CESCO - Certified Environmental, Safety and Compliance Officer Air Quality Regulations (CAA) Questions and Answers

Question 1

A chemical manufacturing facility is planning a major modification that will significantly increase its emissions of a regulated air pollutant. Under the Clean Air Act, which program directly requires this facility to obtain a permit before construction and install the Best Available Control Technology (BACT)?

Accepted Answer

New Source Review (NSR)

Answer

The New Source Review (NSR) program under the Clean Air Act requires new or modified major stationary sources of air pollution to obtain a permit before construction begins. This process ensures that facilities install modern pollution control equipment, such as the Best Available Control Technology (BACT), to minimize emissions increases.

Question 2

Which of the following are all considered 'criteria' air pollutants regulated under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?

Accepted Answer

Ground-level Ozone, Particulate Matter, Lead, and Sulfur Dioxide

Answer

The EPA has established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six principal pollutants known as 'criteria' pollutants: ground-level ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), lead, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). These pollutants are widespread and can cause harm to public health and the environment.

Question 3

A facility has the potential to emit 12 tons per year of a single Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) and 28 tons per year of a combination of HAPs. According to the Clean Air Act, how would this facility be classified?

Accepted Answer

A major source

Answer

Under the Clean Air Act, a major source is defined as a facility that has the potential to emit 10 tons per year or more of any single Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) or 25 tons per year or more of any combination of HAPs. Since this facility exceeds both thresholds, it is classified as a major source.

Question 4

The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments introduced a cap-and-trade program primarily to address which environmental problem?

Accepted Answer

Acid rain

Answer

A key feature of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments was the establishment of the Acid Rain Program under Title IV. This program set a cap on total sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from power plants and created a market-based cap-and-trade system of allowances to reduce SO2 and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, the primary precursors of acid rain.

Question 5

A new industrial facility is being built that falls into a source category for which the EPA has established specific, technology-based emission standards. Which Clean Air Act program sets these national, uniform standards for new and modified stationary sources?

Accepted Answer

New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)

Answer

New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) are technology-based standards issued by the EPA for specific categories of new, modified, and reconstructed stationary sources. These standards establish the minimum level of pollution control, known as the 'best demonstrated technology,' that must be achieved by facilities in that source category.

CESCO - Certified Environmental, Safety and Compliance Officer Practice Test

CESCO - Certified Environmental, Safety and Compliance Officer Practice Test

CESCO - Certified Environmental, Safety and Compliance Officer Air Quality Regulations (CAA) Questions and Answers