HSE Environmental Regulations and Sustainability Practices 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes a 'Brownfield' site as defined by CERCLA amendments?
- Pristine land designated for industrial development
- Real property complicated by actual or perceived contamination where redevelopment is hindered (Correct answer)
- Agricultural land converted to commercial use
- A site actively undergoing Superfund remediation
Correct answer: Real property complicated by actual or perceived contamination where redevelopment is hindered
Brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence (or potential presence) of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
Question 2: The 'waste hierarchy' in sustainability practice ranks which option as most preferred?
- Recycling
- Source reduction / prevention (Correct answer)
- Energy recovery
- Landfill disposal
Correct answer: Source reduction / prevention
The waste hierarchy prioritizes source reduction (preventing waste generation) above all other options, including reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and disposal.
Question 3: Under TSCA Section 6, EPA has authority to:
- Regulate pesticides in food crops
- Restrict or ban the manufacture and use of chemical substances that pose unreasonable risk (Correct answer)
- Set workplace exposure limits for toxic chemicals
- Require Superfund cleanup of contaminated sites
Correct answer: Restrict or ban the manufacture and use of chemical substances that pose unreasonable risk
TSCA Section 6 gives EPA authority to take regulatory action — including restriction, labeling requirements, or outright bans — on chemical substances that present unreasonable risk.
Question 4: A company calculates its Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. Which of the following is a Scope 3 emission source?
- On-site boiler combustion
- Company-owned vehicle fleet
- Employee business air travel (Correct answer)
- Purchased electricity for company facilities
Correct answer: Employee business air travel
Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions in a company's value chain, including employee travel, purchased goods, and use of sold products — not direct combustion or purchased energy.
Question 5: Which federal law requires federal agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for major federal actions significantly affecting the environment?
- RCRA
- Clean Air Act
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (Correct answer)
- Endangered Species Act
Correct answer: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA Section 102(2)(C) requires federal agencies to prepare an EIS for any major federal action that may significantly affect the quality of the human environment.
Question 6: A facility subject to the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule must have its SPCC Plan certified by:
- An EPA regional administrator
- A licensed Professional Engineer (PE) for most facilities (Correct answer)
- The facility's safety officer
- OSHA's area director
Correct answer: A licensed Professional Engineer (PE) for most facilities
Most facilities subject to SPCC rules must have their plan certified by a licensed Professional Engineer, though qualified facility operators may self-certify if they meet specific criteria.
Question 7: The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards are used by organizations primarily to:
- Calculate carbon offset credits for trading markets
- Report on their economic, environmental, and social impacts to stakeholders (Correct answer)
- Obtain ISO 14001 certification
- Comply with SEC environmental disclosure requirements
Correct answer: Report on their economic, environmental, and social impacts to stakeholders
GRI Standards provide a common framework for organizations to report sustainability performance — covering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics — for stakeholder transparency.
HSE Environmental Regulations and Sustainability Practices 4
Which of the following best describes a 'Brownfield' site as defined by CERCLA amendments?