CPP Risk Management & Mitigation

Question 1

In permitting risk management, what does a 'mitigation hierarchy' prioritize?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding impacts first, then minimizing unavoidable impacts, then compensating for residual impacts

Answer

The mitigation hierarchy — avoid, minimize, restore, offset — is applied sequentially, with avoidance as the preferred approach before other measures are considered.

Question 2

What is a 'Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement' (PEIS) and how does it manage risk?

Accepted Answer

An EIS that evaluates environmental impacts of broad programs, policies, or plans, allowing tiering of subsequent project-level reviews

Answer

A PEIS evaluates cumulative and programmatic impacts upfront, enabling tiered project-level EISs to incorporate programmatic findings and reducing redundancy and risk of challenge.

Question 3

What is an 'Environmental Management System (EMS)' and its role in permit compliance?

Accepted Answer

A systematic framework (e.g., ISO 14001) for managing environmental aspects, ensuring permit conditions are tracked and met

Answer

An EMS like ISO 14001 provides structure for identifying environmental aspects, setting compliance objectives, monitoring performance, and correcting deficiencies, reducing compliance risk.

Question 4

What is 'compensatory mitigation' under the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory framework?

Accepted Answer

Actions taken to offset unavoidable impacts to wetlands and waters through restoration, enhancement, establishment, or preservation

Answer

Compensatory mitigation (including mitigation banking, in-lieu fee programs, and permittee-responsible mitigation) offsets residual impacts to wetlands after avoidance and minimization.

Question 5

What is the purpose of a 'risk matrix' in permitting project management?

Accepted Answer

To assess and prioritize risks by evaluating the likelihood and consequence of each potential issue during the permitting process

Answer

A risk matrix helps permitting teams systematically evaluate which risks require the most attention by plotting likelihood against potential impact severity.

CPP - Certified Program Planner Practice Test

CPP - Certified Program Planner Practice Test

CPP Risk Management & Mitigation