Main A distribution line that serves as a common
source of supply for more than one service line.
Main
Line
Primary
rail line over which trains operate between terminals. It excludes sidings and
yard and industry tracks.
Maintenance
Fee A charge levied against the
owner or occupant of a property for its upkeep and repair.
Magnet
Schools Magnets offer special
curricula, such as math-science, technology and science, performing arts
programs, or special instructional approaches, such as academic achievement
through application of unique and sometimes accelerated teaching and learning
methods. Magnet Schools
Marketable Title A recognition of ownership and right-to-sell
that is clear, reasonably free from risk of litigation over possible defects or
challenge and acceptable. It is a title that is good or clear and that can be
offered for sale without difficulty.
Market Value
The
theoretically established highest price a willing buyer would pay and the
lowest price a willing seller would be willing to accept.
Master Planer-AA formalized a guide for the development
of a real estate site or project from beginning to end that takes into account
such things as zoning restrictions, protection of the environment, public
services, and protection against the creation of public burdens.
Material Storage Area On-site location where raw materials, final products, by-products
or waste materials are stored.
MCF Thousand Cubic Feet
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) The maximum level of a contaminant allowed in water by federal
law. Based on health effects and currently available treatment methods.
Medium Municipal
Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) MS4 located in an
incorporated place with a population of 100,000 or more but less than 250,000,
as determined by the latest U.S. Census.
Mega A prefix used to denote 1,000,000 units (106).
Megawatt (MW) One
megawatt equals one million watts.
Megawatt Hour (MWh) One million watts for one hour.
This term is used to describe a customer’s demand for electricity in a
given time period (i.e. one month).
Members
All economic development agencies at the local,
county, regional and state level are eligible to use this service as well as
private real estate, utility companies or various transportation companies with
service within the State of Pennsylvania.
Complete functionality on the web site is available to members, which allows
the entry of candidate sites, access to extensive data and information,
tutorial guidance and assistance on the development process. The Technical Administrator must approve all
members.
Mercaptan A chemical compound injected into natural
gas pipelines as a safety measure to give natural gas a distinctive odor and
help detect leaks.
Merchant Plant An electricity generating facility built and
operated without long-term contracts guaranteeing sale of the electricity
generated. Many such facilities may
sell power to other, nearby electric utilities.
Meter 39.37
inches (approximately)
Metes and
Bounds Terminal points and angles used to describe real estate
by boundary dimensions.
Metric Ton
2,204.6 pounds or 1,000 kilograms
Metropolitan Statistical Area See MSA
MGD Million Gallons per Day
Micrograms Per Liter - Ug/L Micrograms per liter of water.
One thousands micrograms per liter is equivalent to 1 milligram per
liter. This measure is equivalent to parts per billion (ppb).
Microwave (mw) Loosely, an electromagnetic
wave having a wavelength from 10 mm to 300 mm (1 GHz to 30 GHz). Note:
Microwaves exhibit many of the properties usually associated with waves in the
optical regime, e.g., they are easily concentrated into a beam.
Migration
(Population) Migration
includes all changes of residence including moving into, out of, or within a
given area. Foreign country, or state, county and city of previous residence is
collected and coded.
Migration (Water Quality) The movement of oil, gas, contaminants, water, or other liquids
through porous and permeable rock.
Mile A unit equal to 5,280
feet on land. A nautical mile is 6076.115 feet.
Millage Tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value. 211 mills tax on 100,000 dollars would equal
211 times (100,000) divided by 1,000 or $21,100.
Milligrams Per Liter - mg/L Milligrams per liter of water. This measure is equivalent to
parts per million.
Mineral
Rights The right of an
entity to explore and/or extract minerals from the surface or subsurface of
property. These rights can be other
than the landowner. Mineral Rights.
Mini Landbridge An intermodal system for transporting
containers by ocean and then by rail or motor to a port previously served as an
all water move (e.g., Hong Kong to New York over Seattle).
Mitigation To
moderate according to an accepted program of action approved by the regulating
agency. Wetland Mitigation
Modem A device, which converts digital signals
generated by a computer into analog signals for transmission over telephone
lines. Modems also convert analog signals from telephone lines into digital
signals for computer use. (The term is short for modulator - demodulator).
Monitoring Devices used to perform monitoring, controlling,
and/or supervisory functions, at a distance as opposed to on site.
Monitoring Well A non-pumping well used for drawing water quality samples.
Moratorium Temporary suspension of payments due under a
financial or tax agreement. An
incentive offered in order to entice a business to locate and/or start up
operations in its jurisdiction.
MS4 Municipal
Separate Storm Sewer System. See Large, Medium,
and Small Municipal Separate Storm
Sewer System.
MSA Acronym used by the U.S. Census Bureau to
describe a geographic area, which stands for Metropolitan Statistical
Area. A geographic entity
defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget for use by federal
statistical agencies, based on the concept of a core area with a large
population nucleus, plus adjacent communities having a high degree of economic
and social integration with that core. Qualification of an MSA requires the
presence of a city with 50,000 or more inhabitants, or the presence of an
Urbanized Area (UA) and a total population of at least 100,000 (75,000 in New
England). The county or counties containing the largest city and surrounding
densely settled territory are central counties of the MSA. Additional outlying
counties qualify to be included in the MSA by meeting certain other criteria of
metropolitan character, such as a specified minimum population density or
percentage of the population that is urban. MSAs in New England are defined in
terms of minor civil divisions, following rules concerning commuting and
population density.
Multimodal Synonymous for all practical purposes with
"Intermodal."
Multi-Tank
Container A
container frame fitted to accommodate two or more separate tanks for liquids.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System See MS4
Municipal Utility An electric utility system owned and/or operated by a
municipality that generates and/or purchases electricity at wholesale for
distribution to retail customers within the boundaries of their municipality.
Municipal Water System A water system that has at least five service connections or
which regularly serves 25 individuals for 60 days; also called a public water
system.