Deck 45: Environmental Protection and Global Warming

Question 1

The Environmental Protection Agency can initiate proceedings in court against suspected violators of federal environmental laws.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The Clean Water Act regulates the temperature of water discharged into public waterways.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

To date there has not been any act that regulates water pollution.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

An environmental impact statement has no real purpose other than to fulfill a federal requirement when new legislation is proposed.

Question 5

An environmental impact statement must discuss alternatives to the proposed action.

Question 6

The Clean Air Act requires new stationary sources of pollution to meet stricter standards than older existing stationary sources.

Question 7

Under the Clean Air Act,existing sources of pollution must adopt the best available technology to reduce air pollution.

Question 8

The National Environmental Policy Act requires that the federal government and state governments consider the adverse impact of their actions on the environment.

Question 9

A permit is required to dump wastes into the ocean.

Question 10

Automobile emissions are one of the major sources of air pollution.

Question 11

States may prepare but are not required to prepare a state implementation plan to compare its standards against federal standards.

Question 12

NEPA applies to actions by the federal government.

Question 13

The Environmental Quality Assessment Report is the document required under the National Environmental Policy Act to assess environmental impacts of government actions.

Question 14

The federal government has adopted regulations governing indoor air quality.

Question 15

Under the Clean Air Act,areas that are classified as nonattainment areas are further classified based on the degree to which they exceed the ozone standard.

Question 16

New point sources of water pollution must use best practical control technology.

Question 17

The public has the right to review and comment on environmental impact statements.

Question 18

Congress set national ambient air quality standards in the Clean Air Act.

Question 19

Wetlands require a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers in order to be filled or dredged.

Question 20

The Environmental Protection Agency has limited ability in ordering remedies for violations of federal environmental laws.

Question 21

Under federal law,new pesticides that are hazardous may be prohibited from sale,but old pesticides that existed before the law was enacted may not be prohibited from sale.

Question 22

Which of the following best describes the overall scheme of pollution regulation in the United States?

A) exclusively federal law
B) exclusively state law with minimal federal oversight
C) exclusively state law,but with considerable federal oversight
D) primarily federal law,but considerable state law as well
E) a series of uniform state laws

Question 23

The Endangered Species Act applies only to private persons who take any endangered species.

Question 24

The Environmental Protection Agency has which of the following powers?

A) adopt regulations
B) initiate judicial proceedings
C) adopt regulations and hold hearings
D) adopt regulations and initiate judicial proceedings
E) adopt regulations,hold hearings,and initiate judicial proceedings

Question 25

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is primarily concerned with cleaning up hazardous wastes from past pollution.

Question 26

State environmental statutes are valid:

A) in no circumstances
B) if they were passed prior to any conflicting federal statutes
C) if they do not conflict with a federal law
D) if they have a similar purpose as a federal environmental law
E) in all circumstances

Question 27

Electric utility companies and manufacturing plants are excluded from the Clean Water Act.

Question 28

The Environmental Protection Agency may remove toxic substances from commerce.

Question 29

Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act,hazardous wastes are tracked from the time that they are generated until their ultimate disposal.

Question 30

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 is administered by the U.S.Coast Guard.

Question 31

The Secretary of the Interior has the authority to declare a form of wildlife as being either endangered or threatened.

Question 32

The Environmental Protection Agency may establish water pollution control standards for places like mines,paper mills,and other stationary sources of water pollution.

Question 33

The Environmental Protection Agency has no control over the registrations of pesticides,as Congress dictates which ones will be suspended and which ones will be sold.

Question 34

The Toxic Substances Control Act requires that the Environmental Protection Agency identify toxic pollutants that cause serious illness or death to wildlife.

Question 35

Most states are lax about requiring that private industry prepare an environmental impact statement for proposed developments.

Question 36

States have enacted few environmental statutes because of the comprehensive federal statutes.

Question 37

The federal government is primarily responsible for enforcing the Safe Water Drinking Act.

Question 38

The filling or dredging of wetlands is forbidden unless a permit has been obtained.

Question 39

New chemicals must be tested by the manufacturers before marketing,and the manufacturers must keep records of the test results,but they need to report results to the EPA only for chemicals found to pose an environmental or health risk.

Question 40

Which of the following is true about environmental impact statements?

