Environmental Regulations & Policy Flashcards

Which of the following qualifies as a 'point source' of water pollution under the Clean Water Act?

Answer: Discharge from a golf course irrigation pump house into a drainage channel

A point source is a discrete, identifiable conveyance such as a pipe or channel; a discharge from an irrigation pump house into a drainage channel meets this definition under the Clean Water Act.

State water quality standards established under the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) create lists of 'impaired water bodies' that require development of:

Answer: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

Section 303(d) requires states to list impaired water bodies and develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), which establish the maximum amount of a pollutant a water body can receive while still meeting water quality standards.

Which certification is typically required for a grounds manager personally applying restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) in the United States?

Answer: State-issued pesticide applicator license or certification

Under FIFRA, states are responsible for certifying pesticide applicators; individuals must obtain a state-issued license or certification to purchase and apply restricted-use pesticides.

The EPA's 'Green Infrastructure' approach to stormwater management emphasizes which of the following over traditional gray infrastructure?

Answer: Natural systems that infiltrate, evapotranspire, or reuse stormwater on-site

Green infrastructure uses natural processes—bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and green roofs—to manage stormwater where it falls, reducing runoff volume and improving water quality.

Which federal regulation requires employers in grounds management to maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous chemicals used in the workplace?

Answer: OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom/GHS)

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), aligned with the Global Harmonized System (GHS), requires employers to maintain SDS for all hazardous chemicals and ensure worker access to them.

A grounds manager is evaluating whether a seasonal wetland on the property is jurisdictional under the Clean Water Act. Which feature is most critical to determining wetland jurisdiction?

Answer: The presence of hydric soils, hydrophytic vegetation, and wetland hydrology

Wetland delineation under standard Army Corps of Engineers methodology requires the presence of all three wetland indicators: hydric soils, hydrophytic vegetation, and wetland hydrology.

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program is relevant to grounds managers primarily because it regulates:

Answer: The injection of fluids underground that could endanger drinking water sources

The UIC program regulates underground injection of fluids to protect underground sources of drinking water; grounds managers must ensure activities like drainage wells or dry wells comply with UIC requirements.