Institute

CH4 methane

Channel The bed and banks that confine the surface flow of a natural or man-made stream.


Glossary – Page 5

Clay Clay refers to any of the following: (i) particle size term: a size fraction less than 0.002 mm equivalent diameter, or some other limit (geology or engineering); (ii) rock term: a natural, earthy, fine-grained material that develops plasticity with a small amount of water; (iii) soil term: a textural class; and (iv) Soil separate: a material usually consisting largely of clay minerals but commonly also of amorphous free oxides and primary minerals.

CN An empirical parameter (curve number) used in the Soil Conservation Service hydrologic model for predicting direct runoff or infiltration from rainfall excess.

CNRL Canadian Natural Resources Limited

CO carbon monoxide

CO2E carbon dioxide equivalents

Cogeneration The simultaneous or sequential on-site generation of electrical power and process steam or heat from one process unit.

Composite sample

A series of samples taken over space and/or time to determine the average condition of an area.

Concentration (conc.)

Mass amount of a substance or material in a given unit volume of solution. Usually measured in milligrams per liter (mg/l) or parts per million (ppm).

Confined aquifer An aquifer with upper and lower boundaries that are composed of material with low permeability and where the groundwater pressure elevation is above the top of the aquifer. The water in a confined aquifer is called confined or artesian water.

Confluence The location where a lower order stream or river flows into a higher order stream or river as a tributary.

Consistence Soil consistence relates to: (i) the resistance of a material to deformation or rupture; or (ii) the degree of cohesion or adhesion of the soil mass.

Constituent A chemical or biological substance in water, sediments, or biota that can be measured by an analytical method.

COPC chemicals of potential concern

COSEWIC Committee on the Status of Endangered Species in Canada

COSIA Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance

cP Centipose

CPDFN Chipewyan Prairie Dené First Nation

CPF central processing facility

CPUE catch-per-unit effort

CRISP Comprehensive Regional Infrastructure Sustainability Plans


Glossary – Page 6

CSB clast-supported breccia

CT Alberta Culture and Tourism

CWQG Canadian Water Quality Guidelines

CWS Canadian Wide Standards

DBH diameter breast height

Decibel (dB) A unit of measurement of sound pressure that compresses a large range of numbers into a more meaningful scale. It is one tenth of a Bel - abbreviation dB. The Bel is a scale unit used to compare the magnitudes of powers. The number of Bels is the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of the powers.

Decibel A-weighted (dBA)

The sound pressure level filtered through the A filtering network to approximate the human response at low frequencies.

Decibel C-weighted (dBC)

The sound pressure level filtered through the C filtering network to approximate the human response at low frequencies.

DEM digital elevation models

Deposition The accumulation of material left in a new position by a natural transporting agent such as water, wind, ice or gravity; or by the activity of humans.

Depressional Describing an area that has an elevation lower than that of the surrounding area; any hollow, basin, or flat, low-lying area in the landscape.

Discharge Volume of water passing through a channel during a time unit.

dL decilitre

DO dissolved oxygen

Drainage area An area confined by drainage divides, commonly having only one outlet for discharge. Typically defined using topographic data.

Drawdown Lowering of water level caused by pumping.

DRS disposition reservation

dv deciview

e3m3/d 1,000 meters cubed per day

EAH East Athabasca Highway

EB Eastbound

Ecosite An ecosite is a functional unit defined by moisture and nutrient regime.

Ecosite phase A subdivision of the ecosite based on the dominant tree species in the canopy.

EC electrical conductivity


Glossary – Page 7

EI Employment Insurance

EIA environmental impact assessment

ELC ecological land classes

Electrical conductivity The ability of water to conduct an electric current per unit area divided by the voltage drop per unit length. Commonly used as an index of salinity and usually measured as decisiemens per metre.

Eluvial horizon A soil horizon that has been formed by the process of eluviation.

Eluviation The transportation of soil material in suspension or in solution within the soil by the downward or lateral movement of water.