A) The public is not allowed to comment on environmental impact statements.
B) They can be used in court as evidence in a lawsuit challenging an action as violating the National Environmental Policy Act.
C) They are required only for projects where the federal government itself undertakes the actual construction of the project.
D) All federal,state,and local governmental actions require an environmental impact statement.
E) Private activities also require an environmental impact statement.

Question 41

Which of the following is not true about the Comprehensive Environmental Response,Compensation,and Liability Act?

A) More than 25,000 hazardous waste sites have been identified.
B) The sites are ranked and the highest sites are placed on a priority list.
C) The EPA performs all site cleanups,and then can recover the costs from responsible parties.
D) A party can be required to pay the entire cost of cleaning a site even if only partly responsible for the pollution.
E) The act contains requirements to notify the government immediately of spills and accidents involving hazardous materials.

Question 42

Which of the following is true?

A) Toxic substances are prohibited from manufacture or sale under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
B) Pesticides do not need to be registered with the EPA if they are nontoxic.
C) The EPA can cancel the registration of a previously registered pesticide if it finds that its use would cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.
D) Under the Insecticide,Fungicide and Rodenticide Act,there are no regulations on the use of these products once they have been registered.

Question 43

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act addresses:

A) energy efficiency standards for specified products
B) mandatory recycling programs for certain specified substances
C) the transportation,storage,and disposal of hazardous wastes
D) export limitations on products that cause significant pollution in their manufacture
E) the cleanup of hazardous waste sites

Question 44

Which of the following is not required of a state's compliance plan for a nonattainment area?

A) identification of major sources of air pollution
B) required installation of pollution control equipment on major sources
C) provision of adequate state funding for the installation of pollution control equipment
D) institution of a permit system for new sources of air pollution
E) implementation of an inspection system for mobile sources

Question 45

Andy is planning to develop a certain parcel of land.There are some questions as to whether or not a federal environmental impact statement is required.Which of the following could be a good reason that an environmental impact statement is not required?

A) The action is taken by a state government.
B) The action is taken by a private entity.
C) The action is taken by a federal agency.
D) Both A and B are good reasons.
E) A,B,and C are good reasons.

Question 46

Which of the following is true about the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)and the Comprehensive Environmental Responses,Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)?

A) cercla regulates hazardous waste of government agencies,and RCRA regulates wastes of private entities.
B) cercla regulates liquid hazardous waste,and RCRA regulates solid hazardous waste.
C) cercla regulates hazardous waste on land,and RCRA regulates hazardous waste located in bodies of water.
D) cercla regulates the cleanup of existing hazardous waste sites,and RCRA regulates the handling and disposal of currently produced hazardous materials.

Question 47

Under the Superfund legislation,who may be held liable for the cleanup costs of a hazardous waste site?

A) only the generator of the waste
B) only the generator and the transporter
C) only the generator,transporter,and owner of the land at the time of the waste disposal
D) the generator,the transporter,the owner of the land at the time of disposal,and the current owner
E) only the transporter of the waste and owner of the land at the time of disposal

Question 48

Which of the following is true about the Clean Air Act?

A) Congress set national ambient air quality standards for a number of pollutants.
B) Congress set goals,but not standards for a number of pollutants.
C) Congress directed the EPA to set ambient air quality standards for certain pollutants,but the EPA has not yet set the standards due to scientific uncertainty.
D) Congress directed the EPA to set ambient air quality standards for certain pollutants,and standards have been set thus far for carbon monoxide and sulfur oxide,among others.
E) Congress ordered the states to set ambient air quality standards,and most states have thus far set at least some ambient air quality standards.

Question 49

Which of the following statements is false?

A) Hazardous waste includes toxic air pollution.
B) Under the National Environmental Policy Act,an environmental impact statement is required only for actions of the federal government.
C) The EPA has established national standards for drinking water.
D) In determining safe levels of toxic air pollutants,neither the cost nor technology is considered.
E) Both states and private parties may be reimbursed from the Superfund.

Question 50

Which of the following is not true about the Clean Water Act?

A) Primary enforcement responsibility is with the federal government.
B) The EPA issues permits allowing persons to discharge water pollutants.
C) The act has water quality standards that determine which bodies of water can be used for drinking water.
D) New point sources are required to use best available control technology.

Question 51

Which of the following is not one of the federal statutes protecting wildlife?

