Glossary

Terms

Calibration

Calibration

Definition

A method to validate specific measurement techniques, equipment or a model by measuring values whose true values are known.

CAP

CAP

Definition

ChlorAlkali plant at Orica Botany

Capillary pressure

Capillary pressure

Definition

Forces acting on soil moisture in the unsaturated zone attributable to molecular attraction between soil particles and water.

Related Terms

See also: Unsaturated zone

Carbon tetrachloride (CTC)

Carbon tetrachloride (CTC)

Definition

Also known as tetrachloromethane. A chlorinated hydrocarbon manufactured at the former solvents plant at the BIP until closure in 1991.

Carcinogen

Carcinogen

Definition

Substance that can cause or aggravate cancer.

Caustic soda (NaOH)

Caustic soda (NaOH)

Definition

Manufactured at Orica Botany and sold for industrial purposes.

CFM

See: Chloroform (CFM)

CHAZOP

CHAZOP

Definition

A control hazard and operability study – a technical meeting facilitated with flip cards of key words and phrases to assess the hazards and operational aspects of a proposed automated process control system.

CHC

See: Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC)

CHHRA

CHHRA

Definition

Consolidated Human Health Risk Assessment. A report consolidating all of the human health risk assessments first produced for the Botany Groundwater Cleanup Project in 2005 and updated in 2010. Subsequent environmental data is checked against the CHHRA to determine whether a revision of the calculations or the conclusions is required.

Related Terms

See also: Human health risk assessment (HHRA)

Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC)

Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC)

Definition

A generic term given to a range of chemical compounds composed of chlorine, hydrogen and carbon. The groundwater below the BIP and nearby areas has been contaminated with CHCs. The main CHC contaminants in the Botany groundwater are EDC, CTC, PCE, TCE and VC.

Related Terms

See also: Carbon tetrachloride (CTC), Ethylene dichloride (EDC), Perchloroethylene (PCE) , Trichloroethene (TCE), Vinyl chloride (VC)

Chlorine (Cl₂)

Chlorine (Cl₂)

Definition

Manufactured at Orica Botany and used for production of hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite and ferric chloride.

Chloroform (CFM)

Chloroform (CFM)

Definition

Also known as trichloromethane. A chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) that historically was generated as a byproduct in the production of other CHCs on the BIP. It can also be generated in the aquifer by the degradation of CTC as well as by the reaction of chlorine derived from the degradation of other volatile CHCs with naturally-occurring organic matter within the aquifer.

Related Terms

See also: Carbon tetrachloride (CTC), Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC)

Commissioning

Commissioning

Definition

The final stage of the construction phase, comprising a series of tests and adjustments to demonstrate the required performance of equipment prior to handover to the operator.

Conceptual model

Conceptual model

Definition

A model that describes essential features of a phenomenon and identifies its principal processes taking place.

Confined aquifer

Confined aquifer

Definition

An aquifer whose upper and/or lower boundaries are confined by an impermeable geologic information, such as clay layer; an aquifer in which groundwater is under pressure.

Related Terms

See also: Aquifer

Contamination hot spot

Contamination hot spot

Definition

An area where the concentration of contaminant is significantly higher than background levels.

Contour line

Contour line

Definition

A line on a map/figure that traces locations where the value of a variable is the same.

CPRC

CPRC

Definition

Community Participation & Review Committee.

CPWE

CPWE

Definition

Car Park Waste Encapsulation. A former polymer-lined cell containing sand and ash contaminated with hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) and associated chlorinated hydrocarbons. The former CPWE was remediated in 2012 using directly-heated thermal desorption (DTD).

CTC

See: Carbon tetrachloride (CTC)