CES Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CES exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CES Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CES Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample CES Questions & Answers
1. Which law governs hazardous waste management in the U.S.?
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the principal federal law in the U.S. governing the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste. RCRA provides a comprehensive framework for managing hazardous waste from its generation to its final disposal ("cradle-to-grave"), including requirements for treatment, storage, and transportation. It also promotes resource recovery and waste minimization.
2. Which greenhouse gas has the highest global warming potential (GWP) over a 100-year timeframe among those regulated under the Kyoto Protocol?
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) has a GWP of approximately 23,500 over 100 years, making it the most potent of the six Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases.
3. Which in-situ remediation technology is most appropriate for a LNAPL gasoline plume in a shallow unconfined aquifer?
Dual-phase extraction removes both vapor-phase VOCs from the vadose zone via SVE and liquid-phase LNAPL/dissolved-phase hydrocarbons via simultaneous groundwater extraction, making it highly effective for fuel hydrocarbons near the water table.
4. What is a nonattainment area under the Clean Air Act?
EPA designates nonattainment areas when monitoring data shows that ambient air quality fails to meet NAAQS for one or more criteria pollutants. These areas must develop plans to achieve compliance.
5. What practice supports sustainable forestry?
Sustainable forestry practices aim to manage forests for long-term ecological, economic, and social benefits. Selective logging, where only certain trees are harvested while others are left to grow, combined with active replanting efforts, is a key practice. This approach minimizes disruption to the forest ecosystem, maintains biodiversity, prevents soil erosion, and ensures a continuous supply of timber resources for future generations.
6. A company wants to claim 'carbon neutrality.' Which combination of actions is required?
Carbon neutrality requires a complete GHG inventory, maximum feasible emission reductions, and high-quality offsets to neutralize any remaining emissions.