CPA Environmental Compliance & Spill Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct first step when a petroleum worker discovers a significant surface spill?
- Begin cleanup immediately without notifying anyone
- Stop the source of the spill if safe to do so (Correct answer)
- Wait for a supervisor to arrive before taking any action
- Apply chemical dispersants to the spill
Correct answer: Stop the source of the spill if safe to do so
The first priority is to stop the source of the spill when it is safe to do so, preventing additional release before initiating containment and notification.
Question 2: Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene are collectively known as what group of petroleum contaminants?
- PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
- BTEX compounds (Correct answer)
- VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) group A
- Chlorinated solvents
Correct answer: BTEX compounds
BTEX is an acronym for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene — common groundwater contaminants associated with petroleum spills.
Question 3: Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) containing petroleum products in the U.S. are primarily regulated under which law?
- Clean Air Act
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle I (Correct answer)
- Toxic Substances Control Act
- Oil Pollution Act of 1990
Correct answer: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle I
RCRA Subtitle I and EPA's UST regulations govern the design, installation, operation, and cleanup requirements for underground petroleum storage tanks.
Question 4: What type of soil remediation technique uses microorganisms to break down petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soil?
- Pump-and-treat
- Bioremediation (Correct answer)
- Soil vapor extraction
- Thermal desorption
Correct answer: Bioremediation
Bioremediation uses naturally occurring or introduced microorganisms to metabolize and break down petroleum hydrocarbons into less harmful compounds.
Question 5: Which document must petroleum facilities with significant oil storage submit to the EPA detailing emergency response procedures?
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan (Correct answer)
- National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit
- Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP)
Correct answer: Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan
Facilities meeting EPA oil storage thresholds must prepare and implement an SPCC Plan that details prevention measures and emergency response procedures.
Question 6: When responding to a petroleum spill near a waterway, what is the purpose of deploying containment booms?
- To absorb and neutralize the oil chemically
- To prevent the oil slick from spreading further on the water surface (Correct answer)
- To sink the oil to the bottom for later recovery
- To mark the spill boundaries for regulatory documentation
Correct answer: To prevent the oil slick from spreading further on the water surface
Containment booms are floating barriers deployed on water to encircle and prevent the lateral spread of oil, concentrating it for skimming or recovery.
CPA Environmental Compliance & Spill Response 2
What is the correct first step when a petroleum worker discovers a significant surface spill?