AICP Environmental and Sustainability Planning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What federal law requires Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for major federal actions?
- Clean Air Act
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (Correct answer)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
- Clean Water Act
Correct answer: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA, enacted in 1969, requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts of major federal actions through Environmental Impact Statements.
Question 2: Which concept refers to development that meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs?
- Smart growth
- New Urbanism
- Sustainable development (Correct answer)
- Transit-oriented development
Correct answer: Sustainable development
Sustainable development, defined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987, balances economic, social, and environmental needs across generations.
Question 3: What is a 'categorical exclusion' under NEPA?
- A list of endangered species excluded from review
- A category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have significant environmental effects (Correct answer)
- An exemption from environmental review for private projects
- A waiver granted by the EPA for industrial facilities
Correct answer: A category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have significant environmental effects
Categorical exclusions are NEPA determinations for actions with no significant environmental impact, allowing agencies to bypass the EIS/EA process.
Question 4: Which document is prepared when a federal action may have significant environmental impacts but it is unclear if an EIS is needed?
- Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Environmental Assessment (EA) (Correct answer)
- Record of Decision (ROD)
Correct answer: Environmental Assessment (EA)
An Environmental Assessment (EA) is a concise public document that helps determine whether a full EIS is required for a proposed federal action.
Question 5: The 'three pillars' of sustainability in planning are typically defined as:
- Economic, Political, and Environmental
- Economic, Social, and Environmental (Correct answer)
- Land use, Transportation, and Housing
- Fiscal, Physical, and Natural
Correct answer: Economic, Social, and Environmental
The three pillars of sustainability—economic viability, social equity, and environmental protection—form the foundation of sustainable planning practice.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) under the Endangered Species Act?
- To designate critical habitat for threatened species
- To allow otherwise prohibited 'take' of listed species in exchange for conservation measures (Correct answer)
- To create wildlife refuges on federal lands
- To prohibit development in wetland areas
Correct answer: To allow otherwise prohibited 'take' of listed species in exchange for conservation measures
HCPs are required for incidental take permits under ESA Section 10, allowing development to proceed when applicants mitigate impacts on listed species.
AICP Environmental and Sustainability Planning 1
What federal law requires Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for major federal actions?