AICP Environmental and Sustainability Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What federal program regulates development activities in the 100-year floodplain?
- Federal Emergency Management Assistance Program
- National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (Correct answer)
- Army Corps of Engineers Section 404
- FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Correct answer: National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
The NFIP, administered by FEMA, requires participating communities to adopt floodplain management regulations in exchange for federally backed flood insurance.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'green infrastructure' in planning?
- Buildings constructed with recycled materials
- A network of natural and semi-natural areas that provides ecosystem services (Correct answer)
- Solar panels and wind turbines installed on public land
- Green-colored utility infrastructure
Correct answer: A network of natural and semi-natural areas that provides ecosystem services
Green infrastructure uses natural systems like wetlands, parks, and urban forests to manage stormwater, reduce heat, and provide multiple ecosystem services.
Question 3: What is the 'urban heat island effect'?
- Increased wildfire risk in urban-wildland interfaces
- Heat generated by industrial facilities in urban zones
- The phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas (Correct answer)
- Thermal pollution in urban waterways
Correct answer: The phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas
Urban heat islands occur because impervious surfaces, buildings, and reduced vegetation absorb and retain heat, raising urban temperatures above rural surroundings.
Question 4: Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which agency issues permits for discharging fill material into waters of the United States?
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Correct answer)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Correct answer: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The Army Corps of Engineers administers Section 404 permits for dredge-and-fill activities in wetlands and other waters, with EPA retaining veto authority.
Question 5: What is a 'climate action plan' in local planning?
- A federal mandate requiring cities to adopt emission reduction targets
- A policy document outlining strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change (Correct answer)
- An emergency response plan for extreme weather events
- A state-required environmental impact assessment for new development
Correct answer: A policy document outlining strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change
Local climate action plans identify GHG reduction targets and mitigation/adaptation strategies, often including land use, transportation, and energy policies.
Question 6: What does 'environmental justice' mean in planning practice?
- Legal representation for environmental organizations in regulatory hearings
- The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decision-making (Correct answer)
- Enforcement of environmental regulations by state attorneys general
- Equal funding for environmental cleanup across states
Correct answer: The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decision-making
Environmental justice ensures that low-income and minority communities receive equitable protection from environmental hazards and meaningful voice in decisions affecting them.
AICP Environmental and Sustainability Planning 2
What federal program regulates development activities in the 100-year floodplain?