CEA Air Emission Monitoring & Control 3

Question 1

Which control technology is most effective for removing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from industrial exhaust streams?

Accepted Answer

Fabric filter (baghouse)

Answer

Fabric filters (baghouses) achieve collection efficiencies exceeding 99% for fine particulate matter, outperforming mechanical separators and simple wet scrubbers for PM2.5.

Question 2

Under the EPA's New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), what regulatory concept triggers applicability when a facility makes a 'major modification'?

Accepted Answer

Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) review

Answer

A major modification at a major stationary source in an attainment area triggers PSD review under the NSPS framework, requiring BACT analysis and air quality impact assessment.

Question 3

An environmental auditor reviewing a facility's CEMS records finds that the monitor was out of service for 12% of the operating hours in a quarter. What is the likely regulatory concern?

Accepted Answer

Both A and B are likely concerns

Answer

Excess monitor downtime above the allowed threshold (typically 5% under Part 75) is a violation, and missing data periods require substitution with conservative values, making both regulatory concerns valid.

Question 4

What does the opacity standard of 20% (6-minute average) primarily regulate under EPA Method 9?

Accepted Answer

The visual obscuration caused by particulate-laden exhaust from a stack

Answer

EPA Method 9 visual opacity is a surrogate measure of particulate emissions, assessing the degree to which stack exhaust obscures light as observed by a trained, certified observer.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) as an NOx control technology?

Accepted Answer

It removes NOx by injecting ammonia or urea into the flue gas upstream of a catalyst

Answer

SCR systems inject ammonia (or urea that hydrolyzes to ammonia) into exhaust gas, where it reacts with NOx over a catalyst to produce harmless nitrogen gas and water vapor.

(CEA) Certified Environmental Auditor Practice Test

(CEA) Certified Environmental Auditor Practice Test

CEA Air Emission Monitoring & Control 3