HSE Environmental Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under RCRA, which waste characteristic is determined by whether a substance can ignite at temperatures below 140°F (60°C)?
- Toxicity
- Ignitability (Correct answer)
- Corrosivity
- Reactivity
Correct answer: Ignitability
RCRA defines ignitable hazardous waste as liquid with a flash point below 140°F (60°C) or a solid capable of spontaneous combustion.
Question 2: The Clean Water Act's Section 402 establishes which permit program for point source discharges?
- RCRA
- NPDES (Correct answer)
- SPCC
- Title V
Correct answer: NPDES
Section 402 of the Clean Water Act created the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program for point source pollutant discharges.
Question 3: A facility exceeds its Tier II reporting threshold for a hazardous chemical. Under EPCRA Section 312, to which entities must the report be submitted?
- Only EPA and state emergency response commission
- LEPC, SERC, and local fire department (Correct answer)
- EPA, OSHA, and local health department
- LEPC and EPA regional office only
Correct answer: LEPC, SERC, and local fire department
EPCRA Section 312 Tier II reports must be submitted to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), and the local fire department.
Question 4: Which Clean Air Act standard sets emissions limits for 187 hazardous air pollutants from major stationary sources?
- NAAQS
- MACT (Correct answer)
- PSD
- SIP
Correct answer: MACT
Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards under CAA Section 112 regulate hazardous air pollutant emissions from major and area sources.
Question 5: Under CERCLA, a potentially responsible party (PRP) can include which of the following even if they no longer own the contaminated site?
- Current property owner only
- Past owners and operators who disposed of hazardous substances (Correct answer)
- Only transporters who caused spills
- Federal agencies exclusively
Correct answer: Past owners and operators who disposed of hazardous substances
CERCLA imposes strict, joint and several liability on past owners/operators, generators, and transporters of hazardous substances regardless of current ownership.
Question 6: A storm drain at a manufacturing facility discharges to a nearby river after a rain event. What type of pollution does this represent?
- Non-point source pollution
- Point source pollution (Correct answer)
- Diffuse source pollution
- Atmospheric deposition
Correct answer: Point source pollution
A discharge from a discrete conveyance such as a storm drain or pipe is classified as point source pollution under the Clean Water Act.
Question 7: Which EPA regulation requires facilities with aboveground oil storage above threshold quantities to develop a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure plan?
- RCRA Subtitle C
- SPCC Rule (40 CFR Part 112) (Correct answer)
- EPCRA Section 304
- CAA Section 111
Correct answer: SPCC Rule (40 CFR Part 112)
The SPCC rule under 40 CFR Part 112 (Clean Water Act Section 311) requires facilities storing oil above threshold amounts to prepare and implement SPCC plans.
HSE Environmental Compliance 2
Under RCRA, which waste characteristic is determined by whether a substance can ignite at temperatures below 140°F (60°C)?