Free Environmental Compliance Inspector Air Quality Compliance Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following establishes the primary mechanism through which states develop and implement plans to meet and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?
- New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
- State Implementation Plans (SIPs) (Correct answer)
- Title V Operating Permit Program
- National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
Correct answer: State Implementation Plans (SIPs)
State Implementation Plans (SIPs) are comprehensive plans that each state develops and the EPA approves to implement, maintain, and enforce the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the six criteria pollutants.
Question 2: An inspector is reviewing the records of a large power plant, which is classified as a "major source" under the Clean Air Act. The inspector is looking for a single, comprehensive document that consolidates all of the facility's applicable air quality requirements. Which document should the inspector request?
- A Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit
- The facility's annual emissions inventory report
- The facility's Title V Operating Permit (Correct answer)
- A New Source Review (NSR) construction permit
Correct answer: The facility's Title V Operating Permit
The Title V Operating Permit program requires major sources of air pollution to obtain a permit that consolidates all applicable federal and state air quality requirements into a single, legally enforceable document.
Question 3: Which of the following pollutants is regulated as a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) program?
- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
- Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Benzene (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Benzene
Benzene is one of the 187 listed Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), also known as air toxics, regulated under the NESHAP program. Sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide are "criteria pollutants" regulated under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Question 4: A new chemical manufacturing plant is proposed for construction in an area that currently meets all National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The plant's projected emissions of sulfur dioxide are above the major source threshold. Which Clean Air Act pre-construction permitting program is specifically designed to ensure that this new source does not cause a significant deterioration of the area's clean air?
- Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR)
- Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) (Correct answer)
- Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT)
- Risk Management Plan (RMP)
Correct answer: Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
The Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program applies to new major sources or major modifications at existing sources for pollutants in areas where the air quality meets the NAAQS (attainment areas). It requires the source to install the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) and perform an air quality analysis to ensure standards are not violated and air quality is not significantly degraded.
Question 5: An environmental inspector is conducting a Method 9 visual emissions observation for opacity at a facility's smokestack. The permit limit for this source is 20% opacity. What does a 20% opacity reading indicate?
- The emissions are obscuring the background view by 20%. (Correct answer)
- 20% of the emissions are composed of particulate matter.
- The velocity of the emissions is 20% of the maximum allowed rate.
- The emissions contain 20 parts per million of visible pollutants.
Correct answer: The emissions are obscuring the background view by 20%.
Opacity is a visual measure of the degree to which emissions reduce the transmission of light and obscure the view of an object in the background. A 20% opacity means that 20% of the background light is blocked by the plume. EPA Method 9 is the standard procedure for this visual determination.
Question 6: An inspector is verifying a facility's compliance with the Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions under Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act. Which of the following is the primary objective of this program?
- To regulate the gradual, long-term release of hazardous air pollutants.
- To establish national standards for ambient air quality for common pollutants.
- To prevent the accidental release of extremely hazardous substances and minimize the consequences of such releases. (Correct answer)
- To require emissions offsets for new sources in nonattainment areas.
Correct answer: To prevent the accidental release of extremely hazardous substances and minimize the consequences of such releases.
The Risk Management Plan (RMP) rule, under CAA Section 112(r), requires facilities that use certain listed flammable and toxic substances to develop a program and plan to prevent accidental releases and to establish emergency response procedures to minimize the consequences of any releases that do occur.
