Question 1

The EPA administrator established air quality standards for seven major classes of pollutants (carbon monoxide,particulates,sulfur dioxide,nitrogen dioxide,hydrocarbons,ozone,and lead)but the hydrocarbon standard was subsequently withdrawn as no longer being necessary.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true as per the information provided.

Question 2

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System may require that discharge permits be obtained from:

Accepted Answer

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a federal program that requires permits to be obtained for the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. These permits can be obtained from the EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, or an individual state, depending on the specific circumstances. Therefore, all of the choices are correct.

Question 3

The Clean Water Act imposes civil penalties but not criminal penalties for violations.

Accepted Answer

The Clean Water Act imposes both civil and criminal penalties for violations, depending on the severity and nature of the offense. Criminal penalties can be applied in cases of negligent or knowing violations that lead to illegal discharges or harm to the environment.

Question 4

The Clean Water Act:

Accepted Answer

The Clean Water Act carries civil penalties of up to $37,500 per day per violation, as well as possible criminal penalties for violating the act. Choices A, B, and D are all incorrect as they provide inaccurate information regarding the Act.

Question 5

A defined area such as a large city,may be classified as a PSD area with respect to some pollutants,but not with respect to others.

Accepted Answer

This is true because different pollutants may have different sources and characteristics, which can affect their dispersion and concentration in the air. Therefore, it is possible for a large city to be a PSD area for some pollutants (e.g. nitrogen oxides) but not for others (e.g. particulate matter).

Question 6

Federal legislation exists to provide a comprehensive scheme for regulating toxic substances.

Accepted Answer

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), passed in 1976, gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate the manufacturing, processing, distribution, use, and disposal of toxic substances in the United States. TSCA is a federal legislation that provides a comprehensive scheme for regulating toxic substances.

Question 7

In order for Johanna to receive a permit for her plastic factory in a nonattainment area,she must show that the factory's emission rates will be within the average range for the industry.

Accepted Answer

Johanna must show that her factory will use the lowest achievable emission rate (LAER) technology, not just be within the average range for the industry, especially in a nonattainment area where air quality does not meet national standards.

Question 8

A nonpoint source is a land use that causes pollution.

Accepted Answer

Nonpoint sources refer to pollution that comes from multiple, diffuse sources such as agriculture, urban runoff, and atmospheric deposition. These sources are not necessarily associated with a specific point of discharge or location, which distinguishes them from point sources such as industrial facilities or sewage treatment plants.

Question 9

The National Environmental Policy Act:

Accepted Answer

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) aims to ensure that federal agencies consider the environmental impacts of their actions and make informed decisions, rather than prohibiting specific actions.

Question 10

In order for Mitchell,the owner of a cement factory,to obtain a permit from the Colorado Environmental Protection Agency in a PSD area,he must demonstrate that his factory will utilize the best available control technology.

Accepted Answer

PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration) areas require new or modified sources of air pollution to use the best available control technology to minimize emissions. Therefore, Mitchell must demonstrate that his cement factory will utilize the best available control technology in order to obtain a permit from the Colorado Environmental Protection Agency.

Question 11

The EPA may impose criminal fines and seek incarceration or imprisonment for persons who are convicted of violations of some environmental laws.

Accepted Answer

The EPA has the authority to seek criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for violations of certain environmental laws.

Question 12

From the industry's perspective,under the Clean Air Act it is better to be considered a new source than an existing one since the standard governing existing stationary sources is more stringent than the standard governing new sources.

Accepted Answer

Under the Clean Air Act, new sources often face more stringent standards and are required to install the best available control technology to minimize emissions, whereas existing sources may be subject to less strict standards or grandfathered provisions.

Question 13

If an SIP is not complete,the EPA may treat it as a nullity in whole or in part.

Accepted Answer

If an SIP (State Implementation Plan) is not complete, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) may treat it as a nullity (invalidity) in whole or in part.

Question 14

The EPA,to view an entire plant as one source to evaluate emissions,uses the "bubble concept."

Accepted Answer

The EPA does use the "bubble concept" to view an entire plant as one source and evaluate emissions. It allows a facility to have some flexibility in choosing which emission sources to reduce, as long as the overall emissions are below the "bubble" limit.

Question 15

The Clean Water Act requires the EPA administrator to do what,regarding new sources?

Accepted Answer

The Clean Water Act requires the EPA administrator to establish federal standards of performance that reflect the greatest degree of effluent reduction achievable through application of the best available control technology for new sources. The Act's requirements for existing sources are addressed separately and are not part of this requirement. The Act also does not require the identification of state waters that will not meet its requirements.

Question 16

The Clean Air Act's 1990 Amendments sought to hasten attainment of certain air quality standards,but failed to address specifically the subject of ozone pollution.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. The 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act did address ozone pollution specifically, including setting specific national ambient air quality standards for ozone and implementing measures to reduce ozone levels.

Question 17

The scope of the Clean Water Act is very broad.

Accepted Answer

The Clean Water Act covers a wide range of water sources, including streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal areas, as well as point source pollution from industries and municipal wastewater treatment plants. It also addresses non-point source pollution from sources such as agriculture and urban runoff. Therefore, the scope of the Clean Water Act is indeed very broad.

Question 18

Because private causes of action have proved to be adequate to recompense and prevent environmental damage,the federal,state,and local governments have chosen to create few statutes designed to protect the environment.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Governments have chosen to create numerous statutes designed to protect the environment, as private causes of action may not always be sufficient to prevent or compensate for environmental damage.

Question 19

The NPDES is a highly effective water emission technology required to be used by the EPA.

Accepted Answer

The NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) is not a technology; it is a permit program administered by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) that controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States.

Question 20

An approved SIP is treated as both state and federal law.

Accepted Answer

An approved State Implementation Plan (SIP) for air pollution control is treated as both state and federal law. This is because the Clean Air Act requires states to develop and submit SIPs to EPA for approval, and once approved, the SIP becomes the state's enforceable plan for achieving and maintaining compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). However, the SIP must also meet federal requirements and must be implemented consistently with federal law. As a result, an approved SIP is considered both state and federal law.

Quiz 45: Environmental Law