DEQ Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield DEQ facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What contaminant class is most commonly associated with underground storage tank (UST) leaks that the DEQ regulates? → Petroleum hydrocarbons, including gasoline and diesel fuel
2. Which greenhouse gas has the highest 100-year Global Warming Potential among those commonly regulated by DEQ programs? → Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
3. Which EPA program specifically regulates methane emissions from oil and gas operations, a key focus area for many state DEQs? → New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) Subpart OOOOa
4. What must a facility typically do within a specified timeframe after receiving a Notice of Violation from the DEQ? → Submit a written response describing corrective actions taken or planned
5. Which generator category under RCRA has the most stringent requirements for storage time limits and waste management? → Large quantity generator (LQG)
6. What is the statute of limitations for most civil environmental enforcement actions under federal law? → 5 years
7. Under RCRA, what characteristic makes a material a 'hazardous waste' due to its ability to ignite at relatively low temperatures? → Ignitability
8. What is a consent order in DEQ enforcement? → A negotiated agreement between the DEQ and a violator to resolve violations
9. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) primarily governs the management of which type of waste? → Hazardous waste
10. Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), what document is prepared for federal actions with potentially significant environmental impacts? → Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
11. Which of the following is a common source of particulate matter (PM2.5) in urban areas? → Vehicle exhaust
12. Which DEQ program addresses stationary source emissions of greenhouse gases through permit requirements under the Clean Air Act? → Title V Operating Permits
13. Which enforcement tool allows the DEQ to require immediate corrective action to stop ongoing environmental harm? → Emergency order
14. Under the Clean Air Act, what threshold triggers Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) review for greenhouse gas emissions from a new major source? → 75,000 tons per year CO2e
15. Under the Clean Water Act, what is the maximum civil penalty per day per violation that can be assessed against a violator? → $37,500
16. Which agency has authority to take over enforcement if a state DEQ fails to adequately enforce federal environmental standards? → U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
17. What is the approximate 100-year Global Warming Potential (GWP) of methane (CH4) compared to CO2? → About 28-36 times that of CO2
18. Which concept allows a company to voluntarily disclose violations to the DEQ in exchange for reduced penalties? → Voluntary disclosure policy
19. Which of the following is an example of non-point source pollution? → Runoff from agricultural fields
20. What is the primary purpose of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) in the context of greenhouse gas and climate regulations? → To outline how a state will achieve and maintain National Ambient Air Quality Standards
21. Which federal law gives state environmental agencies like the DEQ authority to seek criminal penalties for knowing violations? → Environmental enforcement provisions of statutes like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts
22. What type of inspection involves DEQ inspectors arriving at a facility without prior notice? → Unannounced inspection
23. State DEQ agencies often require facility GHG emission inventories to use which standard methodology for quantifying emissions? → EPA's Mandatory Reporting Rule calculation methodologies
24. What is the primary component of smog that can cause respiratory problem? → Ground-level Ozone
25. Under DEQ enforcement, what is the benefit of a regulated entity submitting a Root Cause Analysis after a violation? → It demonstrates good faith and can support penalty mitigation
26. What is the main regulatory body in the United States responsible for setting air quality standards? → Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
27. What type of waste is classified as hazardous? → Industrial chemicals
28. What is the first step in the waste management hierarchy? → Waste prevention
29. What is the main regulatory body in the United States responsible for setting air quality standards? → Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
30. The global warming potential (GWP) of a greenhouse gas is measured relative to which reference gas? → Carbon Dioxide (CO2)