Environmental Health Regulations and Law Flashcards

Which federal law primarily governs the safety of public drinking water supplies in the United States?

Answer: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), enacted in 1974 and amended multiple times, authorizes the EPA to set standards for public drinking water quality and oversees the implementation of these standards.

What is the significance of 'Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs)' under the Safe Drinking Water Act?

Answer: They are legally enforceable standards for the maximum permissible concentration of contaminants in public drinking water

MCLs are legally enforceable standards under SDWA that set the maximum permissible concentration of specific contaminants in water delivered to consumers from public water systems.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, what does OSHA's 'General Duty Clause' require of employers?

Answer: Employers must furnish a place of employment free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm

OSHA's General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) requires all employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to workers.

What is a 'consent order' in environmental enforcement?

Answer: A legally binding agreement between a regulatory agency and a regulated party that resolves violations and specifies corrective actions

A consent order is a negotiated, legally enforceable agreement between a regulatory agency and a violating party that resolves alleged violations and establishes a compliance schedule with specified corrective actions.

What does the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) under SDWA require water systems to do?

Answer: Monitor drinking water at customer taps and take action levels if lead or copper concentrations exceed regulatory thresholds

The Lead and Copper Rule requires public water systems to monitor tap water at customer homes and take specific actions including corrosion control treatment, public education, and lead service line replacement when action levels are exceeded.

What is the 'enforcement discretion' principle in environmental health regulation?

Answer: The authority of regulators to prioritize enforcement resources and determine appropriate responses based on severity, good faith, and compliance history

Enforcement discretion allows regulatory officials to prioritize cases by severity, consider factors such as good-faith compliance efforts and history of violations, and select the most appropriate enforcement response.