Question 1

The technology-based effluent limitations are actually performance-based standards.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

When faced with a marginal effluent fee (MEF), each polluting source will

Accepted Answer

A)  abate up to the point where its total abatement cost (TA
C)  equals the MEF 
B)  abate nothing and pay the MEF on all units of pollution released 
C)  clean up pollution as long as its marginal abatement cost is lower than the MEF 
D)  reduce its effluents to zero to avoid paying the effluent fee 
A)  abate up to the point where its total abatement cost (TA
C)  equals the MEF 
B)  abate nothing and pay the MEF on all units of pollution released 
C)  clean up pollution as long as its marginal abatement cost is lower than the MEF 
D)  reduce its effluents to zero to avoid paying the effluent fee

Question 3

According to U.S. water quality control policy, tradeable effluent permits

Accepted Answer

A)  can be used to control both point and nonpoint polluting sources 
B)  can achieve cost savings as long as polluters' MACs are unequal 
C)  are generally sold by low-cost abaters 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above 
A)  can be used to control both point and nonpoint polluting sources 
B)  can achieve cost savings as long as polluters' MACs are unequal 
C)  are generally sold by low-cost abaters 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above

Question 4

The federal grant program may have created an incentive for over-building of POTWs and a disincentive for cost-minimization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Because the effluent limitations are set uniformly, achieving a cost-effective solution is unlikely.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Ultimately, federal subsidies of POTW construction accomplished little in terms of improving waste treatment for the U.S. population.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The Nonpoint Source Management Program was enacted under the Water Quality Act of 1987 as a three-stage plan to be implemented at the state level.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The federal grant program for POTW construction

Accepted Answer

A)  displaced the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program 
B)  assured that the larger proportion of spending on POTW construction was at the local level 
C)  lowered the federal cost share in 1985 to reduce inherent inefficiencies 
D)  encouraged cost-effective decision making at the municipal level 
A)  displaced the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program 
B)  assured that the larger proportion of spending on POTW construction was at the local level 
C)  lowered the federal cost share in 1985 to reduce inherent inefficiencies 
D)  encouraged cost-effective decision making at the municipal level

Question 9

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program

Accepted Answer

A)  was replaced by the federal grant program 
B)  sets up lending programs at the state level to support POTW construction 
C)  is no longer active 
D)  received no support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
A)  was replaced by the federal grant program 
B)  sets up lending programs at the state level to support POTW construction 
C)  is no longer active 
D)  received no support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Question 10

If the effluent limitations are insufficient for a body of water

Accepted Answer

A)  that body of water is considered "water quality limited" 
B)  more stringent controls are required 
C)  that water body becomes subject to total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) 
D)  all of the above 
E)  (a) and (b) only 
A)  that body of water is considered "water quality limited" 
B)  more stringent controls are required 
C)  that water body becomes subject to total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) 
D)  all of the above 
E)  (a) and (b) only

Question 11

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program replaced the federal grant program and established state loans to support POTW construction and other projects.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

A fertilizer tax is an example of an effluent fee.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The use of watershed-based NPDES permits allows for permitting multiple point sources within a single watershed.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Delegating control of nonpoint source pollution to the states can be advantageous because runoff is affected by factors that vary considerably, making uniform controls at the federal level ineffective and difficult to implement.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

In order for the effluent limitations to achieve cost-effectiveness, the MACs of all polluters would have to be equal.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

An effluent fee

Accepted Answer

A)  is a dollar value added to the price of a pollution-generating product 
B)  is a command-and-control instrument 
C)  can be based upon the degree of harm linked to the contaminant being released 
D)  cannot be linked to the quantity of pollution released 
A)  is a dollar value added to the price of a pollution-generating product 
B)  is a command-and-control instrument 
C)  can be based upon the degree of harm linked to the contaminant being released 
D)  cannot be linked to the quantity of pollution released

Question 17

When polluting sources with different Marginal Abatement Costs (MACs) are faced with a Marginal Effluent Fee (MEF), each abates at a different level, which means that the effluent fee does not achieve a cost-effective solution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Tradeable effluent markets

Accepted Answer

A)  exist only in the United States 
B)  are being used only for point to point trades 
C)  are in use in the United States, Canada, and Australia 
D)  have resulted in consistently high rates of trading activity 
A)  exist only in the United States 
B)  are being used only for point to point trades 
C)  are in use in the United States, Canada, and Australia 
D)  have resulted in consistently high rates of trading activity

Question 19

The setting of effluent limitations

Accepted Answer

A)  is based primarily on technological capability 
B)  follows benefit-cost analysis 
C)  achieves an efficient solution 
D)  all of the above 
A)  is based primarily on technological capability 
B)  follows benefit-cost analysis 
C)  achieves an efficient solution 
D)  all of the above

Question 20

If the effluent limitations are insufficient for a water body, that water body is considered to be "water quality limited," requiring more stringent controls called total maximum daily loads (TMDLs).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 15: Improving Water Quality: Controlling Point and Nonpoint Sources

The technology-based effluent limitations are actually performance-based standards.

When faced with a marginal effluent fee (MEF), each polluting source will

According to U.S. water quality control policy, tradeable effluent permits

The federal grant program may have created an incentive for over-building of POTWs and a disincentive for cost-minimization.

Because the effluent limitations are set uniformly, achieving a cost-effective solution is unlikely.

Ultimately, federal subsidies of POTW construction accomplished little in terms of improving waste treatment for the U.S. population.

The Nonpoint Source Management Program was enacted under the Water Quality Act of 1987 as a three-stage plan to be implemented at the state level.

The federal grant program for POTW construction

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program

If the effluent limitations are insufficient for a body of water

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program replaced the federal grant program and established state loans to support POTW construction and other projects.

A fertilizer tax is an example of an effluent fee.

The use of watershed-based NPDES permits allows for permitting multiple point sources within a single watershed.

Delegating control of nonpoint source pollution to the states can be advantageous because runoff is affected by factors that vary considerably, making uniform controls at the federal level ineffective and difficult to implement.

In order for the effluent limitations to achieve cost-effectiveness, the MACs of all polluters would have to be equal.

An effluent fee

When polluting sources with different Marginal Abatement Costs (MACs) are faced with a Marginal Effluent Fee (MEF), each abates at a different level, which means that the effluent fee does not achieve a cost-effective solution.

Tradeable effluent markets

The setting of effluent limitations

If the effluent limitations are insufficient for a water body, that water body is considered to be "water quality limited," requiring more stringent controls called total maximum daily loads (TMDLs).

The Role of Economics in Environmental Management

Modeling the Market Process: a Review of the Basics

Modeling Market Failure

Conventional Solutions to Environmental Problems: Command-And-Control Approach

Economic Solutions to Environmental Problems: the Market Approach

Environmental Risk Analysis

Assessing Benefits for Environmental Decision Making

Assessing Costs for Environmental Decision Making

Benefit-Cost Analysis in Environmental Decision Making

Defining Air Quality: the Standard-Setting Process

Improving Air Quality: Controlling Mobile Sources

Improving Air Quality: Controlling Stationary Sources

Global Air Quality: Policies for Ozone Depletion and Climate Change

Defining Water Quality: the Standard-Setting Process

Protecting Safe Drinking Water

Managing Hazardous Solid Waste and Waste Sites

Managing Municipal Solid Waste

Controlling Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals

Sustainable Development: International Environmental Agreements and International Trade

Sustainable Approaches: Industrial Ecology and Pollution Prevention

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