ETC Environmental Engineering & Sustainability Flashcards

What US federal agency is primarily responsible for setting and enforcing environmental regulations?

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.

What does NPDES stand for in stormwater management?

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.

What is a SWPPP in construction site environmental compliance?

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.

What does BOD measure in water quality analysis?

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.

What is the purpose of a silt fence on a construction site?

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.

What does impervious surface mean in stormwater hydrology?

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.