Question 1

The three primary areas of focus for environmental policy are described by which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

Pollution control, resource conservation/management, and energy policy are the three primary areas of focus for environmental policy.

Question 2

What was found in a study of the costs and benefits of the Clean Air Act and its later amendments?

Accepted Answer

The study found that the economic benefits of the Clean Air Act and its later amendments significantly outweighed the costs, providing a return on investment of up to $30 for every dollar invested in the regulation. This suggests that the benefits massively outweighed the costs.

Question 3

During what period in U.S. history did the conservation movement lay the ground work for modern environmental policy?

Accepted Answer

The conservation movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, led by figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, laid the groundwork for modern environmental policy. This period saw the creation of national parks, the passing of the National Park Service Organic Act, the establishment of the U.S. Forest Service, and the passage of important conservation legislation such as the Antiquities Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Question 4

Where Congress has failed in recent years regarding climate change policy, who has succeeded in implementing effective policy?

Accepted Answer

While Congress has failed to pass significant climate change legislation in recent years, other entities such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state and local governments have stepped up to implement effective policies to address climate change. The EPA has implemented regulations on emissions from power plants and vehicles, while cities and states have adopted renewable energy standards and implemented policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 5

Which statement best describes a cap and trade program?

Accepted Answer

A cap and trade program is an emissions control policy and market incentive that sets a limit or "cap" on the total amount of emissions that an industry can release. Each company is given a certain amount of emissions allowances or permits which allows them to emit a certain amount of pollutants. If a company reduces their emissions below the allocated limit, they can sell or trade surplus permits to other companies who may find it more difficult to reduce their own emissions. This creates a financial incentive for companies to reduce their emissions below the cap and rewards those who are able to do so.

Question 6

Environmental policies such as the Clean Air Act, Water Pollution Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act (and others) tended to emphasize which policy tool?

Accepted Answer

Environmental policies such as the Clean Air Act, Water Pollution Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act emphasized command and control regulation, which involves the government setting specific environmental standards for businesses to follow and enforcing those standards through penalties and fines.

Question 7

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 ______.

Accepted Answer

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 focused on regulating the process of making local decisions to protect the environment, required developers to conduct an environmental impact statement, and was enacted because states were not protecting the environment sufficiently.

Question 8

What is collaborative decision making as a policy strategy?

Accepted Answer

Collaborative decision making as a policy strategy is an approach where the government works closely with industry to develop and implement policy. This approach seeks to achieve consensus between industry stakeholders and the government, with the goal of developing effective policies that balance the needs of the industry and the public.

Question 9

Developing alternative energy is likely to be an effective policy option to reduce carbon emissions for states and the federal government. However, alternative energy is costly to develop yet produces less energy (than fossil fuels) for the investment. Which evaluative criteria would reflect this high cost- to benefit ratio?

Accepted Answer

The high cost-to-benefit ratio can be evaluated using the criterion of efficiency, which measures the extent to which the benefits of a policy outweigh its costs. Other criteria such as equity, market incentives, and policy analysis may not necessarily be relevant in determining the cost-effectiveness of alternative energy development.

Question 10

What is the best definition of sustainable development?

Accepted Answer

Sustainable development refers to economic growth that is compatible with natural environmental systems and social goals. It aims to balance economic development with the need to protect the environment and meet the social and economic needs of current and future generations. This definition recognizes the importance of a holistic approach that takes into account the interconnection between economic, environmental, and social factors. Choices A, C, and D are either incomplete or inaccurate in describing what sustainable development is. Choice A only refers to the improvement of ecosystems without considering the economic and social aspects of sustainable development. Choice C only looks at mitigating conflict between economic pursuits and environmental protection without considering social goals. Choice D only focuses on the economic aspects of sustainable development without considering the environmental and social dimensions.

Question 11

With regard to U.S. energy policy, most experts would agree with which statement?

Accepted Answer

While some efforts have been made toward alternative sources of energy, there is no cohesive national energy policy in the United States. Decisions regarding energy use are largely made by individuals and corporations in the marketplace.

Question 12

Which statement best summarizes the effectiveness of U.S. environmental policies enacted over the past 30- to 40 years?