EM&SD Environmental Monitoring and Science Division

Endangered species A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction in Canada. .

EPA Environmental Priority Area

EPEA Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act

Ephemeral stream A stream or reach of a stream that does not flow for parts of the year.

EPT:C The ratio of Ephemeroptera Plecoptera Trichoptera abundance to Chironomidae.

ER Exposure ratios

ERA ecological risk assessment

ERCB Energy Resources Conservation Board

Erosion Displacement of soil particles on the land surface due to water or wind action.

ESA environmentally significant areas

ESCC Endangered Species Conservation Committee

ESP electrical submersible pump

ESRD Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development

EUB Alberta Energy and Utilities Board

Eutrophic Term referring to peatlands that are relatively nutrient-rich; also refers to soils and waters with high nutrient content and high biological activity

Exceedance An emission or ambient concentration that has a measured value greater than allowed by government regulations.

Exceedance probability

The probability that an event of a given magnitude will be equalled or exceeded in a given period or interval of time. The interval is typically (but not necessarily) one year.

Exposure The contact between a chemical and a biological system or organism.


Glossary – Page 8

Exposure acute A short-term exposure usually occurring at high concentration.

Exposure chronic A long-term exposure, usually occurring at low concentrations.

ExxonMobil Canada ExxonMobil Canada Properties

f/m fractures per metre

FCSS Family and Community Support Services

FGD flue gas desulphurization

Fibric Organic materials containing large amounts of weakly decomposed fibres whose botanical origins are readily identifiable.

Flood frequency curve A graph of the fitted probability distribution of the annual flood discharge.

Floodplain A nearly flat, alluvial lowland bordering a stream that is subject to inundation by floods.

Fluvial (alluvial) material

Sediments deposited by flowing water.

FMA Forest Management Agreement

FMAOSS IRP Fort McMurray Mineable Oil Sands Integrated Resource Management Plan

FMFN #468 Fort McMurray #468 First Nation

FMI formation microimager

FMKFN Fort McKay First Nation

FMU forest management units

Forb A herbaceous plant that is not a grass, sedge or rush.

Forest licensee The holder of a forestry-related disposition (e.g., community forest licence, coniferous timber licence) who has been granted rights to manage and harvest timber in a specific area.

Forest management agreement

An area-based tenure agreement between a forest company and the landowner (government of Alberta), which provides the forest company the right to grow, harvest and remove timber.

Forest management unit

A defined area of forest designated by the government to be managed.

Frequency The number of times per second that the sine wave of sound or of a vibrating object repeats itself, now expressed in hertz (Hz), formerly in cycles per second.

Fur trade Between the 17th and 19th centuries the fur trade was a commercial enterprise across forested regions of North America, opening the continent to settlement.


Glossary – Page 9

Furbearers Mammals traditionally hunted and trapped primarily for fur.

FTIR Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

FWKO free-water knock-out

FWMIS Fish and Wildlife Management Information System

g/GJ grams per gigajoule

GDP gross domestic product

GHG greenhouse gas

GIS Geographic Information System

GJ/h gigajoule per hour

GMP groundwater monitoring program

Glacial (i) Of or relating to the presence and activities of ice or glaciers, such as glacial erosion; (ii) Pertaining to distinctive features and materials produced by or derived from glaciers and ice sheets, such as glacial lakes; (iii) Pertaining to an ice age or region of glaciation.

Glaciofluvial Material moved by glaciers and subsequently deposited by streams flowing from the melting ice.

Gley Gleying is a reduction process that takes place in soils that are saturated with water for long periods of time. The horizon of most intense reduction is characterized by a gray, commonly mottled appearance, which on drying shows numerous rusty brown iron stains or streaks.

Gleysolic soil Soil developed under wet conditions resulting in reduction of iron and other elements that creates gray colours and mottles.

GPS Global Positioning System

GR Gamma Ray

Grab sample A single sample taken at a given place and time.

Gravel (i) as a deposit term: glaciofluvial or fluvial materials with 60% or more coarse fragments (ii) as a particle-size term: a size fraction between 2 and 75 mm.

