Air Quality Management & Monitoring Flashcards
7 cards from real CEM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Air Quality Management & Monitoring flashcards as text
What is the primary federal law governing air quality and air emissions in the United States?
Answer: Clean Air Act (CAA)
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the primary federal statute regulating air emissions from stationary and mobile sources to protect public health and the environment.
Which agency establishes the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria air pollutants?
Answer: U.S. EPA under the Clean Air Act
The U.S. EPA establishes NAAQS under the Clean Air Act to protect public health (primary standards) and welfare (secondary standards) from criteria air pollutants.
Which of the following is NOT one of the six criteria air pollutants regulated under NAAQS?
Answer: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)
The six NAAQS criteria pollutants are ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead; hydrogen sulfide is not included.
Under the Clean Air Act, a stationary source emitting 100 tons per year or more of a regulated pollutant is classified as a:
Answer: Major source
The CAA defines a major stationary source as one that emits or has the potential to emit 100 tons per year or more of any regulated air pollutant.
Which permit program applies to new or modified major sources located in areas that do not meet NAAQS (nonattainment areas)?
Answer: New Source Review – Nonattainment (NSR)
The Nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) program applies to major new or modified sources in nonattainment areas, requiring them to achieve the Lowest Achievable Emission Rate (LAER).
What is the primary purpose of a Title V operating permit under the Clean Air Act?
Answer: To consolidate all applicable Clean Air Act requirements into one comprehensive permit for major sources
Title V operating permits consolidate all federally applicable Clean Air Act requirements for major sources into a single permit, simplifying compliance tracking and enforcement.
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits are required for major new or modified sources in areas that:
Answer: Meet or are cleaner than NAAQS (attainment or unclassifiable areas)
PSD permitting applies in attainment and unclassifiable areas to ensure that new or modified major sources do not cause significant deterioration of already-clean air quality.