CPC CPC Environmental Compliance & Sustainability 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Clean Water Act, what permit is required for stormwater discharges from construction sites disturbing 1 or more acres?
- RCRA Permit
- NPDES Construction General Permit (CGP) (Correct answer)
- Section 404 Permit
- Air Quality Operating Permit
Correct answer: NPDES Construction General Permit (CGP)
The EPA's NPDES Construction General Permit authorizes stormwater discharges from construction sites of 1+ acres, requiring a SWPPP and BMPs.
Question 2: What document is required at a construction site to manage stormwater pollution under the NPDES Construction General Permit?
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) (Correct answer)
- Hazardous Materials Management Plan
- Air Quality Control Plan
Correct answer: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
A SWPPP identifies potential pollutant sources and describes Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent stormwater contamination at the site.
Question 3: Which federal law governs the disposal of hazardous construction waste, such as contaminated soil and solvent-soaked materials?
- CERCLA
- Clean Air Act
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (Correct answer)
- Safe Drinking Water Act
Correct answer: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
RCRA establishes the framework for managing hazardous waste from generation through disposal, including contaminated soils and chemical wastes from construction.
Question 4: What is the purpose of installing silt fences at a construction site perimeter?
- Define property boundaries
- Intercept sheet flow runoff and capture sediment before it leaves the site (Correct answer)
- Prevent trespassing
- Mark underground utilities
Correct answer: Intercept sheet flow runoff and capture sediment before it leaves the site
Silt fences are sediment control BMPs that intercept overland sheet flow, allowing water to pass while trapping suspended sediment particles.
Question 5: Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers is required when:
- Excavating upland areas only
- Discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands (Correct answer)
- Installing electrical service to a site
- Performing demolition within 500 feet of a river
Correct answer: Discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands
Section 404 requires Corps permits for discharging dredged or fill material into navigable waters and their adjacent wetlands.
Question 6: What LEED credit category rewards construction sites that divert waste from landfills through recycling and salvage?
- Sustainable Sites
- Materials & Resources — Construction and Demolition Waste Management (Correct answer)
- Energy & Atmosphere
- Indoor Environmental Quality
Correct answer: Materials & Resources — Construction and Demolition Waste Management
LEED's Materials & Resources category includes credits for diverting construction and demolition waste from landfills through recycling, salvage, and reuse.
CPC CPC Environmental Compliance & Sustainability 1
Under the Clean Water Act, what permit is required for stormwater discharges from construction sites disturbing 1 or more acres?