A) The Migratory Bird Treaty Act
B) The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act
C) The Wild Game Preservation Act
D) The Fishery Conservation and Management Act
E) The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

Question 52

A federal government agency is planning to build a dam in Maine.The land where the dam will be located,and the area that will be under the lake to be formed,is currently all privately owned.Which of the following correctly describes the requirement for an environmental impact statement?

A) An environmental impact statement is not required because the land is private.
B) An environmental impact statement is required only if the land will become federal land before the dam is built.
C) An environmental impact statement is required only if any of the land affected is classified as wetland.
D) An environmental impact statement is required because it is the federal government that is undertaking his project.
E) An environmental impact statement is required unless the EPA grants a waiver.

Question 53

Which of the following is true?

A) In order to dredge or fill a wetland,a permit is needed from the EPA.
B) The federal government has primary enforcement responsibility for the Safe Drinking Water Act.
C) A permit is needed for dumping toxic wastes in the ocean,but not for wastes that are nontoxic.
D) The Marine Protection,Research,and Sanctuaries Act established marine sanctuaries in the Great Lakes.

Question 54

Which of the following is true about the need to file an environmental impact statement?

A) Federal government actions are the only actions that require an environmental impact statement.
B) Federal government actions always require an environmental impact statement,and in some states,an environmental impact statement is required for state government actions,it is never required for actions of private entities.
C) Federal government actions always require an environmental impact statement,and in some states,an environmental impact statement is required for state government actions; and in some states,it is required for private actions as well.
D) Federal government actions always require an environmental impact statement,and in some states,an environmental impact statement is required for private actions,but it is never required for state government actions.

Question 55

The two categories under which animals can be listed in the Endangered Species Act are:

A) endangered and protected
B) endangered and extinct
C) threatened and protected
D) marine and terrestrial
E) endangered and threatened

Question 56

Which of the following statements best describes the procedures under the Clean Air Act?

A) The federal government sets and enforces the standards.
B) The state governments set and enforce the standards.
C) The federal government sets the standards; the state governments enforce the standards; if the states do not adequately enforce the standards,the federal government may enforce them.
D) The state governments set the standards; the federal government enforces the standards; if the federal government does not adequately enforce the standards,the states may enforce them.
E) Both the federal and state governments set standards and each enforces its own standards.

Question 57

Under the Endangered Species Act:

A) actions that harm an endangered species are prohibited
B) actions that harm an endangered species are subject to a cost-benefit analysis to determine feasibility
C) only governmental actions are covered
D) A and C only
E) B and C only

Question 58

Which of the following is true about the regulation of nuclear power plants and radiation pollution by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

A) The NRC regulates all aspects of nuclear power plant operation and nuclear waste disposal.
B) The NRC licenses and monitors the operations of nuclear power plants,and the EPA regulates the disposal of nuclear waste and regulates thermal pollution from power plants.
C) The NRC licenses and monitors the operations of nuclear power plants and regulates thermal pollution from the plant,and the EPA regulates the disposal of nuclear waste.
D) The NRC licenses nuclear power plants,and the EPA regulates all aspects of the construction and operation of the plant as well as the disposal of nuclear waste.

Question 59

The Endangered Species Act:

A) prohibits the taking of any threatened animals without a permit
B) prohibits the taking of any endangered animal
C) permits endangered or threatened animals to be taken if there is no cost-effective way to avoid the taking
D) permits the endangered or threatened animals to be taken if only a small number of them are destroyed
E) applies only to takings by the federal and state governments

Question 60

Which of the following statements is false?

A) The Superfund applies only to hazardous waste,not pollution in general.
B) Liability for the improper disposal of hazardous material is joint and several.
C) If the current owner of the hazardous waste site did not generate the hazardous waste,she will not be liable under the Superfund legislation.
D) The EPA is empowered to set standards for radioactivity in the environment.

Question 61

Who should bear the cost of cleaning up nuclear waste from old nuclear waste plants? Should it be those who used the power in the past,those who currently live in the vicinity,or the nation as a whole?

Question 62

Deep South Power Company wants to build a new power plant on the shore of a river.The site is on land classified as wetlands.Which of the following is not true about Deep South's obligations?

A) Deep South must obtain a discharge permit for any water pollution discharges.
B) Deep South must obtain a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers before dredging or filling any wetlands.
C) Deep South must comply with any temperature requirements on the temperature of any waters discharged.
D) Deep South must use the best available control technology that is cost-effective.
E) Deep South must report to the public the amounts of any discharges of the chemicals listed in the Comprehensive Environmental Response,Compensation,and Liability Act.