Great Group A category in the Canadian system of soil classification. It is a taxonomic grouping of soils that have common morphological features and that formed in a similar pedogenic environment.

GRI Global Reporting Index

Groundwater Subsurface water beneath the water table in soils and in geological formations (in the pores/voids within rocks both unconsolidated and consolidated) that are fully saturated. It is the water within the Earth that supplies water wells and springs.


Glossary – Page 10

Gully An erosional channel caused by the concentrated but intermittent flow of water during or immediately after heavy rains or snow melt. It is deep enough to interfere with and not be removed by tillage operations.

GSZ gas saturated zone

H2S hydrogen sulphide

ha hectare

Habitat The part of the physical environment in which a plant or animal lives.

Habitat effectiveness The ability of the habitat to support wildlife.

Habitat fragmentation The process by which habitat loss results in the division of large, continuous habitats into smaller, more isolated remnants.

Harvestable land base A specific area associated with a timber tenure agreement in which the tenure holder is allocated rights to harvest timber.

HHLSA Human Health Local Study Area

HHRA human health risk assessment

HHRSA Human Health Regional Study Area

HI Haze Index

HLSA Hydrogeological Local Study Area

HNO3 nitric acid

Horizon (soil) A layer of soil or soil material approximately parallel to the land surface; it differs from adjacent layers in properties such as color; structure; texture; consistence; and chemical, biological and mineralogical composition.

HP high pressure

HQ hazard quotient

HRA Historical Resources Act

HRSA Hydrogeological Regional Study Area

HRSG heat recovery steam generator

HSI habitat suitability index

Humic Organic material that is at an advanced stage of decomposition.

Hummocky A complex sequence of slopes extending from somewhat rounded depressions or kettles of various sizes to irregular to conical knolls or knobs.



Humus (i) the fraction of the soil organic matter that remains after most of the added plant and animal residues have decomposed, (ii) used in a broader sense to designate the humus forms referred to as forest humus; and (iii) all the dead organic material on and in the soil that undergoes continuous breakdown, change and synthesis.

Hydraulic conductivity A coefficient “k” depends on the physical properties of geological formation and fluid. It describes the ease with which a fluid flows through a porous material. “k” is the rate of flow per unit cross-sectional area under the influence of a unit gradient, and has the dimension of: length3/length2 x time or length/time (e.g., m/s) but should not be confused with velocity.

Hydraulic gradient The change in groundwater elevation per unit of distance in a given direction. If not specified, the direction generally is understood to be that of the maximum rate of decrease in head. This coefficient is dimensionless.

Hydraulic head A measure of the potential energy of a fluid. For groundwater, the hydraulic head at a specific point is the level to which groundwater will rise above a fixed datum (usually sea level) in an observation well.

Hydrogeology The science that relates to groundwater. Groundwater, as used here, includes all water in the zone of saturation beneath the earth’s surface, except water chemically combined in minerals.

Hydrograph A graph showing water surface elevations or discharge versus time.

Hydrostratigraphic unit

A group of water-saturated porous materials with similar hydraulic properties treated collectively as a single aquifer, aquitard or aquiclude.

Hz Hertz – a measure of a sound wave oscillation frequency

IARC International Agency Research on Cancer

ICU Intersection Capacity Utilization

IHS inclined heterolithic strata

ILCR incremental lifetime cancer risk

Illuvial horizon A soil horizon in which material carried from an overlying layer has been precipitated from solution or deposited from suspension as a layer of accumulation.

Illuviation The process of depositing material that has been transported in suspension or solution from one horizon in the soil to another, usually from an upper to a lower horizon in the profile.

Impeded drainage A condition that hinders the movement of water through soils under the influence of gravity.

Imperial Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited

INAC Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada



In situ Latin word for “in place”; in situ measurements consist of measurement of component or processes in a full-scale system or a field rather than in a laboratory.

Indeterminate A species for which there is insufficient scientific information to support status designation.

