CES Air Quality Management & Monitoring 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which U.S. federal law primarily governs air quality standards and emission controls for stationary and mobile sources?
- Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Clean Air Act (CAA) (Correct answer)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Correct answer: Clean Air Act (CAA)
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the primary federal law authorizing the EPA to regulate air pollutants from stationary and mobile sources to protect public health and the environment.
Question 2: What are National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) designed to protect?
- Only industrial workers in enclosed facilities
- Public health and welfare from criteria air pollutants (Correct answer)
- Groundwater resources from atmospheric deposition
- Ozone layer from CFC emissions exclusively
Correct answer: Public health and welfare from criteria air pollutants
NAAQS establish concentration limits for six criteria air pollutants to protect public health (primary standards) and public welfare (secondary standards).
Question 3: Which of the following is NOT one of the six criteria air pollutants regulated under NAAQS?
- Ground-level ozone (O3)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) (Correct answer)
- Lead (Pb)
- Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Correct answer: Carbon dioxide (CO2)
The six NAAQS criteria pollutants are ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide; carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas but not a criteria pollutant.
Question 4: A facility is classified as a Major Source under the Clean Air Act if it emits at least how many tons per year of a single regulated pollutant (in attainment areas)?
- 10 tons per year
- 25 tons per year
- 100 tons per year (Correct answer)
- 250 tons per year
Correct answer: 100 tons per year
Under the CAA Title V program, a facility is a Major Source if it emits or has the potential to emit 100 tons per year or more of any regulated air pollutant in an attainment area.
Question 5: What does the acronym 'PSD' stand for in air quality permitting for major sources in attainment areas?
- Particulate Source Determination
- Prevention of Significant Deterioration (Correct answer)
- Pollutant Source Designation
- Permit for Stationary Discharges
Correct answer: Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) is a pre-construction permitting program that ensures new or modified major sources in attainment areas do not significantly worsen air quality.
Question 6: Which air quality modeling approach uses a Gaussian plume dispersion equation to estimate pollutant concentrations downwind from a stack?
- Lagrangian particle tracking
- Gaussian dispersion modeling (Correct answer)
- Eulerian grid modeling
- Receptor modeling
Correct answer: Gaussian dispersion modeling
Gaussian dispersion modeling uses a mathematical equation assuming a Gaussian (bell-curve) distribution of pollutants in the vertical and horizontal directions to estimate downwind concentrations.
Question 7: PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of:
- Less than 10 micrometers
- Less than 2.5 micrometers (Correct answer)
- Less than 1.0 micrometer
- Between 2.5 and 10 micrometers
Correct answer: Less than 2.5 micrometers
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and pose significant health risks.
CES Air Quality Management & Monitoring 1
Which U.S. federal law primarily governs air quality standards and emission controls for stationary and mobile sources?