Practice Test GeeksDEQ - Department of Environmental Quality Practice Test
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Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Regulations Flashcards

7 cards from real DEQ practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Regulations flashcards as text

  1. Which sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States according to EPA data?

    Answer: Transportation

    Transportation is currently the largest source of GHG emissions in the US, accounting for approximately 28% of total emissions, surpassing electricity generation.

  2. What is a 'cap-and-trade' system in the context of greenhouse gas regulation?

    Answer: A market-based system where a limit on total emissions is set and allowances can be bought and sold

    Cap-and-trade sets an overall emissions limit (cap), issues tradable allowances up to that limit, and lets facilities buy or sell surplus allowances.

  3. Which international agreement established legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries and is a key reference in state DEQ climate programs?

    Answer: Kyoto Protocol

    The Kyoto Protocol (1997) was the first international agreement establishing binding GHG reduction targets for developed (Annex I) countries.

  4. Under what authority can a state DEQ require facilities to conduct a Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis for greenhouse gases?

    Answer: Clean Air Act Prevention of Significant Deterioration program

    The Clean Air Act's PSD program requires BACT analysis for regulated pollutants, including GHGs, when a new major source or modification triggers PSD review.

  5. What is the approximate 100-year Global Warming Potential (GWP) of methane (CH4) compared to CO2?

    Answer: About 28-36 times that of CO2

    Methane has a 100-year GWP of approximately 28-36, meaning it traps that many times more heat than CO2 over a century on a mass basis.

  6. Which EPA program specifically regulates methane emissions from oil and gas operations, a key focus area for many state DEQs?

    Answer: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) Subpart OOOOa

    EPA's NSPS Subpart OOOOa (and its updates) set methane and VOC emission standards for new, modified, and reconstructed oil and natural gas sources.

  7. When a DEQ requires facilities to submit a Climate Action Plan, what is typically the primary goal of such a plan?

    Answer: To outline specific strategies and timelines for reducing GHG emissions

    A Climate Action Plan identifies emission sources and commits to measurable reduction strategies and schedules to achieve climate-related environmental goals.