Q&A Hero

Q: Describe the Clean Water Act sequence for cleanup of industrial wastes discharged into rivers and streams.

Q: Describe the acts, apart from the Clean Water Act, that are related to pollution control, which are administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

Q: An organization has set up a turbine farm project near the coast. However, it so happens that the coastal area is one of the principal bird migration corridors. The sound of the turbines is likely to hurt the birds and would destroy their habitat. Which law has been violated by this organization?

Q: What are the different approaches taken by the state and local governments in responding to solid waste disposal problems?

Q: Anderson Inc. has an oil refinery spread over an area of 1,500 acres in Texas. The refinery produces over 200,000 barrels of oil per day. The refinery is located next to a residential neighborhood with an approximate population of 1,000 people. It releases gases of over three thousand pounds of benzene, five thousand pounds of sulfur dioxide, and seven thousand tons of carbon monoxide. It violates the standards established by the federal authorities. Which act does Anderson violate? Explain.

Q: How does the Clean Air Act divide air pollution sources?

Q: What are the civil and criminal penalties that enforce the Clean Air Act?

Q: How is the bubble concept different from the point source concept when measuring pollution emissions?

Q: What is the technology-forcing aspect of the Clean Air Act?

Q: Explain how the prevention of significant deterioration policy under the Clean Air Act works and why it is criticized by some.

Q: What are the responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Agency?

Q: What are the primary and secondary air quality standards according to the Clean Air Act?

Q: The basis for the ______ tort lies in the defendants breach of his or her duty to use ordinary and reasonable care toward the plaintiff, which proximately (foreseeably) causes the plaintiff injury. A. strict liability B. negligence C. trespass D. private nuisance E. public nuisance

Q: High carbon dioxide levels which lead to warmer global temperatures create the A. butterfly effect. B. greenhouse effect. C. polar effect. D. Bohr effect. E. boomerang effect.

Q: What are the components of the environmental impact statement (EIS) and when are they required?

Q: A factorys failure to use pollution-control equipment may be evidence of its failure to exercise ______ resulting in evidence of negligence. A. best practices B. prudence C. standard of care D. reasonable care E. good faith

Q: The common law of ______ is established when the use of ones land unreasonably interferes with the use or enjoyment of anothers land. A. strict liability B. negligence C. trespass D. private nuisance E. due diligence

Q: A defendant is liable for ______ if, without right, he or she intentionally enters land in possession of another or causes something to do so. A. strict liability B. negligence C. trespass D. private nuisance E. public nuisance

Q: A company manufactures explosives that are used for the demolition of structures. These explosives are stored in its warehouse situated in a residential area. One day, the warehouse catches fire, resulting in an explosion which causes widespread damage to the lives and property of the people living in that area. The company is guilty of A. strict liability. B. negligence. C. trespass. D. private nuisance. E. public nuisance.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act? A. It levies punitive damages up to five times of the cleanup costs. B. It mandates notification for authorized release of hazardous substances. C. It imposes strict liability on those responsible for unauthorized discharges of hazardous wastes. D. It supersedes international pollution control laws. E. It provides a statement of revenues generated from organizations making healthy use of natural resources.

Q: Under the Superfund, the costs for restoring land to its previous condition is called ______. A. reformation B. remediation C. rehabilitation D. reconstruction E. reclamation

Q: Under the Superfund law, a purchaser of land may escape the liability to clean up hazardous wastes by A. fixing responsibility on the previous owner of the land. B. suing the land seller for the hazardous wastes left by the seller. C. informing the government of any hazardous wastes in the land. D. pleading ignorance to the knowledge of the act. E. proving the use of due diligence in checking the land for toxic hazards.

Q: If a bank assumes ownership of a piece of contaminated land A. the previous owner will be solely responsible for the cleanup. B. the bank can re-sell the property without any liability for cleanup. C. the bank becomes a responsible party. D. the bank is withheld from selling the land due to its contaminated status. E. the future owner will be solely responsible for the cleanup upon its sale to the future owner.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of private citizens? A. They can report violations of environmental law to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but cannot act directly. B. They cannot sue polluters directly to force them to cease violating environmental laws. C. They can sue public agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to force the adoption of regulations. D. They can sue businesses, but not the government, to enforce rules under environmental statutes like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. E. They cannot sue offending polluters under tort theories of strict liability and negligence as these theories are not established.

