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Royal Commission glossary

50 terms as RCER-2025 defines them, with the volume and page of each definition. RCER is written in English, so no Arabic term is given.

Abatement
Reduction or lessening of pollution, or doing away with a nuisance, by legislative or technical means, or both.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page viii
Ambient air
Air outside a facility boundary.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page viii
Best Available Techniques (BAT)
The most effective and advanced production processes, methods, technologies or operational practices, applied at facilities to prevent emissions, discharges and other impacts, or to reduce them where prevention is not practicable. BAT must at least meet the emission or discharge standards in RCER, taking energy, environmental and economic impacts and costs into account.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page viii
Used in
By-product
A substance or object generated as an integral part of the production process whose primary objective is not producing that item. Its use must be certain, either without further processing or as raw material for a new product. Material stored for more than 180 days is considered waste unless RC authorises it.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page viii
Central wastewater treatment facility
The Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWTP) or the city Sanitary Wastewater Treatment Plant (SWTP) that receives wastewater from different facilities for final treatment.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page viii
Contaminated site
Any site within an RC city that exceeds the soil quality standards in Table 6 of Volume I or the RC approved baseline data.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page viii
Dredging
All underwater activities that disturb sediments or move earth, and the removal of sediments beneath surface waters by mechanical or hydraulic means.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
EIA third party classes
RC approves EIA consultants in three classes. Class A may conduct EIA studies for First, Second and Third Category facilities. Class B for First and Second Category facilities. Class C for First Category facilities only.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
Used in
Emission inventory
The systematic compilation, by measurement or estimation, of detailed information on pollutant emissions in a given area or facility.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
Emission standard
The amount of a pollutant permitted to be discharged from a pollutant source.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
Environmental Emergency Response Plan (EERP)
The general operational emergency response plan every facility prepares and submits, covering the issues in section 4.3 of Volume I, particularly clause 4.3.19, and following the guidelines in Volume II, Appendix D.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, 1.1.10, page 3
Used in
Environmental Permit to Construct (EPC)
The Royal Commission permit an operator must obtain before starting any construction activity related to the process of a new facility. An existing facility also needs an EPC, decided case by case, for reconstruction, modification or expansion.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, 1.2.1 and 1.2.2, page 5
Used in
Environmental Permit to Operate (EPO)
The Royal Commission permit without which a facility may not operate or carry out process commissioning. It is valid for five years from the date of issue.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, 1.3.1 and 1.3.6, pages 5 and 6
Used in
Environmental Screening Questionnaire (ESQ)
The questionnaire every facility submits as part of the RC Industrial Site Allocation Request. RC reviews it to determine the category of the facility.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. II, 1.3, page 3
Used in
Existing facility
A facility that received environmental approval from the Royal Commission before the effective date of RCER-2025, or that was contracted for before that date provided RC is informed.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
Used in
Facility
Any apparatus, installation, equipment or grouping of them that is subject to an applicable standard or regulation. Facility, facility operator and operator are synonyms. Entities receiving or exporting materials or chemicals are also considered facilities.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
Facility closure
The closure of the land lease agreement or the surrender of the EPO.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
First Category facility
A facility with negligible or no impact on public health or the environment during construction or operation. Typically support industries and commercial establishments.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xii
Used in
Fugitive emission
Any gaseous or particulate contaminant entering the atmosphere that could not reasonably pass through a stack, chimney, vent or other functionally equivalent opening designed to direct or control its flow.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
Used in
Generator (of hazardous waste)
Any operator of a facility whose process produces hazardous waste as defined in RCER, or whose act first causes the hazardous waste to become subject to regulation.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
Guideline value
A value given for information, reference and study purposes.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page ix
Impervious barrier
Where RCER requires a liner for secondary containment, it means an HDPE liner 2.0 mm thick for new installations and 1.5 mm for existing facilities. RC may approve an alternative that meets the permeability or concrete coating standards set out in the definition.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page x
Leachate
Any liquid, including suspended components, that has percolated through or drained from solid waste.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page x
