Infrastructure & Utilities Permitting Flashcards
6 cards from real CPP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Infrastructure & Utilities Permitting flashcards as text
What is the 'Section 10/404 combined permit' process used for?
Answer: Streamlining permits for structures in navigable waters (Section 10, Rivers and Harbors Act) and wetland fill (Section 404, Clean Water Act) into a single review
When a project requires both a Section 10 (navigable water) and Section 404 (fill) permit from the Corps of Engineers, a combined application and joint notice streamlines the review.
Under the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106, what must a utility company do before installing new transmission lines through a National Register-listed historic district?
Answer: Consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and affected parties to assess and mitigate adverse effects
Section 106 requires federal nexus-triggered undertakings (e.g., federally licensed utilities) to consult with SHPO to identify, assess, and resolve adverse effects on historic properties.
What is a 'Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity' (CPCN) in utility regulation?
Answer: A state or federal authorization certifying that a proposed utility facility is needed and in the public interest
A CPCN is typically required by state public utility commissions or FERC before constructing major utility infrastructure like power plants and pipelines, ensuring public need and safety.
Which environmental permit is required for wastewater discharges from municipal sewage treatment plants to surface waters?
Answer: NPDES Permit under Clean Water Act Section 402
Municipal wastewater treatment plants must obtain NPDES permits establishing effluent limits, monitoring requirements, and reporting conditions for discharges to surface waters.
What is the role of an 'Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit' under the Safe Drinking Water Act?
Answer: To regulate the injection of fluids underground to protect underground sources of drinking water
UIC permits under SDWA regulate injection wells to prevent contamination of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs) used for public water supply.
For a large interstate oil pipeline requiring federal permits, which environmental review coordination mechanism can streamline multiple agency reviews?
Answer: NEPA One Federal Decision (One Federal Decision policy under Executive Order 13807/14096)
The One Federal Decision policy directs federal agencies to coordinate NEPA reviews for major infrastructure projects under a single lead agency with concurrent (not sequential) agency reviews.