NCED Emissions Control & Environmental Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Clean Air Act, which agency is primarily responsible for setting and enforcing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?
- OSHA
- EPA (Correct answer)
- FEMA
- DOT
Correct answer: EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for establishing and enforcing NAAQS under the Clean Air Act.
Question 2: A vehicle fails an OBD-II emissions inspection. Which condition most commonly triggers a 'readiness monitor not complete' result?
- Disconnected catalytic converter
- Recently cleared DTC codes or battery disconnect (Correct answer)
- Faulty oxygen sensor voltage
- Clogged EGR valve
Correct answer: Recently cleared DTC codes or battery disconnect
Clearing DTCs or disconnecting the battery resets readiness monitors, requiring the vehicle to complete a full drive cycle before passing inspection.
Question 3: Which greenhouse gas regulation requires large stationary sources to report annual greenhouse gas emissions to the EPA?
- RCRA
- CERCLA
- GHGRP (40 CFR Part 98) (Correct answer)
- NEPA
Correct answer: GHGRP (40 CFR Part 98)
The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (40 CFR Part 98) mandates that large emitters report their annual GHG emissions to the EPA.
Question 4: An industrial facility exceeds its permitted NOx emission limit during a summer ozone action day. This violation is most likely reported under which mechanism?
- Title V permit deviation report (Correct answer)
- RCRA manifest
- Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure plan
- Form R submission
Correct answer: Title V permit deviation report
Exceedances of Title V permit emission limits must be reported to the permitting authority as permit deviations.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a Tier 3 vehicle emission standard introduced by the EPA in 2014?
- Reduce CO2 fleet-wide averages
- Lower tailpipe PM and NOx limits and reduce sulfur in gasoline (Correct answer)
- Mandate electric vehicle percentages
- Set fuel economy minimums
Correct answer: Lower tailpipe PM and NOx limits and reduce sulfur in gasoline
Tier 3 standards reduced tailpipe particulate matter and NOx limits and required lower sulfur content in gasoline to enable advanced emission controls.
Question 6: Which evaporative emission control component prevents fuel vapors from escaping to the atmosphere while the vehicle is parked?
- PCV valve
- EGR cooler
- Charcoal canister (EVAP canister) (Correct answer)
- Oxygen sensor
Correct answer: Charcoal canister (EVAP canister)
The charcoal (activated carbon) EVAP canister adsorbs fuel vapors from the fuel tank, preventing them from venting to the atmosphere.
Question 7: Under EPA's New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), which scenario triggers applicability for a new emission unit at an existing facility?
- Any maintenance repair to existing equipment
- Construction or modification that increases emission rates above threshold levels (Correct answer)
- Purchase of emission offsets
- Filing a Title V permit renewal
Correct answer: Construction or modification that increases emission rates above threshold levels
NSPS applies when a new source is constructed or an existing source is modified in a way that increases emissions above the applicable thresholds.
NCED Emissions Control & Environmental Compliance 2
Under the Clean Air Act, which agency is primarily responsible for setting and enforcing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?