Q: ______ refers to an act that causes inconvenience or damage to the public in the exercise of rights common to everyone. A. Direct interference B. Negligence C. Trespassing D. Due diligence E. Public nuisance

Q: Which of the following statements is true of tort laws? A. The defendant is usually liable for trespass if he enters the land unintentionally. B. The basis for the negligence tort lies in the plaintiffs ability to use reasonable care in his duty to reduce injury to himself. C. The defendants failure of reasonable care is unnecessary in the tort of strict liability. D. The damages caused as a consequence of public nuisance can be brought forward by any private or public official regardless of the special damages suffered by them. E. The tort of strict liability is used in cases which involves storage and use of explosives.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)? A. The RCRA accomplishes proper disposal of hazardous wastes through the point-source system. B. The RCRA moves the handling of toxic wastes away from burial on land to treatments that destroy or permanently detoxify wastes. C. The RCRA is exempted from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from maintaining any records or a penalty system for failure to comply with the provisions of the act. D. The RCRA was created primarily to provide financial assistance to local governments. E. The RCRA lacks investigatory powers but maintains executory powers.

Q: Opinion research indicates that the publics highest concern regarding regulation of industry is A. expansion of industry into protected areas. B. control of toxic and hazardous chemicals. C. movement of industry to less-regulated countries. D. land encroachment in national parks. E. the transfer of toxic materials to developing countries.

Q: The primary purpose of the Toxic Substances Control Act is to A. force an early evaluation of suspect chemicals before they become economically important. B. slow down the introduction of new chemicals to encourage the use of already established chemicals. C. prevent the shipment of unsafe chemicals to foreign countries. D. create an organic environment for agriculture. E. identify water bodies for the safe disposal of toxic materials.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)? A. The primary purpose of the TSCA is to provide technical and financial assistance to all states in implementation of the Act. B. The TSCA is like the Clean Air Act which requires that certain pollution standards be met without regard for economic factors. C. The law authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require manufacturers to test their chemicals for possible harmful effects. D. The TSCA demands that the EPA is not given advance notice of manufacture of new chemicals. E. The TSCA was passed in the year 1950 with the guidelines given by the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act.

Q: Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a generator of wastes is obligated to A. provide on-site disposal of the waste. B. determine if a nonlisted waste is hazardous in terms of the chemical characteristics specified by the Solid Waste Disposal Act. C. determine whether its wastes qualify as hazardous. D. reduce production of new chemicals. E. pay punitive and speculative damages to the aggrieved party.

Q: Which of the following statements holds true for the manifest system of hazardous waste disposal? A. It assesses penalties for failure to comply with the provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). B. It refers to the software packages used for aggregating data for optimization of operations for waste collection. C. It prescribes various record-keeping requirements that manifest waste disposal. D. It obligates the generator to determine whether its wastes qualify as hazardous under the manifest system. E. It requires the generator to prepare a manifest document that designates a licensed facility for disposal purposes.

Q: Under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the federal role in nontoxic waste management is to A. provide strict guidelines to landfill composition. B. promote research and provide technical and financial assistance to the states. C. waive standards regarding other pollution that arises as a result of solid waste management. D. grant tax breaks for industries using recycled materials. E. provide for the storage, transfer, and disposal of non-toxic waste material.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the problem of solid wastes? A. The Clean Air Act is inapplicable in cases where solid wastes have been burned. B. Solid waste pollution problems have decreased during the last 25 years. C. Half of all solid waste produced in U.S is agricultural waste. D. Residential waste is the highest contributor of solid wastes in U.S. E. Landfills are the least used sites for most household and business solid wastes.

Q: The primary federal effort in solid waste management is represented by the ______. A. Waste and Resource Reclamation Act B. Solid Waste Disposal Act C. Landfill Management Act D. National Environmental Policy Act E. National Solid Waste Management Act

Q: Under the Endangered Species Act, the right to declare a species as endangered rests with the A. director of the Environmental Protection Agency. B. governors of states where the species habitat is located. C. Secretary of the Interior. D. president. E. upper house of the U.S Congress.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act? A. It requires the registration and labeling of agricultural pesticides. B. It requires the licensing of operators using pesticides. C. It prohibits the use of pesticides near schools. D. It takes into account the economic and environmental costs and benefits of the use of any pesticide, but neglects the social impact. E. It applies to pesticides that U.S. manufacturers ship to foreign countries.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Clean Water Act? A. It was passed in accordance with the Toxic Substances Control Act in the year 1975. B. It is beyond the scope of the act to set laws pertaining to the recreational use of waterways. C. It applies to both navigable interstate and intrastate waterways. D. The criminal penalties of the act cover any unpermitted point-source pollution of navigable waterways. E. The penalties under the act are predominantly insubstantial.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Clean Water Act? A. It sets goals and timetables to eliminate water pollution. B. It directs the Environmental Protection Agency to set maximum drinking water contaminant levels. C. It mandates permits to discharge pollutants from non-point source. D. It mandates permits for industrial, but exempts municipal, dischargers. E. It regulates non-point source pollution.

