Lineman Environmental Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law requires utilities to report releases of hazardous substances above reportable quantities to the National Response Center?
- Clean Water Act
- CERCLA (Superfund) (Correct answer)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
- Safe Drinking Water Act
Correct answer: CERCLA (Superfund)
CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) requires immediate notification to the NRC when hazardous substance releases exceed reportable quantities.
Question 2: When a lineman discovers a leaking transformer suspected to contain PCBs, what is the FIRST required action?
- Drain the transformer immediately
- Contain the spill and notify the appropriate regulatory authority (Correct answer)
- Dilute the spill with water
- Continue working and report at end of shift
Correct answer: Contain the spill and notify the appropriate regulatory authority
Immediate containment of the spill and notification of regulatory authorities is required under TSCA and EPA PCB spill cleanup policy.
Question 3: Under the Clean Air Act, what emission standard applies to diesel generators used by utilities that operate more than 100 hours per year?
- National Ambient Air Quality Standards
- New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) (Correct answer)
- Stratospheric Ozone Protection rules
- Title III HAP standards only
Correct answer: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
Stationary diesel engines operating above threshold hours must meet NSPS under 40 CFR Part 60 Subpart IIII.
Question 4: A crew excavates soil contaminated with petroleum near a substation. Under RCRA, this material is most likely classified as:
- Municipal solid waste
- Characteristic hazardous waste (Correct answer)
- Universal waste
- Inert fill material
Correct answer: Characteristic hazardous waste
Petroleum-contaminated soil often exhibits ignitability or toxicity characteristics, classifying it as characteristic hazardous waste under RCRA.
Question 5: Which document must accompany a hazardous waste shipment from a utility facility to a disposal site?
- Bill of lading
- Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (Correct answer)
- Material Safety Data Sheet only
- EPA Form 8700-12
Correct answer: Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
The Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (EPA Form 8700-22) must accompany all off-site hazardous waste shipments under RCRA.
Question 6: Stormwater discharges from utility construction sites disturbing one or more acres must be covered under which permit type?
- NPDES Individual Permit only
- Construction General Permit (CGP) (Correct answer)
- Section 404 permit
- Title V air permit
Correct answer: Construction General Permit (CGP)
Construction sites disturbing one or more acres must obtain coverage under the EPA's Construction General Permit under the NPDES program.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan?
- A plan for emergency worker evacuation during chemical spills
- A facility plan to prevent oil discharges to navigable waters (Correct answer)
- A cleanup protocol for PCB transformer spills only
- A state-required document for hazardous waste generators
Correct answer: A facility plan to prevent oil discharges to navigable waters
SPCC plans under 40 CFR Part 112 are required for facilities with oil storage above threshold quantities that could reasonably discharge to navigable waters.
Lineman Environmental Compliance 2
Which federal law requires utilities to report releases of hazardous substances above reportable quantities to the National Response Center?