Industrial sample plot A plot established to research, measure, evaluate and compile data on forest growth.

Infiltration The downward entry of water into the soil.

Invertebrate An animal without a backbone or an internal skeleton.

IO Model input-output model

IRC Industry Relations Corporation

IRP Integrated Resource Plan

ISO International Organization for Standardization

ISQG Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines

IVIP initial volume in place

IVIPDB initial volume in place of developable bitumen

JOSMP Joint Oil Sands Monitoring Program

JOSMP Joint Oil Sands Monitoring Plan

keq H+/ha/y kiloequivalent of hydrogen ions per hectare per year

keq/ha/y kiloequivalent per hectares per year

kg/d kilograms per day

kg/h kilograms per hour

kg/ha/y kilograms per hectare per year

km kilometre

km/h kilometres per hour

km/km2 kilometres per square kilometre

kmol H+ Kilomole equivalent of H+ (hydrogen ion)

kPa kilopascal

kPag kilopascal gauge

kPaa kilopascal absolute (pressure)

kt/µ kilotonne per annum



L/d litres per day

L/ha litres per hectare

Land capability classification for forestry

A land capability rating system for tree growth. The land capability classification developed for the oil sands region is based on the nature and degree of soil limitations and on landscape factors such as slope, aspect, stoniness and erosion.

Landforms The various shapes of the land surface resulting from a variety of actions such as deposition or sedimentation, erosion and earth crust movements.

LARP Lower Athabasca Regional Plan

LCC land capability classification

LCCS Land Capability Classification System

Leaching The downward movement within the soil of materials in solution.

Leakage The flow of water from one hydrogeological unit to another. Leakage may be natural or anthropogenic.

LEL lowest effects level

Leq continuous energy equivalent sound level

Lewis Project Lewis In Situ Project

LFH litter, fibric, and humic surface organic material

LFN low frequency noise

LICA Lakeland Industry & Community Association

LiDAR light detection and ranging

LO lookout

LOAEL lowest-observable-adverse-effect-level

LOS level of service

Lower lift A soil layer below the upper lift, and of specified thickness, that is selectively removed, stored, and replaced as subsoil in the reclamation process.

Lowland Land that is saturated with water long enough to promote wetland or aquatic processes, indicated by poorly drained soils and hydrophytic vegetation.

LP low pressure

LSA Local Study Area

LT left turn lane

LUF Land Use Framework



m2 square metre

m3/d cubic metres per day

m3/s cubic metres per second

m3/y cubic metres per year

MAC Mining Association of Canada

MARP Measurement and Reporting Plan

masl metres above sea level

Mass balance An equation that accounts for the flux of mass going into a defined area and the flux of mass leaving the defined area. The flux in must equal the flux out to achieve a mass balance.

May Be At Risk Any species that “May Be At Risk” of extirpation or extinction and is therefore a candidate for detailed risk assessment.

mbgs metres below ground surface

MCFN Mikisew Cree First Nation

mD millidarcy

MDP Municipal Development Plan

Mean The numerical average of a set of observations; computed as the sum of the observations divided by the number of observations in the data set.

Median A middle statistic based on ranking a data set from the minimum to the maximum value. The median value divides the data set into so that one-half of the values are lower than the median and one-half of the values are greater than the median.

Medicinal plants Plants used as natural medicines.

Mesic Organic materials at a stage of decomposition between that of fibric and humic materials

Method detection limit (MDL)

The minimum concentration of a substance that can be measured and reported with 99% confidence that the analyte concentration is greater than zero and is determined from analysis of a sample in a given matrix containing the analyte.

mg/d milligrams per day

mg/kg milligrams per kilograms

mg/L milligrams per litre

Mineral soil A soil consisting predominantly of, and having its properties determined predominantly by, mineral matter. Usually contains <30% organic matter, but may contain an organic surface layer up to 30 cm thick.



mm/y millimetre per year

MMbbl million barrels

Model domain The region for which a numerical model predicts results (e.g., air quality or groundwater flow).