Q: For the Department of Interior, the Endangered Species Act is administered by the A. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1947. B. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). C. Toxic Substances Control Act. D. Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act of 1972 (FEPCA). E. Fish and Wildlife Services and the National Marine Fisheries Services.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Endangered Species Act (ESA)? A. The act was passed in the year 1952 under the guidelines given by the panel on the Council on Environmental Quality. B. The act has its scope limited to private businesses. C. The act permits courts or regulators to take economic factors into consideration in applying its provisions. D. The act requires recovery plans for the species it protects. E. The act provides for exemptions that are applicable to private activities for certain important federal projects.

Q: Under the Clean Water Act, the first step in cleanup of industrial wastes requires polluters to install ______. A. best practicable technology B. scrubbers C. best available technology D. electromagnetic precipitators E. wet collectors

Q: Which of the following acts administered by the Environmental Protection Agency requires a permit system for the discharge or dumping of various materials into the seas? A. the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 B. the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 C. the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act D. the Toxic Substances Control Act E. the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Q: The ______ approach to pollution control refers to a situation where the government issues a limited number of pollution permits, and companies, which can reduce emissions, can sell the unused amount of a permit. A. marketable rights B. point source C. cap and trade D. emissions reduction banking E. bubble concept

Q: Under the ______ issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), polluters can engage in a family of alternative operating scenarios without the expensive delay of obtaining new permits per the previous EPA requirements. A. emissions reduction banking credits B. marketable rights C. remediation D. superfunds E. smart permits

Q: The estimated time needed to acquire the necessary permits to build a coal-fired electric generating plant is A. one to two years. B. six to nine months. C. five to ten years. D. three to four years. E. two to three years.

Q: Thermal effluents consist of A. heated air discharged into the atmosphere. B. heated water discharged into rivers and lakes. C. warm water tides that affect the weather. D. solid waste that produces heat creating landfill-related pollution. E. heated pollutants released from gas chambers to the atmosphere.

Q: Which of the following is a control device that stationary source polluters may utilize to achieve design standards? A. catalytic converters B. short stacks C. water jets D. steel utilities E. scrubbers

Q: Under the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, Congress specifically allows utility companies to A. engage in emissions reduction banking and trading. B. indulge in cap and trade. C. use marketable rights to pollution control. D. avoid cost-benefit analysis in its approach to pollution control. E. focus on secondary air quality standards rather than primary air quality standards.

Q: The ______ approach refers to pollution control system under which the right to discharge a certain pollutant would be auctioned off to the highest bidder. A. point-source B. bubble concept C. cap and trade D. novation E. marketable rights

Q: Under the ______ approach, businesses can cut pollution beyond what the law requires and keep these reductions for their own future use or to sell to other companies as emission offsets. A. cap and trade B. bubble concept C. emissions reduction banking D. point-source E. marketable rights

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Clean Air Act? A. As per the act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets national ambient air quality standards and the states devise implementation plans. B. Criminal sanctions for violation of the act by individuals result in a fine of up to $1,000,000 or life imprisonment. C. The principal responsibility for enforcing the act lies with the individuals and nongovernmental organizations. D. The scope of the act limits it from setting any secondary air quality standards. E. The state is given complete control over formulation and implementation of plans under the Clean Air Act.