Major upset
An unscheduled occurrence or excursion of a process or operation that causes an emission breaching the regulations or standards and beyond immediate control, or a release initiated to protect life in immediate or adjacent areas.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page x
Used in
Modification
Any physical change to an existing facility, or change in its method of operation, that increases unit capacity or the pollution emitted to the atmosphere, or causes an impact on the environment that did not occur before.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page x
Used in
Modified facility
A facility subject to a modification with production increases greater than 10 percent, a 10 percent increase in emissions or discharges, or new pollutants emitted or discharged. Clause 1.3.7 of Volume I words the production and emissions tests as 10 percent or more.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page x
Used in
New facility
Any new facility, project or plant.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page x
Nuisance
An act that causes material inconvenience, discomfort or harm, and is persistent and likely to recur.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page x
Operator
Any entity that operates or controls a facility at a given location and to whom decisive economic power over its technical functioning has been delegated.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page x
Permit Application Package (PAP)
The package of application forms facilities submit, with the ESQ, to obtain the EPC and EPO. Unless RC says otherwise, everything submitted in it is a condition of the EPO.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, 1.1.7 and 1.3.4, pages 2 and 6
Used in
Point source
An individual air emission or pollutant source originating from a specific location.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page x
Used in
Process commissioning
The start-up of a plant or unit after it has been designed and installed as per the EPC conditions. It can apply to new projects and to existing units being expanded, renovated or revamped.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Used in
Process construction
Construction in process areas. It excludes geotechnical surveys, installation of fencing and construction of non-process facilities.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Used in
RC city (RCC)
An industrial city under Royal Commission jurisdiction.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Reconstructed facility
A facility that is dismantled, damaged or destroyed and intentionally rebuilt to the original design, in the same or a different location.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Used in
Sanitary wastewater
Water from urban use, defined as the effluent from using potable water for normal domestic purposes such as washing, cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, sanitation and preparing food.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Used in
Second Category facility
A facility with potential for moderate impacts on public health or the environment during construction or operation. Typically secondary industries and some larger support industries.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xii
Used in
Severe damage
Damage with significant impacts on the environment of the RC industrial city.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Used in
Soil contamination
All activities or incidents that cause soil to exceed Table 6 of Volume I or the RC approved baseline data.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Used in
Soil contamination delineation
Assessment of the horizontal and vertical extent of the contamination.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Soil contamination investigation
The study carried out to identify the activities, services, products, causes and sources leading to soil contamination.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Soil reclamation or rehabilitation
Bringing the soil back to its original condition, or improving it to an acceptable state agreed with RC case by case, as per clause 1.5.4 of Volume I.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Thermal oxidizer
Equipment used to destroy gaseous waste streams containing volatile organic compounds or organic hazardous air pollutants. A thermal oxidizer burning liquid waste is considered an incinerator.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi
Third Category facility
A facility with significant potential for environmental harm, including permanent or irreversible damage to public health or the environment, during construction or operation. Typically primary industries and some larger secondary industries.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xii
Used in
Third party
A contractor selected on the basis of ability and absence of any conflict of interest. All environmental studies and field tests in RC cities, including EIA studies, stack and fugitive emission tests and baseline sampling, must be done by an RC approved independent third party.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xi, and 1.1.27, page 4
Used in
Used oil
Any oil refined from crude oil, or any synthetic oil, that has been used and is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities as a result.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xii
Variance stream
A non-cooling water discharge to the seawater cooling system, meaning any water other than once-through cooling water.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xii
Used in
Waste Management Facility (WMF)
A facility that stores, treats or disposes of wastes using physical, chemical, thermal, landfilling and other techniques.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xii
Waste Recycling Facility (WRF)
A facility that recovers all recoverable and resaleable materials from wastes before the residual wastes are disposed of.
Source: RCER-2025 Vol. I, Glossary, page xii

Terms used under the NCEC regulations are in the NCEC glossary. Need help with this? Talk to our team.