ETC ETC Environmental Engineering & Sustainability 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a retention pond in site stormwater management?
- To permanently store runoff, allowing settling of pollutants and reducing peak flows (Correct answer)
- To temporarily hold runoff and release it after a storm
- To infiltrate stormwater directly into the groundwater
- To collect and recycle construction water
Correct answer: To permanently store runoff, allowing settling of pollutants and reducing peak flows
A retention pond holds a permanent pool of water that receives runoff, allowing sediment and pollutants to settle before the water slowly releases.
Question 2: What does a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment primarily investigate?
- Recognized environmental conditions such as past spills, tanks, or contamination (Correct answer)
- Soil bearing capacity for foundation design
- Wetland delineation for permitting
- Air quality baseline for construction dust
Correct answer: Recognized environmental conditions such as past spills, tanks, or contamination
A Phase I ESA reviews historical records, regulatory databases, and site conditions to identify potential contamination without intrusive sampling.
Question 3: What does LEED certification evaluate in building construction?
- Sustainable building performance in energy, water, materials, and site design (Correct answer)
- Licensed electrical and engineering design compliance
- Local environmental and erosion documentation standards
- Land easement and encroachment designation criteria
Correct answer: Sustainable building performance in energy, water, materials, and site design
LEED is a green building rating system by the USGBC that evaluates energy efficiency, water use, materials, indoor environment, and site sustainability.
Question 4: What is the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit required for?
- Discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands (Correct answer)
- Discharging industrial wastewater into municipal sewers
- Operating a stormwater management system
- Constructing water supply intake structures
Correct answer: Discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands
Section 404 requires a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers before placing dredged or fill material into navigable waters or wetlands.
Question 5: What does remediation mean in environmental engineering?
- The cleanup or treatment of contaminated soil, groundwater, or structures (Correct answer)
- The design of stormwater management systems
- The monitoring of ambient air quality
- The assessment of floodplain boundaries
Correct answer: The cleanup or treatment of contaminated soil, groundwater, or structures
Environmental remediation encompasses methods such as excavation, in-situ treatment, and pump-and-treat systems used to restore contaminated sites to acceptable conditions.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a construction dust control plan for air quality?
- To minimize particulate matter emissions from grading and material handling activities (Correct answer)
- To measure ambient ozone levels at the site boundary
- To document greenhouse gas emissions from equipment
- To track VOC releases from coatings
Correct answer: To minimize particulate matter emissions from grading and material handling activities
A dust control plan identifies BMPs such as water spraying, vegetation stabilization, and equipment covers to reduce particulate matter from construction operations.
ETC ETC Environmental Engineering & Sustainability 2
What is the purpose of a retention pond in site stormwater management?