CPWM Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which rule establishes maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for disinfection byproducts in public water systems?
- Lead and Copper Rule
- Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBP2) (Correct answer)
- Surface Water Treatment Rule
- Groundwater Rule
Correct answer: Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBP2)
The Stage 2 DBP Rule sets locational running annual average MCLs for total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in distribution systems.
Question 2: A contractor working on a federally funded public works project must comply with prevailing wage requirements under which federal law?
- Service Contract Act
- Davis-Bacon Act (Correct answer)
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act
Correct answer: Davis-Bacon Act
The Davis-Bacon Act requires payment of locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits to workers on federally funded construction projects over $2,000.
Question 3: Which OSHA standard requires employers to develop a written plan for entering confined spaces such as manholes and underground vaults?
- 29 CFR 1926.502 – Fall Protection
- 29 CFR 1910.146 – Permit-Required Confined Spaces (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.147 – Lockout/Tagout
- 29 CFR 1926.651 – Excavations
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.146 – Permit-Required Confined Spaces
29 CFR 1910.146 requires employers to develop and implement a written permit-required confined space program when workers must enter spaces with hazardous atmospheres or engulfment potential.
Question 4: In the context of public works risk management, what does a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) primarily address?
- Future project planning and budgeting
- Identified deficiencies or regulatory violations requiring remediation (Correct answer)
- Annual performance evaluation for staff
- Emergency evacuation procedures
Correct answer: Identified deficiencies or regulatory violations requiring remediation
A Corrective Action Plan outlines specific steps, timelines, and responsible parties to remedy identified deficiencies, audit findings, or regulatory noncompliance.
Question 5: Which federal agency oversees the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program that protects underground sources of drinking water?
- FEMA
- EPA (Correct answer)
- USACE
- USDOT
Correct answer: EPA
The EPA administers the Underground Injection Control program under the Safe Drinking Water Act to prevent contamination of underground drinking water sources.
Question 6: A public works manager must ensure that infrastructure projects near wetlands obtain which federal permit before construction begins?
- Section 401 Water Quality Certification only
- Section 404 Permit from the Army Corps of Engineers (Correct answer)
- Section 402 NPDES Permit only
- EPA Superfund Authorization
Correct answer: Section 404 Permit from the Army Corps of Engineers
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S., including wetlands.
Question 7: Which element is NOT typically included in a public agency's emergency operations plan (EOP)?
- Incident command structure
- Resource management procedures
- Annual employee salary schedules (Correct answer)
- Continuity of operations provisions
Correct answer: Annual employee salary schedules
Emergency operations plans address incident command, resource management, and continuity of operations but do not include routine administrative items like salary schedules.
CPWM Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management 3
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which rule establishes maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for disinfection byproducts in public water systems?