ACE Airport Environmental Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The primary purpose of an Environmental Assessment (EA) under NEPA is to:
- Set emission limits for aircraft engines
- Determine whether a federal action significantly affects the environment (Correct answer)
- License new airport construction projects
- Establish wildlife management protocols
Correct answer: Determine whether a federal action significantly affects the environment
An EA evaluates a proposed federal action's environmental impacts to decide whether a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required.
Question 2: Airports that conduct aircraft painting operations must manage waste that may be classified as hazardous due to the presence of:
- Carbon fiber dust
- Lead-based paint and solvents containing VOCs (Correct answer)
- Hydraulic fluid residue
- Jet fuel additives
Correct answer: Lead-based paint and solvents containing VOCs
Lead-based coatings and volatile organic compound solvents in aircraft paint operations generate hazardous waste requiring proper handling and disposal.
Question 3: Which FAA advisory circular provides guidance on sustainable airport planning, including energy, water, and waste management?
- AC 150/5370-10
- AC 150/5360-9
- AC 150/5100-17 (Correct answer)
- AC 150/5300-13
Correct answer: AC 150/5100-17
AC 150/5100-17 guides airports on incorporating sustainability into planning and construction, covering energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction.
Question 4: A Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) of 65 dB is the standard threshold above which the FAA considers residential land use to be:
- Preferred
- Incompatible (Correct answer)
- Conditionally compatible
- Fully compatible
Correct answer: Incompatible
FAA policy under Part 150 identifies residential areas exposed to DNL 65 dB or higher as incompatible with airport operations without mitigation.
Question 5: Contaminated soil and groundwater from historical jet fuel spills at an airport are typically remediated under oversight of the:
- FAA Airports Division
- State environmental agency under EPA-delegated authority (Correct answer)
- TSA Environmental Branch
- Department of Transportation Environmental Office
Correct answer: State environmental agency under EPA-delegated authority
Remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil and groundwater falls under state environmental agencies that administer cleanup programs, often with EPA oversight.
Question 6: Which practice best reduces the volume of glycol-contaminated stormwater requiring treatment at an airport?
- Diluting deicing fluid with water before application
- Collecting spent deicing fluid at remote pads before it reaches storm drains (Correct answer)
- Applying deicing fluid only during daylight hours
- Using sand as an alternative to liquid deicing agents on taxiways
Correct answer: Collecting spent deicing fluid at remote pads before it reaches storm drains
Centralized deicing pads with collection systems capture spent glycol before it reaches stormwater drains, greatly reducing treatment volumes.
ACE Airport Environmental Management 2
The primary purpose of an Environmental Assessment (EA) under NEPA is to: