Environmental Impact & Sustainability Flashcards
6 cards from real CTE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Environmental Impact & Sustainability flashcards as text
Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, when must consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) occur?
Answer: Before the federal agency approves an undertaking that may affect historic properties
Section 106 requires federal agencies to consult with the SHPO before approving any undertaking that might affect properties listed or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
What is a 'programmatic agreement' in the Section 106 historic preservation process?
Answer: A binding agreement between the agency, SHPO, ACHP, and others to manage complex or phased undertakings
A programmatic agreement (PA) is a binding document that resolves complex Section 106 cases, often used for phased projects, large programs, or situations where effects cannot be fully assessed at approval.
Which water quality standard is most relevant for evaluating highway project runoff impacts on receiving streams?
Answer: Narrative and numeric criteria in state water quality standards
State water quality standards, including narrative criteria and numeric criteria for parameters like TSS, phosphorus, and metals, define acceptable water quality and serve as the basis for evaluating nonpoint source impacts.
What is the 'Rule of Two Percent' in transportation air quality conformity analysis?
Answer: Projects within 2% of the SIP motor vehicle emission budget trigger full conformity analysis
Under transportation conformity, an area's transportation plan emissions must not exceed the SIP's motor vehicle emission budget; projects contributing within 2% of the budget may still require analysis.
What is 'green infrastructure' in the context of highway stormwater management?
Answer: Natural systems and processes — bioswales, permeable pavement, rain gardens — that manage stormwater on-site
Green infrastructure uses natural hydrologic processes — infiltration, evapotranspiration, and filtration — through features like bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable pavements to manage stormwater volume and quality.
Which federal law requires consultation when a transportation project may affect threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat?
Answer: Endangered Species Act Section 7
ESA Section 7 requires federal agencies to consult with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (or NOAA Fisheries) when their actions may affect listed species, to ensure the action is not likely to jeopardize continued existence.