CEP CEP Air Quality & Atmospheric Science 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which greenhouse gas has the highest 100-year Global Warming Potential (GWP) among those commonly reported?
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
SF6 has a 100-year GWP of approximately 23,500, far exceeding CO2 (1), CH4 (28), and N2O (265), making it the most potent common greenhouse gas by weight.
Question 2: Under the Clean Air Act's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program, a major stationary source must undergo which review before construction?
- National Environmental Policy Act review
- Best Available Control Technology analysis (Correct answer)
- Environmental Justice screening
- Health Risk Assessment
Correct answer: Best Available Control Technology analysis
PSD permits require a Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis to ensure major new or modified sources use the most stringent feasible emission controls.
Question 3: An 'attainment area' that is redesignated due to worsening air quality becomes a 'maintenance area' under what plan requirement?
- State Implementation Plan maintenance plan (Correct answer)
- Title V operating permit
- Risk Management Plan
- Air Quality Index report
Correct answer: State Implementation Plan maintenance plan
Areas redesignated to attainment must develop a maintenance plan as part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) to demonstrate continued compliance with NAAQS.
Question 4: Which pollutant is primarily responsible for stratospheric ozone depletion and is regulated under the Montreal Protocol?
- Carbon monoxide
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) (Correct answer)
- Ground-level ozone
Correct answer: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
CFCs release chlorine atoms in the stratosphere that catalytically destroy ozone molecules; the Montreal Protocol phases out their production and use globally.
Question 5: In air quality environmental review, the 'receptor' is best defined as:
- The stack or source emitting pollutants
- A location or person potentially exposed to air pollutants (Correct answer)
- The monitoring equipment used to measure ambient concentrations
- The regulatory agency reviewing emission permits
Correct answer: A location or person potentially exposed to air pollutants
A receptor is a location—or the person/ecosystem at that location—where air pollutant concentrations are evaluated for potential health or environmental impacts.
Question 6: Which EPA air quality index (AQI) value range is classified as 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups'?
- 0–50
- 51–100
- 101–150 (Correct answer)
- 151–200
Correct answer: 101–150
An AQI of 101–150 indicates air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or heart disease.
CEP CEP Air Quality & Atmospheric Science 2
Which greenhouse gas has the highest 100-year Global Warming Potential (GWP) among those commonly reported?