IncidentNews Home >> Glossary >> N
N
- N.O.S.
- Not otherwise specified.
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- A private, non-profit organization that produces technical data related to fire protection and prevention, including the widely used "NFPA diamond" containing codes representing chemical hazards. (www.nfpa.org)
- National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- An incident management system established by the Secretary of Homeland Security that integrates effective practices in emergency preparedness and response into a comprehensive national framework. NIMS was developed so that responders from different jurisdictions and disciplines can work together better to respond to natural disasters and emergencies, including acts of terrorism. NIMS benefits include a unified approach to incident management; standard command and management structures; and emphasis on preparedness, mutual aid, and resource management.
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- The federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related disease and injury. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (www.cdc.gov/niosh)
- National Priorities List (NPL)
- The NPL identifies locations throughout the U.S. where hazardous wastes have been found in the environment and the initial evaluation shows a significant risk of harm to human health or ecology. NPL sites are frequently called "Superfund" sites, because Superfund money can be used by EPA to investigate and clean up these sites.
- National Response Center (NRC)
- The central Federal clearinghouse for information on hazardous chemical spills and other oil or hazardous substance releases. Responsible parties should contact the NRC (www.nrc.uscg.mil) in order to fulfill reporting requirements for spills of oil and hazardous substances (hotline: 1-800-424-8802).
- National Response Plan (NRP)
- The national plan administered by the Department of Homeland Security to respond to national emergencies, such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or other large-scale emergencies.
- National Response Team (NRT)
- A planning, policy, and coordinating body consisting of representatives from 16 federal agencies responsible for emergency response to pollution incidents (e.g., an oil spill or major chemical release). The NRT (www.nrt.org) provides national level policy guidance prior to an incident and can provide assistance during an incident.
- National Weather Service (NWS)
- NOAA's National Weather Service (www.nws.noaa.gov) provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the U.S., its territories, adjacent waters, and ocean areas.
- Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)
- Investigation performed by trustees to identify and plan the restoration of natural resources injured by oil spills and hazardous substance releases. The goal of NRDA is to restore natural resources.
- nautical mile
- A unit of length equal to 1852 meters or 1.15 land miles or 1 minute of latitude.
- NCP
- The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, more commonly called the National Contingency Plan. The U.S. government's blueprint for responding to both oil spills and hazardous substance releases.
- neutralization/neutralize
- The reaction between an acid and base to form a salt and water. Neutralization is often rapid, vigorous, and exothermic (heat-producing).
- NFPA
- See National Fire Protection Association.
- NFPA codes
- Numbers representing the flammability, health, reactivity (instability), and other hazards of individual chemicals; shown on the "NFPA diamond."
- NFPA diamond
- Standard placard used to identify the level of chemical hazard at a fixed location or in a transported container.
- NIMS
- See National Incident Management System.
- NIOSH
- See National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- NMFS
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (www.nmfs.noaa.gov). NMFS recommends ways to rebuild and maintain sustainable fisheries, promote the recovery of protected species, and protect and maintain the health of coastal marine habitats.
- NOAA
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.noaa.gov). An organization of the Department of Commerce, NOAA is composed of the National Ocean Service (NOS); National Weather Service; National Marine Fisheries Service; National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service; and Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. ERD is a portion of the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) under NOS.
- NOAA HAZMAT
- See Emergency Response Division (ERD).
- noncombustible (or non-combustible)
- Non-reactive with air, even at very high temperatures.
- nonflammable (or non-flammable)
- Difficult to ignite.
- nonpoint (or non-point) source pollution
- Pollution that is generated over a relatively wide area and dispersed rather than discharged from a pipe. Common sources of nonpoint pollution include stormwater runoff, failed septic systems, and marinas. Nonpoint pollution may enter waterways from many places, such as when rainwater washes over parking lots, lawns, or farms and brings pollutants from all these sources into the water. See also point source pollution.
- NOS
- NOAA's National Ocean Service (www.oceanservice.noaa.gov). NOS works to observe, understand, and manage U.S. coastal and marine resources.
- noxious
- Irritating; may cause temporary impairment.
- NPL
- See National Priorities List.
- NRC
- See National Response Center.
- NRDA
- See Natural Resource Damage Assessment.
- NRDA Trustees
- Comprised of representatives from various state agencies that advise state and federal oil spill cleanup officials regarding the protection and restoration of natural resources threatened or damaged by an oil spill.
- NRP
- See National Response Plan.
- NRT
- See National Response Team.
- nutrients
- Essential chemicals needed by plants and animals for growth. Excessive amounts of nutrients, nitrogen, and phosphorus, for example, can lead to degradation of water quality and growth of excessive amounts of algae. Some nutrients can be toxic at high concentrations.
- NWS
- See National Weather Service.
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