Environmental Compliance Flashcards
7 cards from real SMSTS 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 flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)?
Answer: To identify and mitigate environmental risks throughout the construction phase
A CEMP outlines how environmental impacts such as pollution, noise, dust, and ecology will be managed and monitored during construction.
Under the Contaminated Land Regime, who is primarily responsible for remediating contaminated land?
Answer: The original polluter, or the current owner if the polluter cannot be found
The 'polluter pays' principle applies; if the polluter cannot be found, liability falls on the current site owner or occupier.
Which type of environmental permit is typically required before discharging treated site water to a surface water drain?
Answer: An environmental permit or a regulatory position statement exemption
Discharging treated water to a watercourse or surface drain requires either an environmental permit or registration of an exemption with the Environment Agency.
What is the correct action when asbestos-containing materials are unexpectedly discovered during excavation?
Answer: Stop work, cordon off the area, and notify a licensed asbestos contractor
Unexpected asbestos discovery requires an immediate work stop; only licensed contractors may remove notifiable asbestos-containing materials.
Which of the following best describes the 'waste hierarchy' that site managers must apply?
Answer: Prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, disposal — in that order of preference
The waste hierarchy, required by the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, prioritizes prevention first and disposal as the last resort.
A site is located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone (SPZ1). What additional precaution is most important?
Answer: Enhanced secondary containment for all fuels and chemicals
SPZ1 is the innermost protection zone around a drinking water abstraction; stringent secondary containment is essential to prevent any spillage reaching groundwater.
What does 'chain of custody' mean in the context of waste management on a construction site?
Answer: Documenting the transfer of waste from site to final disposal, including all carriers and facilities
Chain of custody tracks waste through every stage from production to disposal, ensuring the duty of care is met and records are available for inspection.