Regulatory and Legal Compliance Flashcards
7 cards from real UMC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Regulatory and Legal Compliance flashcards as text
What is 'environmental justice' in the context of utility regulation?
Answer: The principle that environmental burdens and benefits should be distributed fairly across all communities
Environmental justice requires that no community, particularly low-income or minority populations, bear a disproportionate share of environmental burdens from utility operations.
What must a utility do when it discovers a release of a hazardous substance above the 'reportable quantity' threshold under CERCLA?
Answer: Immediately notify the National Response Center
CERCLA Section 103 requires immediate notification to the National Response Center (NRC) when a hazardous substance is released in an amount equal to or exceeding its reportable quantity.
A utility wants to build a new transmission line that crosses federal lands. Which law requires an environmental impact statement for this project?
Answer: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for major federal actions, including permitting utility infrastructure on federal land, that significantly affect the environment.
Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, what authority did Congress grant FERC regarding electric reliability standards?
Answer: Authority to approve and enforce mandatory reliability standards for the bulk electric system
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 gave FERC the authority to certify a self-regulatory organization (NERC) and enforce mandatory electric reliability standards for the bulk power system.
What is a 'consent decree' in the context of utility environmental enforcement?
Answer: A court-approved settlement agreement between a regulatory agency and a utility specifying compliance requirements
A consent decree is a legally binding court order, negotiated between a utility and regulators, that specifies the terms, schedule, and penalties for achieving compliance.
Which federal statute prohibits discrimination in employment by utilities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin?
Answer: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and applies to utilities as employers.
A natural gas utility receives a customer complaint that gas pressure at their home is dangerously low. Under federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR Part 192), what standard must the utility maintain?
Answer: The utility must provide gas at adequate pressure to meet minimum operating standards for the customer's appliances
Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations require gas utilities to deliver gas at adequate pressure to safely operate customer appliances, as specified in service agreements and applicable state rules.