Modelling A simplified representation of a relationship or system of relationships. Modelling involves calculation techniques used to make quantitative estimates of an output parameter based on its relationship to input parameters. The input parameters influence the value of the output parameters.

MOP maximum operating pressure

MOSA Mineable Oil Sands Area

Moraine An accumulation of unsorted, unstratified drift, predominantly till, deposited chiefly by direct action of glacier ice in a variety of topographic landforms that are independent of control by the surface on which the drift lies.

Mottles Spots or blotches of different colour or shades of colour interspersed with the dominant colour of a soil; formed mainly by the effects of impeded drainage.

MP McElroy-Pooler

MPOI maximum point of impingement

MRF Muskeg River Framework

MSB matrix-supported breccia

Mt megatonne

Mt/a megatonne per annum

MW megawatt

N2O nitrous oxide

NAABA Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association

NB Northbound

NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research

NIA noise impact assessment

NLRHC Northern Lights Regional Health Centre

NO2 nitrogen dioxide

NO3 nitrate ion

NOAEL no-observable-adverse-effect-level



Non-consumptive recreation activities

Outdoor recreational activities that do not involve the physical consumption of the resource, such as hiking, nature study, skiing and off-road driving.

Nonpoint source Pollution that is not released through pipes but rather originates from multiple sources over a relatively large drainage area. Nonpoint sources can be divided into source activities related to either land or water use including failing septic tanks, improper animal-keeping practices, forest practices, and urban and rural runoff from a drainage basin.

Non-saline Water with salinity below 4,000 mg/L.

Not at Risk A species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk.

NOx Gaseous oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2) or all nitrogen species (e.g., NOX, N2O, N3O).

Noxious weed An invasive species designated as ‘noxious weed’ under the Alberta Weed Control Act Weed Control Regulation

NRCB Natural Resources Conservation Board

NTS National Topographic System

Nutrient regime Amount of essential nutrients that are available for plant growth.

O3 ozone

ºC degrees Celsius

OEMS Operational Excellence Management System

Oil sands An unconsolidated, porous sand formation or sandstone containing or impregnated with petroleum or hydrocarbons.

OLM ozone limiting method

Order (soil) A category in the Canadian system of soil classification. All the soils within an order have one or more characteristics in common.

Organic soil An order of soils that have developed dominantly from organic deposits.

Organics Chemical compounds, naturally occurring or otherwise, which contain carbon, with the exception of carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbonates (e.g., CaCO3).

OSCA Oil Sands Community Alliance

OSDG Oil Sands Developers Group

OSE oil sands evaluation

P&NG Petroleum and natural gas

PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

PAI potential acid input



Parent material The unconsolidated and more or less chemically weathered mineral or organic matter from which a soil has developed.

Particle-size distribution

The amounts of the various soil separates in a soil sample, usually expressed as percentage of sand, silt, and clay.

PBPK physiologically based pharmacokinetic

PDA pre-disturbance assessment

PDC Planned Development Case

Peat Material constituting peatlands, exclusive of live plant cover, consisting largely of organic residues accumulated as a result of incomplete decomposition of dead plant constituents under conditions of excessive moisture.

Peatland A general term for any tract of land covered with a layer of soil and containing a high percentage of peat.

Perennial stream A stream or reach of a stream that flows continuously for all or most of the year.

Permeability A physical property of a porous medium. Permeability has dimensions of length2. When measured in cm2, the value of permeability is very small, therefore more practical units – darcy (D) or millidarcy (mD) – are commonly used.

Perviousness The potential of a soil to transmit water internally, as inferred from soil characteristics such as structure, texture, porosity, cracks, and shrink-swell properties.

PG Pasquill-Gifford

pH A measure of the acidity or alkalinity (based upon the concentration of the hydrogen ion) of a solution. The pH is expressed as the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration.

pH (soil) The negative logarithm of the hydrogen-ion activity of a soil solution. The degree of acidity or alkalinity of a soil as determined by means of a suitable electrode or indicator at a specified moisture content or soil-water (or CaCl2 solution) ratio, and expressed in terms of the pH scale.

