Question 1

The Environmental Protection Agency can initiate proceedings in court against suspected violators of federal environmental laws.

Accepted Answer

The EPA has the authority to enforce federal environmental laws through legal action, including civil and criminal penalties.

Question 2

The Clean Water Act regulates the temperature of water discharged into public waterways.

Accepted Answer

The Clean Water Act includes regulations on the temperature of water discharged into public waterways as a way to protect aquatic life and habitat.

Question 3

To date there has not been any act that regulates water pollution.

Accepted Answer

The Clean Water Act of 1972 is a federal law that regulates water pollution and sets water quality standards for surface waters in the United States.

Question 4

An environmental impact statement has no real purpose other than to fulfill a federal requirement when new legislation is proposed.

Accepted Answer

An environmental impact statement serves the purpose of evaluating and disclosing potential environmental impacts of a proposed project or legislation. It is not solely for fulfilling a federal requirement.

Question 5

An environmental impact statement must discuss alternatives to the proposed action.

Accepted Answer

According to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an environmental impact statement (EIS) must analyze and discuss a range of alternatives to the proposed action, including a no-action alternative. This allows decision-makers to compare different options and choose the one with the least environmental impact.

Question 6

The Clean Air Act requires new stationary sources of pollution to meet stricter standards than older existing stationary sources.

Accepted Answer

This is true. The Clean Air Act establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six pollutants and requires new stationary sources (such as factories and power plants) to meet more stringent emissions standards than existing sources.

Question 7

Under the Clean Air Act,existing sources of pollution must adopt the best available technology to reduce air pollution.

Accepted Answer

Under the Clean Air Act, existing sources of pollution are required to adopt the "reasonably available control technology" (RACT), not necessarily the "best available technology" (BAT), which is typically required for new sources.

Question 8

The National Environmental Policy Act requires that the federal government and state governments consider the adverse impact of their actions on the environment.

Accepted Answer

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires only the federal government to consider the environmental impacts of their actions, not state governments.

Question 9

A permit is required to dump wastes into the ocean.

Accepted Answer

According to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, a permit is required to dump wastes into the ocean. This permit is issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and includes regulations and limitations on what type and how much waste can be dumped.

Question 10

Automobile emissions are one of the major sources of air pollution.

Accepted Answer

Automobile emissions contribute to the release of harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter into the air, making them a significant source of air pollution.

Question 11

States may prepare but are not required to prepare a state implementation plan to compare its standards against federal standards.

Accepted Answer

States are required to prepare a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to demonstrate how they will comply with federal air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Question 12

NEPA applies to actions by the federal government.

Accepted Answer

NEPA stands for National Environmental Policy Act and it is a federal law that applies to actions by the federal government. It requires federal agencies to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of their proposed actions, consider alternatives to those actions, and involve the public in the decision-making process. NEPA does not apply to actions taken by state or local governments or private entities, unless they involve federal funding, permits, or other forms of federal involvement.

Question 13

The Environmental Quality Assessment Report is the document required under the National Environmental Policy Act to assess environmental impacts of government actions.

Accepted Answer

The document required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess environmental impacts of government actions is called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), not an Environmental Quality Assessment Report.

Question 14

The federal government has adopted regulations governing indoor air quality.

Accepted Answer

As of October 2023, the federal government has not adopted specific regulations governing indoor air quality, although there are guidelines and standards from agencies like the EPA and OSHA.

Question 15

Under the Clean Air Act,areas that are classified as nonattainment areas are further classified based on the degree to which they exceed the ozone standard.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Nonattainment areas are classified into different categories based on the level of ozone pollution they exceed. This categorization helps determine the level of action needed to mitigate air pollution in those areas.

Question 16

New point sources of water pollution must use best practical control technology.

Accepted Answer

The answer of New point sources of water pollution must...

Question 17

The public has the right to review and comment on environmental impact statements.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to prepare Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for major federal actions that significantly affect the environment. NEPA also provides for public comment on draft EIS documents, allowing the public to provide input and feedback on the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project or action.

Question 18

Congress set national ambient air quality standards in the Clean Air Act.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Congress set national ambient air quality standards...

Question 19

Wetlands require a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers in order to be filled or dredged.

Accepted Answer

The Clean Water Act requires a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers for any activities that would impact the flow, circulation, or reach of a navigable waterway, which includes wetlands. Therefore, filling or dredging wetlands does require a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Question 20

The Environmental Protection Agency has limited ability in ordering remedies for violations of federal environmental laws.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Environmental Protection Agency has limited ability...

Quiz 45: Environmental Protection and Global Warming