CES Environmental Regulations & Compliance Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under RCRA, which of the following activities requires a permit from EPA or an authorized state agency?
- Generating hazardous waste on-site
- Transporting hazardous waste on public roads
- Treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste (Correct answer)
- Purchasing hazardous chemicals in bulk
Correct answer: Treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste
RCRA Subtitle C requires a permit for any facility that treats, stores, or disposes of hazardous waste.
Question 2: Which section of the Clean Air Act requires major stationary sources to obtain a pre-construction permit demonstrating compliance with emission standards?
- Section 112
- Section 111
- Title V
- Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
The PSD program under the Clean Air Act requires major new or modified stationary sources in attainment areas to obtain pre-construction permits.
Question 3: A facility stores 15,000 pounds of a listed hazardous substance above its threshold planning quantity. Under EPCRA, which section requires them to notify the State Emergency Response Commission?
- Section 302 (Correct answer)
- Section 311
- Section 312
- Section 313
Correct answer: Section 302
EPCRA Section 302 requires facilities with extremely hazardous substances above threshold planning quantities to notify the SERC.
Question 4: When does the 90-day hazardous waste accumulation clock begin for a Large Quantity Generator under RCRA?
- When the chemical is purchased
- When waste generation begins in that calendar year
- When waste is first placed into the accumulation container (Correct answer)
- When the container reaches half capacity
Correct answer: When waste is first placed into the accumulation container
The 90-day accumulation period begins when the first drop of hazardous waste is placed into the accumulation container.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT a criterion for determining whether a solid waste is a hazardous waste under RCRA?
- It exhibits the characteristic of ignitability
- It is listed on the F, K, P, or U lists
- It contains more than 10% recycled material (Correct answer)
- It exhibits the characteristic of toxicity
Correct answer: It contains more than 10% recycled material
Recycled content is not a criterion for hazardous waste determination; RCRA uses characteristics and listing to identify hazardous wastes.
Question 6: Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, what is the primary function of a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)?
- It is an enforceable standard public water systems must meet
- It is a non-enforceable health-based goal set at the level with no known adverse health effects (Correct answer)
- It triggers mandatory treatment technique requirements
- It replaces the Maximum Contaminant Level when feasibility is demonstrated
Correct answer: It is a non-enforceable health-based goal set at the level with no known adverse health effects
MCLGs are non-enforceable public health goals set at levels where no known or anticipated adverse health effects occur.
Question 7: Under TSCA Section 8(e), within how many days must a manufacturer report information indicating that a chemical substance presents a substantial risk of injury to health or the environment?
- 15 calendar days (Correct answer)
- 30 calendar days
- 60 calendar days
- 90 calendar days
Correct answer: 15 calendar days
TSCA Section 8(e) requires immediate notification to EPA, generally interpreted as within 15 calendar days of obtaining substantial risk information.
CES Environmental Regulations & Compliance Standards 2
Under RCRA, which of the following activities requires a permit from EPA or an authorized state agency?