Solid and Hazardous Waste Flashcards
7 cards from real CES practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Solid and Hazardous Waste flashcards as text
What is the 'mixture rule' under RCRA hazardous waste regulations?
Answer: A rule stating that a mixture of listed hazardous waste and solid waste is itself a listed hazardous waste
The mixture rule states that any mixture containing a listed hazardous waste is regulated as a listed hazardous waste, regardless of the concentration of the listed waste.
Which technology uses high-temperature combustion (typically >1,000°C) to destroy organic hazardous wastes?
Answer: High-temperature incineration
High-temperature incineration thermally destroys organic hazardous wastes, converting them to CO₂, water, and ash at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C.
What does 'derived-from rule' mean in RCRA hazardous waste management?
Answer: Residuals derived from treatment of listed hazardous waste retain the original listing
The derived-from rule states that residuals (ash, sludge, treated effluent) generated from treating or disposing of a listed hazardous waste remain listed hazardous wastes.
Which post-closure care requirement applies to a closed RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste landfill?
Answer: 30-year monitoring and maintenance period
RCRA requires a minimum 30-year post-closure care period for Subtitle C landfills, including groundwater monitoring, cover maintenance, and leachate management.
In the National Contingency Plan (NCP), what does the 'nine-criteria' evaluation framework assess during Superfund feasibility studies?
Answer: Remedy alternatives against criteria such as protectiveness, compliance, and cost
The NCP's nine criteria evaluate remedial alternatives on overall protection, compliance with ARARs, long-term effectiveness, short-term effectiveness, implementability, cost, and community acceptance.
What is 'phytoremediation' and which contaminants is it most effective for?
Answer: Use of plants to extract, degrade, or contain contaminants such as heavy metals and organics
Phytoremediation uses living plants to absorb, degrade, or stabilize contaminants including heavy metals (hyperaccumulators) and certain organic pollutants.
Which provision of CERCLA allows the federal government to recover cleanup costs from PRPs even without their prior consent?
Answer: CERCLA Section 107 cost recovery authority
CERCLA Section 107 establishes liability and allows the government (or private parties) to recover all cleanup costs from PRPs through civil litigation.