Environmental Compliance & Sustainability Flashcards
7 cards from real CAR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Environmental Compliance & Sustainability flashcards as text
A Certified Automotive Recycler notices oily sheen on a storm water retention pond. The immediate required action under the Clean Water Act is to:
Answer: Report the discharge if it reaches navigable waters and begin containment
Oil sheens reaching navigable waters must be reported to the National Response Center and contained immediately under CWA Section 311.
Catalytic converters salvaged from vehicles are valuable because they contain:
Answer: Platinum group metals (PGMs) such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium
Catalytic converters contain platinum group metals that are highly valuable recyclable commodities and should be inventoried and tracked to prevent theft.
When a recycler drains and stores gasoline from fuel tanks, the material is best classified as:
Answer: Hazardous waste (ignitable) requiring full RCRA compliance
Drained gasoline is an ignitable hazardous waste (D001) unless it will be legitimately reused as fuel, and must be managed under RCRA generator requirements.
Which sustainable practice directly reduces a recycling yard's carbon footprint by diverting materials from primary production?
Answer: Selling reusable OEM parts to extend component life cycles
Selling reusable OEM parts displaces new part manufacturing, which is energy-intensive, thereby reducing lifecycle carbon emissions.
A recycler who ships hazardous waste without a manifest may be penalized under RCRA with fines up to:
Answer: $37,500 per day
RCRA civil penalties can reach $37,500 per day of violation for serious infractions such as manifest violations, and criminal penalties can also apply.
An ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) certification benefits an automotive recycler primarily by:
Answer: Providing a framework to identify, control, and reduce environmental impacts
ISO 14001 provides a structured EMS framework that helps facilities systematically improve environmental performance and demonstrate due diligence.
Sodium azide found in unexploded airbag modules is hazardous because it:
Answer: Releases toxic hydrogen azide gas when exposed to moisture or acid
Sodium azide in uninflated airbag modules can release toxic hydrogen azide gas upon contact with water or acids, requiring careful segregated storage and proper disposal.