Q: Under the Clean Air Act, corporations can be fined up to ______ for knowingly endangering people with emissions. A. $1 million B. $25 million C. $10 million D. $1 billion E. $5 million

Q: For control purposes, the Clean Air Act amendments divide air pollution into the categories of ______ sources. A. suburban and rural B. stationary and mobile C. commercial and residential D. urban and industrial E. organic and inorganic

Q: Traditionally, under the Environmental Protection Agency, the ______ is described as a specific site of pollution, such as a smokestack. A. emissions reduction bank B. urban runoff C. line source D. point source E. bubble concept

Q: Under the ______, the pollution of the plant complex as a whole is the focus of regulation. A. scoping concept B. novation concept C. line source concept D. point source concept E. bubble concept

Q: The director of Homeland Security has exercised authority to create an exception to the National Environmental Policy Act requirements to allow the A. creation of a single piece of legislation that comprehensively controls radiation pollution. B. suspension of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act restrictions in and around domestic military bases. C. suspension of the Endangered Species Act restrictions when animal and plant life is affected during necessary military training maneuvers. D. building of a fence between the United States and Mexico. E. building of nuclear power plants around protected areas of the United States.

Q: Clean air standards designed to protect against air pollution effects such as injury to property, vegetation, and climate are called A. primary air quality standards. B. secondary air quality standards. C. principal air quality standards. D. tertiary air quality standards. E. premium air quality standards.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)? A. It establishes a single piece of legislation that comprehensively controls radiation pollution. B. It coordinates public control of private action at the federal level. C. It is usually beyond its scope to administer federal laws. D. It administers local laws relating to the sale of medicines and drugs at lower rates. E. It demands that all state agencies prepare an environmental impact statement prior to taking certain actions.

Q: Environmental impact study scoping refers to A. designating specific geographic areas that a contemplated action will affect. B. estimating the specific population that a contemplated action will affect. C. designating which environmental issues of a contemplated action are most significant. D. specifying a backup plan should a contemplated action cause unforeseeable damage. E. preparing informal impact statements that will address environmental issues regarded as most important.

Q: Environmental laws at the federal level are administered by the A. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). B. Pollution Control Board. C. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). D. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). E. World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED).

Q: Which of the following statements is true of an environmental impact statement (EIS)? A. The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies to follow the conclusions of the EIS. B. An EIS can be in any language as long as it is clear and to the point. C. An EIS is to be included in every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. D. An EIS should include technical jargon to clearly explain all the points mentioned in the statement. E. The EIS is usually a short list of points that hints at the pros of the economic profits that are outcomes of transactions concerning the human environment.

Q: An environmental impact statement A. must include available alternatives to the proposed action. B. must include economic profits that can be guaranteed from the organizations action. C. must include a statement of any reversible use of resources. D. must include technical jargon for better understanding of the statement. E. must be included in most recommendations or reports on proposals for legislation affecting the environment.

Q: Environmental impact statements became a requirement based on the A. National Environmental Policy Act. B. Department of the Environment Act. C. Clean Water Act. D. Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. E. Waste and Resource Reclamation Act.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the National Environmental Policy Act? A. It establishes a single piece of legislation that comprehensively controls radiation pollution. B. It imposes specific duties on all state agencies, but not on federal agencies. C. It ensures that the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act do not contain provisions related to government suits to recover costs for the cleanup of toxic chemicals. D. It promotes the understanding of the ecological systems important to the United States. E. It demands that all state agencies prepare an environmental impact statement prior to taking certain actions.

Q: The destruction of the worlds rainforests is occurring primarily on privately owned land as it is more difficult to enforce the laws in private property ownership cases.

Q: The emissions trading approach to pollution management is a property approach.

Q: It is beyond the rights or authority of shareholders to file global warming-related resolutions directing board members or officers to analyze and/or report on environmental issues.

Q: High-income countries use four to five times as much energy (mostly from polluting fossil fuels like coal and oil) as developing countries.

Q: Ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons and halons are no longer in production.

Q: The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) demands that the Environmental Protection Agency be given advance notice before the manufacture of new chemical substances or the processing of any substance for a significant new use.

Q: The Toxic Substances Control Act is like the Clean Air Act, which requires that certain pollution standards be met without regard for economic factors.

Q: The National Academy of Sciences notes that global carbon dioxide levels have decreased rapidly since 1960.

Q: Under the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized nations are supposed to lower greenhouse gas emission below 1990 levels.

Q: Airborne particles that fall on a plaintiffs property can constitute a trespass.

Q: Machinery used in solid waste disposal is exempt from the regulation of the Noise Control Act.

Q: The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act accomplishes proper hazardous waste disposal through the manifest system.

Q: Banks that hold a mortgage on land that turns out to have a toxic waste site subject to the Superfund rules are liable for the cleanup.

Q: In cases of strict liability tort, finding of fault or failure of reasonable care on the defendants part is necessary.

Q: Congress has established a review board that grants exemptions to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for private activities.