Epa Core Knowledge Epa Core Knowledge Pollution Prevention & Control 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the hierarchy of pollution prevention approaches according to EPA's Pollution Prevention Act of 1990?
- Source reduction, recycling, treatment, then disposal (Correct answer)
- Treatment, recycling, source reduction, then disposal
- Disposal, treatment, recycling, then source reduction
- Recycling, source reduction, treatment, then disposal
Correct answer: Source reduction, recycling, treatment, then disposal
The EPA Pollution Prevention Act establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes source reduction first, followed by recycling, then treatment, and disposal only as a last resort.
Question 2: What is a Best Available Technology (BAT) standard under the Clean Water Act?
- The most effective pollution control technology that is economically achievable for a given industry (Correct answer)
- Any commercially available treatment technology regardless of cost
- The cheapest method an industry can use to reduce discharge
- Technology that achieves zero discharge of pollutants
Correct answer: The most effective pollution control technology that is economically achievable for a given industry
BAT represents the best pollution control technology that is economically achievable for a particular industrial category, balancing environmental benefit with economic feasibility.
Question 3: Which federal law primarily governs the management and disposal of hazardous waste in the United States?
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (Correct answer)
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
- Clean Air Act
- Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Correct answer: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
RCRA establishes the framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste from generation through disposal (cradle-to-grave).
Question 4: What is a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)?
- A site-specific plan that identifies pollution sources and describes control measures to reduce stormwater contaminants (Correct answer)
- A municipal ordinance restricting impervious surface coverage
- An EPA permit for discharging treated wastewater to surface water
- A federal program requiring all municipalities to install stormwater treatment systems
Correct answer: A site-specific plan that identifies pollution sources and describes control measures to reduce stormwater contaminants
A SWPPP is a written document required under the NPDES permit program that identifies potential pollutant sources and specifies best management practices to control runoff contamination.
Question 5: What does the term 'secondary containment' mean in pollution prevention?
- A backup structure designed to contain spills or leaks from primary storage containers (Correct answer)
- A treatment system installed after the primary treatment unit
- Secondary barriers placed around hazardous waste disposal cells
- A redundant monitoring system for detecting leaks
Correct answer: A backup structure designed to contain spills or leaks from primary storage containers
Secondary containment is a physical barrier such as a berm or dike installed around primary storage tanks or containers to capture spills or leaks before they can reach the environment.
Question 6: Under RCRA, what is the regulatory definition of a hazardous waste?
- A solid waste that is listed or exhibits characteristics of ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity (Correct answer)
- Any waste that contains chemical compounds at concentrations above detection limits
- All industrial wastewater discharged without a permit
- Waste that requires special packaging before transport
Correct answer: A solid waste that is listed or exhibits characteristics of ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity
Under RCRA, hazardous waste is defined as solid waste that appears on an EPA hazardous waste list or that exhibits one of four characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity.
Epa Core Knowledge Epa Core Knowledge Pollution Prevention & Control 1
What is the hierarchy of pollution prevention approaches according to EPA's Pollution Prevention Act of 1990?