AEP Regulatory Compliance & Safety 5

Question 1

Under the Clean Water Act's NPDES program, what must AEP do if a storm event causes a discharge that exceeds permitted effluent limits?

Accepted Answer

Report the exceedance to the permitting authority as a permit deviation

Answer

NPDES permits require self-monitoring and reporting of exceedances to the regulatory authority, regardless of the cause, typically within defined timeframes in the permit.

Question 2

What is the primary safety concern addressed by AEP's confined space entry program under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146?

Accepted Answer

Atmospheric hazards including oxygen deficiency, flammable gases, and toxic contaminants

Answer

The permit-required confined space standard primarily addresses atmospheric hazards — oxygen deficiency, flammable/explosive atmospheres, and toxic air contaminants — that are common in utility confined spaces.

Question 3

When AEP performs transmission line work using the 'bare-hand' (live-line) technique, which safety standard primarily governs the practice?

Accepted Answer

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 and IEEE 516

Answer

Bare-hand live-line work on transmission lines is governed by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 and the detailed safe work practices in IEEE Standard 516.

Question 4

An AEP plant's SO2 emissions exceed its Clean Air Act allowance balance at year-end. What is the regulatory consequence?

Accepted Answer

The plant must offset excess tons at a 3:1 ratio in the following year and pay an excess emission penalty

Answer

Under the Acid Rain Program, facilities that emit more SO2 than their allowances must surrender allowances at a 3:1 ratio for the excess and pay a per-ton excess emission penalty.

Question 5

What does AEP's Safety Management System (SMS) require workers to do when they identify an 'uncontrolled hazard' they cannot immediately mitigate?

Accepted Answer

Stop work, report the hazard, and not resume until the hazard is controlled

Answer

AEP's stop-work authority policy requires any employee who identifies an uncontrolled hazard to stop work immediately and not resume until appropriate controls are in place.

(AEP) American Electric Power Practice Test

(AEP) American Electric Power Practice Test

AEP Regulatory Compliance & Safety 5