PHC petroleum hydrocarbon

Physiography The physical nature of the land; it includes topography (the relief and contours of the land), elevation, aspect, slope, surface pattern of landforms, and drainage.

Piezometer An instrument for measuring fluid pressure. See observation well.

Plant community type A subdivision of the ecosite phase and the lowest taxonomic unit in the ecosite classification system.



Plant harvesting Traditional activity of gathering plants Aboriginal communities and their members may rely to meet their needs.

PLCRCP Project-Level Conservation and Reclamation Closure Plan

Plot A single place on the landscape used to make observations or measurements.

PM particulate matter

Point source Pollutant loads discharged at a specific location from pipes, outfalls, and conveyance channels from either municipal wastewater treatment plants or industrial waste treatment facilities. Point sources can also include pollutant loads contributed by urban stormwater systems or tributaries to the main receiving water stream or river.

ppbv parts per billion by volume

ppm parts per million

ppmv parts per million by volume

Probability distribution Mathematical models used for estimating the likelihood and magnitude of events in a frequency analysis.

Profile (soil) A vertical section of the soil through all its horizon and extending into the parent material.

Progressive reclamation

Practices for gradual reclamation during the life of the project including debris cleanup, slope stabilization, and soil re-contouring.

Prohibited Noxious Weed

An invasive species designated as ‘prohibited noxious weed’ under the Alberta Weed Control Act Weed Control Regulation.

Project area The area within which all direct project disturbances will occur.

Protected area An area that receives protection because of its environmental, cultural or similar value.

PSD particle size distribution

PSL permissible sound level

PSU Pennsylvania State University

QA/QC quality assurance/quality control

RAIS Risk Assessment Information System

RAMP Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program

Recharge Water added to the saturated zone from any source. This term is commonly combined with other terms to indicate some specific mode of recharge, such as recharge well, recharge area or artificial recharge.



Reclamation The process of reconverting disturbed land to its former or other productive uses.

Registered fur management area

A parcel of public land designated as an exclusive trapping area.

RELAD Regional Lagrangian Acid Deposition

Relative abundance The number of organisms of a particular kind as a percentage of the total number of organisms of a given area or community.

Return period The long-term average recurrence interval of an event of a given magnitude. For example, an event with a return period of 100 years has a 1% chance of occurring every year, or on average once in 100 years.

RES Regional Emergency Services

RfC reference concentrations

RfD reference doses

RFMA registered fur management areas

Rge Range

RIC Resources Information Committee

Risk The likelihood or probability that the toxic effects associated with a chemical will be produced in populations of individuals under their actual conditions of exposure.

Risk assessment The process whereby all available scientific information is brought together to produce a description of the nature and magnitude of the risk associated with exposure of human receptors to an environmental chemical.

RMA resource management areas

RMWB Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

ROW right-of-way

RSA Regional Study Area

RT Right Turn Lane

Runoff Discharge per unit area, typically expressed in mm.

Runoff coefficient An empirical parameter used in hydrologic modeling for predicting direct runoff.

SAGD steam-assisted gravity drainage

Saline groundwater Water with a total dissolved solids concentration greater than 4,000 mg/L (ppm), as defined in the Water Act and Water Conservation and Allocation Guideline for Oilfield Injection.



Saline soil A non-alkali soil containing soluble salts in such quantities that they interfere with the growth of most crop plants.

Sand (i) as a particle size term: a size fraction between 0.05 and 2.0 mm equivalent diameter, or some other limit (geology or engineering), or (ii) as a soil term: a textural class with abundant sand-sized particles.

SAR sodium adsorption ratio

SARA Species at Risk Act

SAGD steam-assisted gravity drainage

SB Southbound

SCA soil correlation area

SCEM site conceptual exposure model

SCI sustainable community initiative

SCR selective catalytic reduction

SED Specified Enactment Direction

Sediment Solid particles of material that have been derived from rock weathering. They are transported and deposited from water, ice or air as layers at the earth's surface.

