Glossary

Approved products list/Qualified products list (APL/QPL): A document or database maintained by a government agency or organization that lists products or materials that have met certain predefined standards or qualifications. These lists are often used in procurement and public projects to ensure that the products or materials used meet specific quality, safety, and performance requirements.

Biodegradable: The ability of a substance to be broken down and decomposed by natural processes into simpler, environmentally benign substances.

Elimination: The process of eliminating the use of harmful substances or practices that have a negative impact on the ecosystem.

Erosion: The process of detachment and transport of soil particles by water, wind, gravity, ice, or other natural forces.

Erosion control: The practice of minimizing detrimental erosion of soil.

Erosion control blanket (ECB): Temporary rolled erosion control product (RECP) composed of processed natural or polymer fibers bound together to form a continuous matrix to provide erosion control and facilitate vegetation establishment.

Excelsior: Fine curled wood shavings.

Macroplastics: Plastic materials that have a diameter or length of at least 5 mm.

Microplastics: Small plastic materials that are less than 5 mm long or in diameter.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Permit program that addresses water quality by regulating point sources that discharge to waters of the United States.

Permanent ESC measure: Measures used to reduce the dislodgement and transport of soil during construction and after site stabilization and that are intended to have permanent durations.

Plastic: Synthetic or semi-synthetic materials made from polymers, which are long chains of molecules built from smaller units called monomers.

Plastic-containing ESC materials and products: Materials or products that may include plastic substances, such as netting, socking, geosynthetics, skimmers, pipe, fasteners, and geogrid.

Recycling: The process of collecting, sorting, processing, and transforming used or waste materials, known as recyclables, into new products or materials.

Reduction: The process of decreasing or minimizing the consumption of resources, energy, or waste production to mitigate environmental impacts.

Rolled erosion control product (RECP): A temporary degradable or long-term non-degradable material manufactured or fabricated into rolls designed to reduce soil erosion and assist in the growth, establishment, and protection of vegetation.

Sediment: Soil particles transported or deposited by the action of wind, water, gravity, or ice, as a product of erosion.

Sediment control: Practices intended to capture suspended sediment through settling or filtration, minimizing the discharge of materials from an eroding site.

Stormwater control measure: Technique, measure, or structural control that is used for a given set of conditions to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff.

Sustainability: The responsible use and preservation of natural resources to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Temporary ESC measure: Measure used to reduce the dislodgement and transport of soil during construction activities that is removed upon final stabilization.

Turf reinforcement mat (TRM): An RECP used in areas of concentrated flow, steep slopes, stream banks, and shorelines to impart immediate erosion protection, enhance vegetation establishment and provide long-term functionality by permanently reinforcing vegetation during and after maturation.

Wattle: Tubular devices made from a permeable encasement containing flexible media typically used for impounding or diverting runoff.