Federal Environmental Regulations 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 Federal Environmental Regulations flashcards as text
A factory in a Clean Air Act non-attainment area for ozone wants to expand its production. Which pre-construction permitting program applies?
Answer: New Source Review (NSR) Non-Attainment Program
In non-attainment areas, major new sources or major modifications must obtain a Non-Attainment NSR permit, which requires Lowest Achievable Emission Rate (LAER) technology and emission offsets.
What is 'secondary containment' as required under RCRA and the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule?
Answer: Structures designed to contain spills or leaks from primary storage containers
Secondary containment refers to structures such as berms, dikes, or vaults designed to capture and contain spills or leaks from primary storage tanks or containers, preventing environmental releases.
Under the Clean Water Act's stormwater program, which permit type covers stormwater discharges from construction activities disturbing one or more acres?
Answer: Construction General Permit (CGP) under NPDES
EPA's Construction General Permit (CGP) authorizes stormwater discharges from construction sites disturbing one or more acres under the NPDES stormwater program.
What does 'BACT' stand for in the context of CAA Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting, and when is it required?
Answer: Best Available Control Technology; required for major new sources or modifications in PSD areas
BACT (Best Available Control Technology) is a case-by-case emission limitation required for each regulated pollutant from major new sources and major modifications subject to PSD review.
Under CERCLA's liability framework, which of the following parties can be held potentially responsible for site cleanup costs?
Answer: Current owners, past owners, generators, and transporters of hazardous substances
CERCLA imposes strict, joint, and several liability on four classes of potentially responsible parties (PRPs): current owners/operators, past owners/operators, generators, and transporters of hazardous substances.
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 requires annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting. Which facilities are covered?
Answer: Facilities in specific SIC/NAICS sectors with 10+ employees that manufacture, process, or use listed chemicals above threshold quantities
TRI reporting applies to facilities in covered industry sectors with 10 or more full-time employees that manufacture, process, or otherwise use listed toxic chemicals above applicable activity thresholds.
An environmental inspector reviews a facility's Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan. Which federal agency promulgates the SPCC rule?
Answer: EPA under the authority of the Clean Water Act Section 311
EPA promulgates the SPCC rule under Clean Water Act Section 311(j) to prevent oil discharges to navigable waters and adjoining shorelines from non-transportation-related facilities.