Seepage slow water movement in subsurface, the flow of water from man-made retaining structures or a spot or zone where water oozes from the ground, often forming the source of a small spring.

SEIA socio-economic impact assessment

SESA Socio-economic Study Area

Sensitive Species Any species that is not at risk of extinction or extirpation but may require special attention or protection to prevent it from becoming at risk.

Series (soil) A category in the Canadian system of soil classification. Series are a subdivision of soil families and are differentiated on the basis of detailed features of the pedon within the depth of the control section.

Shell Shell Canada Limited

SilverBirch SilverBirch Energy Corporation

SIMS Stakeholder Information Management System

Silt (i) as a particle-size term: a size fraction between 0.002 and 0.05 mm equivalent diameter, or some other limit (geology or engineering), or (ii) as a soil term: a textural class with abundant silt-sized particles.



Slope The degree of deviation of a surface from horizontal, measured in a numerical ratio, percent and degree. Slope is also characterized by type, i.e., simple (regular surface) or complex (irregular surface).

SME surface materials exploration

SML surface material lease

SO2 sulphur dioxide

SO4 sulphate

SOC statements of concern

Soil The naturally occurring, unconsolidated mineral or organic material at least 10 cm thick that occurs at the earth's surface and is capable of supporting plant growth.

Soil drainage classes Classes that describe the overall natural drainage of soils, taking into account factors of external (surface runoff) and internal (perviousness) soil drainage in relation to supply of water.

SOR steam-oil ratio

Sound A dynamic (fluctuating) pressure.

Sound intensity The sound energy flow through a unit area in a unit time.

Sound power level A measurement of the acoustic energy of a sound source, which uses a logarithmic scale and which is normally calculated from sound pressure level measurements near the source.

Sound pressure level A physical measurement of sound, which uses a logarithmic scale and which quantifies the amplitude or volume of acoustic pressure waves propagating through the air.

Species at risk A species at risk of extinction or extirpation (endangered or threatened), or a species that needs special management attention to prevent it from becoming at risk.

Species density The number of individuals per unit area.

Species diversity The number of different species that are represented in a given community.

Species of concern A species that needs special management attention to prevent it from becoming at risk. These species are listed either provincially or federally.

Species of special concern

A species of special concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.

Species richness The number of different species represented in a community (species count).

Stage Water-surface elevation of stream with respect to a reference elevation.

Stakeholder People or organizations with an interest in an activity or project.



Stratigraphy The geological science concerned with the study of sedimentary rocks in terms of time and space.

Stream A body of water that may range in size from a large river to small creek flowing in a channel. The term is sometimes applied to a natural channel or drainage course formed by flowing water whether it is occupied by water or not.

Structure (soil) The combination or arrangement of primary soil particles into secondary particles, units, or peds.

Subcrop Upper surface of bedrock covered by Quaternary deposits.

Subgroup (soil) A category in the Canadian system of soil classification. These soils are subdivisions of the great groups, and therefore are defined more specifically.

Subsoil The B horizons of soils with distinct profiles. In soils with weak profile development, the subsoil can be defined as the soil below the plowed soil (or its equivalent of surface soil) in which roots normally grow.

Surface expression The form (assemblage of slopes) and pattern of forms of parent genetic materials.

Surficial aquifer Surficial aquifer is the aquifer nearest the ground surface, having no overlying confining layer. The upper surface of the groundwater within the aquifer is called the water table. In surficial aquifers, the groundwater moves along the hydraulic gradient from areas of recharge to streams. Surficial aquifers are recharged locally as the water table fluctuates in response to drought or rainfall.

STAR Simultaneous Acoustic and Resistivity

Suncor Suncor Energy Inc.

