Practice Test Geeks(CME) Certified Municipal Engineer Practice Test
← All CME Flashcard Decks

Environmental Engineering & Sustainability Flashcards

7 cards from real CME practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Environmental Engineering & Sustainability flashcards as text

  1. A municipality is designing a constructed wetland for secondary wastewater treatment. Which type of constructed wetland system provides the best cold-climate performance?

    Answer: Horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) wetland

    Horizontal subsurface flow wetlands keep water below the gravel surface, providing insulation against freezing and maintaining treatment performance in cold climates.

  2. Under EPA's Stormwater Phase II regulations, which Best Management Practice (BMP) is considered a structural control for post-construction stormwater management?

    Answer: Infiltration trench

    Infiltration trenches are structural BMPs designed to temporarily store and infiltrate stormwater runoff, qualifying as post-construction stormwater controls.

  3. Which environmental justice principle requires that communities of color and low-income populations receive a fair share of environmental benefits and not bear a disproportionate share of environmental burdens?

    Answer: EPA Order 12898 on Environmental Justice

    Executive Order 12898 (1994) directed federal agencies to identify and address disproportionately high adverse environmental effects on minority and low-income populations.

  4. A city is transitioning its fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. The primary environmental benefit of CNG compared to diesel is:

    Answer: Significant reduction in particulate matter and NOₓ emissions

    CNG combustion produces significantly less particulate matter (up to 90% less) and reduced NOₓ compared to diesel, improving local air quality.

  5. In municipal solid waste management, which waste diversion method recovers the most energy per ton of material compared to other options?

    Answer: Waste-to-energy (WtE) incineration

    Waste-to-energy incineration recovers approximately 500–600 kWh of electricity per ton of MSW, typically yielding more energy per ton than anaerobic digestion.

  6. A municipal engineer is preparing a Tier 2 emergency planning report under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). This report is submitted to:

    Answer: State Emergency Response Commission, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and local fire department

    Tier 2 chemical inventory reports must be submitted annually to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), and local fire department.

  7. Which stormwater quality indicator is most directly used to assess potential human health risk from recreational contact with urban runoff?

    Answer: Fecal coliform or E. coli concentration

    Fecal coliform and E. coli are the primary indicator organisms used to assess pathogen-related health risks from recreational contact with stormwater-impacted waters.