Question 1

When the precautionary principle is introduced into the regulation of chemicals it
A)introduces caution into public decisions where substantial damages may be unknown
B)re-examines where the burden of proof should lie
C)scrutinizes serious threats that involve irreversible damage regardless of scientific certainty
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

The precautionary principle introduces caution into public decisions where substantial damages may be unknown, re-examines where the burden of proof should lie, and scrutinizes serious threats that involve irreversible damage regardless of scientific certainty.

Question 2

The primary regulatory approach to regulating toxic emissions has been to use technology based effluent standards.All of the following are technology based effluent standards except
A)Best Available Technology (BAT)
B)Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT)
C)Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT)
D)Most Often Applied Technology (MOAT)

Accepted Answer

"Most Often Applied Technology" (MOAT) is not a technology-based effluent standard. The other options, Best Available Technology (BAT), Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT), and Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) are technology-based effluent standards commonly used to regulate toxic emissions.

Question 3

Each of the following is a primary pollution control statute for toxic emissions in the US except
A)Clean Air Act (amended 1970, 1977, 1990)
B)Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (1986)
C)Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) (2001)
D)Clean Water Act (amended 1972, 1977)

Accepted Answer

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international treaty, not a US statute.

Question 4

Environmental justice is
A)a particular way of examining the distributional effects of pollution and contamination
B)a program to compensate minorities and the poor for exposure to environmental hazards
C)part of CERCLA legislation that holds polluters responsible for natural resource damages
D)a specific bill associated with the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act that allows citizens to sue industrial polluters on behalf of the government

Accepted Answer

Environmental justice is a framework that examines how the effects of pollution and contamination are distributed across different communities and populations, with a particular focus on marginalized and low-income groups. It is concerned with promoting fair and equitable access to clean air, water, and other environmental resources, and addressing the disproportionate environmental burdens often faced by communities of color and low-income communities. Options B, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of environmental justice.

Question 5

When the economics of pest resistance are examined, it becomes clear that
A)those who are attempting to eliminate pests will overuse pesticides and contribute to pests becoming resistant
B)those who are attempting to eliminate pests will be incentivized to use the socially efficient amount of pesticide
C)those who are attempting to eliminate pests will be incentivized to underuse pesticides because the elimination of pests is a public good
D)those who are regulating pest elimination have are interested in increasing resistance to pesticides in the target population

Accepted Answer

Individuals attempting to eliminate pests often overuse pesticides because they focus on immediate effectiveness rather than long-term consequences, leading to increased pest resistance.

Question 6

In managing the regulation of hazardous waste, federal policy has been aimed at two problems
A)storage of current wastes; transportation of current wastes
B)clean up of previous disposal sites; storage, transportation and disposal of current wastes
C)transportation and disposal of current wastes; clean up of previous disposal sites
D)transportation and disposal of current wastes; clean up of current storage sites

Accepted Answer

Federal policy focuses on cleaning up previous disposal sites and managing the storage, transportation, and disposal of current hazardous wastes.

Question 7

The reason that increased costs waste disposal is often an ineffective way to reduce hazardous waste is
A)competition in the waste removal industry keeps prices below effective incentive levels
B)hazardous waste is often not subject to disposal as it never leaves the firm premises
C)hazardous waste removal firms are not subject to regulations
D)firms are unmotivated by disposal charges and do not search for ways to reduce the quantities of waste requiring disposal

Accepted Answer

The answer of The reason that increased costs waste disposal...

Question 8

Hazardous waste generation in the US
A)is spread fairly evenly across the states
B)is concentrated in the industrial Midwest
C)is concentrated in oil and gas producing states (Alaska, Texas, the Dakotas)
D)is not spread evenly throughout the United States

Accepted Answer

Hazardous waste generation is not spread evenly throughout the United States. The EPA reports that in 2017, Texas generated the most hazardous waste, followed by Louisiana, Illinois, and Florida. Additionally, while hazardous waste is generated by industrial activities in urban areas, it is also generated by agricultural operations, healthcare facilities, and households, among other sources, which contributes to uneven distribution.

Question 9

The establishment of Brownfields sites
A)encourages developers to consider theses sites by relaxing potential liability associated with previous contamination
B)allows for funding assistance to assess or ameliorate contamination problems on the site
C)distinguishes the difference between Superfund sites and sites where light to moderate contamination is suspected or confirmed
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

The establishment of Brownfields sites encourages developers to consider these sites by relaxing potential liability associated with previous contamination, allows for funding assistance to assess or ameliorate contamination problems on the site, and distinguishes the difference between Superfund sites and sites where light to moderate contamination is suspected or confirmed. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 10

A 2005 EPA survey reveals that the majority of hazardous waste is disposed of through
A)burning
B)injection wells
C)recovery during recycling operations
D)off site disposal facitlities

Accepted Answer

Injection wells are commonly used for disposing of hazardous waste by injecting it deep underground, which was a prevalent method according to the 2005 EPA survey.

Question 11

The major US law that has established a liability provision for the damages done to US natural resources is
A)the National Contingency Plan (NCP)
B)the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
C)the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
D)the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act

Accepted Answer

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, is the major US law that establishes liability for damages to natural resources. It allows for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and holds responsible parties liable for environmental damage.

Question 12

Policy makers have begun to regulate toxic emissions by 'moving back up the line' and encouraging waste reduction.All of the following are effective incentives to encourage waste reduction except
A)emissions charges
B)deposit refund systems
C)increasing transparency about the release of toxic materials
D)regulations that dictate particular technology choices for firms using toxic substances

Accepted Answer

Regulations that dictate particular technology choices for firms using toxic substances are not necessarily effective incentives for waste reduction. They may be seen as too prescriptive and inflexible, potentially limiting innovation and economic growth. Emissions charges and deposit refund systems, on the other hand, provide financial incentives for firms to reduce waste and emissions. Increasing transparency about the release of toxic materials can also encourage firms to reduce waste as it can have reputational and regulatory consequences.

Question 13

As a part of the National Contingency Plan (NCP, the National Priorities Plan (NPL) is a state-federal effort to earmark a list of ranked sites for clean up that have experienced hazardous pollution.The priorities are established by taking into account
A)types of hazardous material at the site
B)quantities of hazardous materials at the site
C)the possibility of human exposure to the site and the materials
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

The National Priorities Plan considers all factors: types and quantities of hazardous materials, and the potential for human exposure to prioritize sites for cleanup.

Quiz 17: State and Local Environmental Issues

When the precautionary principle is introduced into the regulation of chemicals it

The primary regulatory approach to regulating toxic emissions has been to use technology based effluent standards.All of the following are technology based effluent standards except

Each of the following is a primary pollution control statute for toxic emissions in the US except

Environmental justice is

When the economics of pest resistance are examined, it becomes clear that

In managing the regulation of hazardous waste, federal policy has been aimed at two problems

The reason that increased costs waste disposal is often an ineffective way to reduce hazardous waste is

Hazardous waste generation in the US

The establishment of Brownfields sites

A 2005 EPA survey reveals that the majority of hazardous waste is disposed of through

The major US law that has established a liability provision for the damages done to US natural resources is

Policy makers have begun to regulate toxic emissions by 'moving back up the line' and encouraging waste reduction.All of the following are effective incentives to encourage waste reduction except

As a part of the National Contingency Plan (NCP, the National Priorities Plan (NPL) is a state-federal effort to earmark a list of ranked sites for clean up that have experienced hazardous pollution.The priorities are established by taking into account