Sw water saturation

t/d tonnes per day

t/m3 tonnes per cubic metre

t/y tonnes per year

TAC Transportation Association of Canada

TCEQ Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

TCM total conversion method

TDI tolerable daily intake

TDS total dissolved solids

Teck Teck Resources Limited



Terrain The physical features of a tract of land; e.g., landform (or surface expression), active and inactive processes that modify material and form, slope, aspect, and drainage conditions.

Terrestrial local study area

Spatial extent of terrestrial resources that may be affected by the proposed project development.

Terrestrial regional study area

The spatial extent of terrestrial resources based on natural sub-region boundaries, caribou ranges and major watercourses.

Terric layer An unconsolidated mineral substratum underlying organic soil material.

Texture (soil) The relative proportions of sand, silt and clay in soil which can be described by soil textural classes.

Thalweg The line extending down the channel that follows the lowest elevation of the bed.

TH Through Lane

Threatened species A species likely to become endangered in if limiting factors are not reversed.

TIA traffic impact assessment

Till Unsorted and unstratified drift material consisting of clay, silt, sand, gravel and boulders intermingled in any proportion, deposited by and underneath a glacier without subsequent reworking by glacial meltwater.

TK traditional knowledge

TKN total Kjeldahl nitrogen

TLSA Terrestrial Local Study Area

TLU traditional land use

TOR Terms of Reference

Topography The physical features of a district or region, such as those represented on a map, taken collectively; especially the relief and contours of the land. On most soil maps, topography may also mean topography classes that describe slopes according to standard ranges of percent gradient.

track/km-d tracks per kilometre day

Traditional foods/country foods

Dietary items from a local region that are used for sustenance.

Traditional land use Activities including hunting, trapping, fishing, and plant gathering on which Aboriginal communities and their members may rely to meet their needs and spiritual and cultural activities.

Traditional land use sites

Sites and/or locales associated with traditional hunting, trapping, fishing, plant gathering, or otherwise spiritual and cultural activities.



Traditional use regional study area

The traditional territory for each Aboriginal community. Traditional territories are a representation of current and historic land use patterns.

Transect A straight line or narrow section through a natural feature or across the earth’s surface, along which observations are made or measured.

Trapping management unit

An area designated as a management unit for trapping.

TRSA Terrestrial Regional Study Area

TRV toxicological reference value

TSM Toward Sustainable Mining

TSS total suspended solids

TURSA Traditional Use Regional Study Area

TVD true vertical depth

Twp Township

UCL upper confidence limit

Upper lift A surface soil layer of specified thickness that is selectively removed, stored and replaced as topsoil in the reclamation process.

US EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency

USLE Universal Soil Loss Equation

UTM universal transverse Mercator

v/c volume-to-capacity ratio

VC valued component

VCI Value Creation Inc

Vclay clay volume

VEC valued ecosystem component

VMI visual mud index

VOC volatile organic compounds

vol% volume percent

VRSA Visual Resources Local Study Area

VRU vapour recovery unit

VSC valued socio-economic component

W4M west of the 4th Meridian



Water table (i) the upper surface of groundwater or that level below which the soil is saturated with water; or (ii) groundwater surface or elevation at which the pressure in the water is zero with respect to atmospheric pressure.

Watercourse Riverine systems such as creeks, brooks, streams and rivers.

WB westbound

WBEA Wood Buffalo Environmental Association

Wetland Land having the water table at, near or above the land surface or that is saturated for a long enough period to promote wetland or aquatic processes as indicated by hydric soils, hydrophytic vegetation and various kinds of biological activity adapted to the wet environment.

WHO World Health Organization

Wildlife corridor Linear landscape features that allow movement of animals between larger patches of habitat.

Wildlife management unit

An area managed for wildlife under the Wildlife Act.

WMU wildlife management units

WSC Water Survey of Canada

wt% weight percent

WTI West Texas Intermediate

XRD X-ray diffraction

y/y year-over-year

ZOI zone of influence

µS/cm microsiemens per centimetre

µg/m3 micrograms per cubic metre

glossary and acronyms - albertaglossary – page 2 alkalinity a measure of water’s capacity to...

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