CEP Environmental Regulations & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which subtitle governs the management of hazardous waste from generation to disposal?
- Subtitle C (Correct answer)
- Subtitle D
- Subtitle F
- Subtitle I
Correct answer: Subtitle C
RCRA Subtitle C establishes the federal program for managing hazardous waste from cradle to grave.
Question 2: The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 5 requires manufacturers to submit which document before producing or importing a new chemical substance?
- Pre-Manufacture Notice (PMN) (Correct answer)
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Chemical Disclosure Form (CDF)
Correct answer: Pre-Manufacture Notice (PMN)
TSCA Section 5 requires a Pre-Manufacture Notice submitted to EPA at least 90 days before manufacturing or importing a new chemical.
Question 3: Which provision of the Clean Air Act requires major stationary sources in attainment areas to undergo review before construction or modification?
- Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) (Correct answer)
- New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
- National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
- Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT)
Correct answer: Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
PSD review applies to major new sources and major modifications in areas that meet NAAQS to prevent significant deterioration of air quality.
Question 4: A facility discharging pollutants to a municipal sewer system is classified under the Clean Water Act as a(n):
- Indirect discharger (Correct answer)
- Direct discharger
- Non-point source
- Stormwater discharger
Correct answer: Indirect discharger
Indirect dischargers send wastewater to a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) rather than directly to a water body.
Question 5: Which federal law established the Superfund program and the authority to compel responsible parties to clean up contaminated sites?
- CERCLA (Correct answer)
- RCRA
- TSCA
- SDWA
Correct answer: CERCLA
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) created Superfund and established strict, joint, and several liability for site cleanup.
Question 6: Under NEPA, a Categorical Exclusion (CE) is appropriate when:
- A proposed action has no individually or cumulatively significant environmental effects (Correct answer)
- Minor but uncertain impacts require further study
- Significant environmental impacts are expected
- Federal funding exceeds $1 million
Correct answer: A proposed action has no individually or cumulatively significant environmental effects
CEs apply to classes of actions that agencies have determined do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the environment.
Question 7: The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 requires facilities to report releases of toxic chemicals through:
- Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting (Correct answer)
- Tier II reports
- Community hazard notifications
- CERCLA Section 103 notifications
Correct answer: Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting
Section 313 of EPCRA requires covered facilities to annually report toxic chemical releases and transfers to the Toxic Release Inventory.
CEP Environmental Regulations & Compliance 2
Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which subtitle governs the management of hazardous waste from generation to disposal?