ETC ETC Environmental Engineering & Sustainability 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What US federal agency is primarily responsible for setting and enforcing environmental regulations?
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Correct answer)
- OSHA
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Department of Energy
Correct answer: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The US EPA administers major environmental laws including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and RCRA, setting standards and enforcing compliance.
Question 2: What does NPDES stand for in stormwater management?
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (Correct answer)
- National Pipe and Drainage Engineering Standards
- Non-Point Discharge Environmental Survey
- National Permitting and Design Engineering System
Correct answer: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
The NPDES permit program under the Clean Water Act regulates point source discharges of pollutants into waters of the US, including construction site stormwater.
Question 3: What is a SWPPP in construction site environmental compliance?
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (Correct answer)
- Solid Waste Processing and Packaging Procedure
- Site Work Permit for Pipeline Projects
- Structural Wall Panel Protection Program
Correct answer: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
A SWPPP identifies potential pollutant sources, BMPs to minimize runoff contamination, and inspection and maintenance procedures required under the NPDES construction general permit.
Question 4: What does BOD measure in water quality analysis?
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand, the oxygen needed by microbes to decompose organic matter (Correct answer)
- Bulk Organic Density of suspended solids
- Baseline Outflow Discharge rate
- Buffer Oxygen Depth in receiving streams
Correct answer: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, the oxygen needed by microbes to decompose organic matter
BOD measures the dissolved oxygen consumed by biological organisms decomposing organic matter in water over a standard 5-day period at 20 degrees C.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a silt fence on a construction site?
- To trap sediment-laden runoff and prevent it from leaving the site (Correct answer)
- To mark the limits of construction activity
- To prevent workers from entering hazardous areas
- To redirect surface drainage to a retention pond
Correct answer: To trap sediment-laden runoff and prevent it from leaving the site
A silt fence is a temporary sediment control BMP that filters sediment from stormwater runoff at the site perimeter, reducing off-site soil erosion impacts.
Question 6: What does impervious surface mean in stormwater hydrology?
- A surface that prevents water from infiltrating the soil, increasing runoff (Correct answer)
- A surface reinforced against heavy equipment traffic
- A concrete surface designed to resist chemical spills
- A soil layer compacted to 100% Proctor density
Correct answer: A surface that prevents water from infiltrating the soil, increasing runoff
Impervious surfaces such as pavement and rooftops block rainfall infiltration, increasing stormwater runoff volume and peak flow rates.
ETC ETC Environmental Engineering & Sustainability 1
What US federal agency is primarily responsible for setting and enforcing environmental regulations?