Air Quality and Emissions Flashcards
7 cards from real Environmental Compliance Inspector practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Air Quality and Emissions flashcards as text
Which regulation specifically governs the phase-out and management of ozone-depleting substances in the United States?
Answer: Clean Air Act Section 608 (Refrigerant Management)
Section 608 of the Clean Air Act establishes the refrigerant management program, requiring proper handling, recovery, and disposal of ozone-depleting refrigerants.
A 'major modification' under New Source Review (NSR) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) rules triggers review when a physical change causes a significant net emissions increase. For NOx in an attainment area, the significance threshold is:
Answer: 40 tons per year
For NOx, the PSD significance level is 40 tons per year; projects below this threshold do not trigger PSD major modification review.
An environmental inspector reviewing a facility's CEMS data notices 10% of valid operating hours show exceedances. Under 40 CFR Part 75, excess emission reports must be submitted:
Answer: Quarterly, within 30 days after the end of each quarter
40 CFR Part 75 requires quarterly excess emissions reports submitted within 30 days of each quarter's end to EPA's ECMPS system.
The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Major Sources set emission limits based on:
Answer: Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT)
NESHAP for major sources (also called MACT standards) require use of Maximum Achievable Control Technology, reflecting the best-performing 12% of sources.
Under the Clean Air Act's Acid Rain Program (Title IV), what is the primary mechanism used to control SO2 emissions from power plants?
Answer: A cap-and-trade allowance system
Title IV created a national SO2 cap-and-trade program where each allowance permits emission of one ton of SO2, and sources must hold enough allowances to cover their emissions.
When inspecting a dry cleaner for compliance with the Perchloroethylene (Perc) NESHAP, an inspector should verify the facility is NOT using which type of equipment if it is an 'existing' source installed before 2008?
Answer: Transfer machines
The Perc NESHAP prohibits transfer machines at all dry cleaning facilities, as they have no equivalent emission controls to dry-to-dry machines.
A facility's Continuous Opacity Monitoring System (COMS) records 20% opacity for 7 consecutive minutes during normal operation. A state rule prohibits opacity above 20% for more than 6 consecutive minutes. This constitutes:
Answer: A permit deviation that must be reported
Opacity at or exceeding the limit (20%) for longer than the allowed consecutive period (6 minutes) constitutes a permit deviation triggering reporting requirements.