Question 63

Millie has great plans to become rich and retire young.She has purchased some land near Glacier National Park in Montana.She originally planned to operate her business on this land.Her business is a new advanced high-tech go-kart track.One feature of this track is to have the turns banked at a higher angle,allowing higher speeds.Another feature is smaller go-karts that younger children can drive.Millie remembers her childhood; being dragged on family vacations and being told to look at boring scenery when all she wanted was some fun and action.She will even offer baby-sitting services so that parents can drop the kids off and enjoy the park while the kids are getting worn out.Millie has just learned about the possibility of leasing some National Forest Service land at a better location closer to the park entrance.She would need to get a permit.She is afraid that the permit might be turned down because of the traffic and noise that her business would create.Discuss how the National Environmental Policy Act could affect Millie's plans.

Question 64

Do the wealthier nations of the world have an obligation to assist the less wealthy nations in the development and implementation of programs and technology to reduce pollution?

Question 65

Gary owns 100 acres of land that he wants to develop into a timeshare resort.Gary has owned this land since 1968,but never developed it.It has recently been learned that the purple-bellied robin,an extremely rare bird listed as an endangered species,inhabits this land.The land has been declared critical habitat for the bird.Which of the following is true?

A) Gary must prepare an environmental impact statement in order to develop the land.
B) The development of the land will likely be prohibited because it is critical habitat for the purple-bellied robin.
C) Because this is privately owned land and there is no government action involved,Gary can proceed with development without preparing an environmental impact statement.
D) Gary must obtain a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers but does not need to prepare an environmental impact statement.
E) Gary must prepare an environmental impact statement,and if the project is allowed to move forward,he must then acquire a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Question 66

According to the United States Supreme Court,the appropriate amount of punitive damages that should be paid for the Exxon Valdez oil spill is:

A) $4.5 billion
B) $4.0 billion
C) $2.5 billion
D) $500 million

Question 67

Wally owns 40 acres along a river.He is planning to build a home near the river,and a friend has just informed him that the land where Wally is planning to build the house is on wetlands.In this circumstance,what must Wally do in order to be able to fill in the wetlands for the construction of his house?

A) Nothing,because this is the action of a private individual on private land.
B) Nothing,so long as the house will not emit any pollutants into the nearby river.
C) File an environmental impact statement.
D) Obtain a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.
E) File an environmental impact statement and obtain a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Question 68

Should one nation have the power to restrict pollution that drifts within its borders from a neighboring nation? If so,under what conditions? How should such disputes be settled?

Question 69

Great Plains Electric Company has several electric power plants that emit sulfur dioxide.Under EPA regulations,each of these plants can emit a certain amount of sulfur dioxide in a year.The limits on these plants will all be reduced by about 10 percent in a couple of years from the present.What options should Great Plains consider when deciding how to meet the new standards?

Question 70

What role should scientific uncertainty play in establishing pollution standards? For example,how strongly should the United States and other nations act to control global warming if there is conflicting and uncertain scientific evidence about the extent of the problem and the effects of proposed remedial actions? Who should decide which evidence or theory is more likely correct?

Question 71

Pat has just graduated from a major university with a combined degree in engineering and marketing.Pat is planning to start a business to develop a new type of corn chip and packaging.By using special technology both in the product itself and in the packaging,Pat has developed corn chips that will stay fresh in the original packaging for several years after they are produced.Pat's planned factory site is located on some wetlands adjacent to a major river.Pat plans to produce the packaging and process the corn chips in the same factory.Pat knows that the special plastics for the packaging will result in the production of hazardous waste,and that the production process will produce toxic air pollutants.In addition,there will be some wastewater from the plant.The production process results in the water being heated to a high temperature.Lastly,because of the storage of the food on the premises prior to production,Pat will need to use chemicals to control rats,bugs,and other pests.Discuss the environmental laws that might affect Pat.

Question 72

The National Forest Service has proposed granting permission to a ski area to expand and cut ski trails and construct lifts on some national forest service land.Which of the following items is not required to be included in the related environmental impact statement?

A) a description of the affected environment
B) the impact of the proposal on the environment
C) identification and discussions of alternatives to the action
D) identification of the parties who support the action
E) a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed action and the alternatives