Accepted Answer

While there have been some notable improvements in certain areas such as point source pollution and urban air quality, overall the effectiveness of U.S. environmental policies has been mixed with some conditions not improving. For example, while surface water quality has improved, air quality remains poor.

Question 13

What is collaborative decision making as a policy strategy?

Accepted Answer

Collaborative decision making as a policy strategy involves working closely with industry and other stakeholders to develop and implement policy. This approach allows for a more comprehensive and inclusive process, taking into account various perspectives and interests. It can also lead to greater buy-in and implementation of the policy by those affected.

Question 14

After the IPCC issued dire warnings on climate change and the EPA took action in the form of new rules and regulations, what moderated the effects of the rule change and helped shift energy policy in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Despite the new rules and regulations, increases in gas and oil drilling with the aid of hydraulic fracturing helped shift energy policy in the United States. This allowed for a greater supply of domestic oil and gas, which made traditional fossil fuels more attractive and affordable compared to renewable energy sources.

Question 15

With regard to environmental policy formulation, in the 1970s, ______ was the norm in the United States, while ______ was the norm in the 1980s and 1990s.

Accepted Answer

The answer of With regard to environmental policy formulation, in...

Question 16

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that environmental impact statements (EIS) be conducted for proposed development projects. Which statement choice defines an EIS?

Accepted Answer

An EIS is a detailed and systematic study of all environmental effects of a proposed action, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It includes analysis of the potential impacts on air quality, water resources, ecosystems, and other aspects of the environment, as well as potential effects on human health and socio-economic factors.

Question 17

How did the EPA demonstrate the danger of coal plants and justify its new rules?

Accepted Answer

The EPA calculated the amount of preventable deaths and ailments caused by coal plants and placed an economic value on the avoidance of these in order to demonstrate the danger of coal plants and justify its new rules.

Question 18

The Clean Air Act of 1990 provided for the use of buying and selling of pollution permits to combat acid rain. What type of policy instrument does this describe?

Accepted Answer

The use of buying and selling pollution permits is a form of market incentive policy instrument, where the government creates a market for pollution permits and allows companies to trade them. This incentivizes companies to reduce their pollution to avoid having to buy permits, while also providing a financial benefit to companies that can reduce their emissions and sell their permits to others.

Question 19

Which answer best describes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

Accepted Answer

The statement "the largest independent agency with strong regional offices reporting to the president" accurately describes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Question 20

Which best describes the recent history of environmental policymaking in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The late 1960s through the 1970s saw significant policymaking activity, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of major laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. However, since then there has been a long period of gridlock and incremental changes, with few major environmental policies enacted in recent years.

Quiz 11: Environmental and Energy Policy

The three primary areas of focus for environmental policy are described by which of the following statements?

What was found in a study of the costs and benefits of the Clean Air Act and its later amendments?

During what period in U.S. history did the conservation movement lay the ground work for modern environmental policy?

Where Congress has failed in recent years regarding climate change policy, who has succeeded in implementing effective policy?

Which statement best describes a cap and trade program?

Environmental policies such as the Clean Air Act, Water Pollution Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act (and others) tended to emphasize which policy tool?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 ______.

What is collaborative decision making as a policy strategy?

What is the best definition of sustainable development?

With regard to U.S. energy policy, most experts would agree with which statement?

Which statement best summarizes the effectiveness of U.S. environmental policies enacted over the past 30- to 40 years?

What is collaborative decision making as a policy strategy?

After the IPCC issued dire warnings on climate change and the EPA took action in the form of new rules and regulations, what moderated the effects of the rule change and helped shift energy policy in the United States?

With regard to environmental policy formulation, in the 1970s, was the norm in the United States, while was the norm in the 1980s and 1990s.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that environmental impact statements (EIS) be conducted for proposed development projects. Which statement choice defines an EIS?

How did the EPA demonstrate the danger of coal plants and justify its new rules?

The Clean Air Act of 1990 provided for the use of buying and selling of pollution permits to combat acid rain. What type of policy instrument does this describe?

Which answer best describes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ?

Which best describes the recent history of environmental policymaking in the United States?