ACE Airport Environmental Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency primarily regulates airport stormwater discharge under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)?
- FAA
- EPA (Correct answer)
- TSA
- OSHA
Correct answer: EPA
The EPA administers the NPDES program, which requires airports to obtain permits controlling stormwater runoff that may carry pollutants such as deicing chemicals into waterways.
Question 2: Aircraft deicing fluid runoff is a major environmental concern at airports primarily because it can:
- Corrode runway pavement markings
- Deplete dissolved oxygen in receiving waters (Correct answer)
- Increase soil pH to toxic levels
- Generate volatile organic compounds in terminal buildings
Correct answer: Deplete dissolved oxygen in receiving waters
When glycol-based deicing fluids enter water bodies, microbial decomposition consumes dissolved oxygen, threatening aquatic life.
Question 3: An airport's Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan is required when above-ground oil storage exceeds:
- 660 gallons in a single container or 1,320 gallons aggregate (Correct answer)
- 500 gallons in any single tank
- 2,500 gallons aggregate on the entire property
- 1,000 gallons in any combination of containers
Correct answer: 660 gallons in a single container or 1,320 gallons aggregate
EPA's SPCC rule mandates a plan when a facility has more than 660 gallons in a single container or more than 1,320 gallons aggregate above-ground oil storage.
Question 4: Which document establishes an airport's framework for managing noise impacts on surrounding communities?
- Airport Layout Plan (ALP)
- Airport Noise Compatibility Program (Part 150 Study) (Correct answer)
- Airport Master Plan
- Environmental Assessment (EA)
Correct answer: Airport Noise Compatibility Program (Part 150 Study)
An FAA Part 150 Study evaluates noise exposure around an airport and recommends measures to achieve compatibility between airport operations and land uses.
Question 5: Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), an airport that generates more than 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month is classified as a:
- Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
- Large Quantity Generator (Correct answer)
- Small Quantity Generator
- Universal Waste Handler
Correct answer: Large Quantity Generator
RCRA classifies facilities generating more than 1,000 kg/month of hazardous waste as Large Quantity Generators, subject to the most stringent requirements.
Question 6: An airport seeking to demonstrate environmental stewardship by reducing its net carbon emissions to zero follows a pathway known as:
- ISO 14001 Certification
- Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) (Correct answer)
- LEED Platinum Designation
- FAA Sustainable Airport Master Plan
Correct answer: Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA)
Airport Carbon Accreditation is an independent program that certifies airports at various levels of carbon management, up to full carbon neutrality.
ACE Airport Environmental Management 1
Which federal agency primarily regulates airport stormwater discharge under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)?