Environmental Compliance Inspector Air Quality and Emissions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Clean Air Act, what is the primary purpose of a State Implementation Plan (SIP)?
- To fund state air monitoring networks
- To demonstrate how a state will attain and maintain NAAQS (Correct answer)
- To license environmental compliance inspectors
- To regulate interstate shipment of hazardous air pollutants
Correct answer: To demonstrate how a state will attain and maintain NAAQS
A SIP outlines the specific measures a state will use to achieve and maintain National Ambient Air Quality Standards within its borders.
Question 2: Which of the following is classified as a 'criteria pollutant' under the NAAQS framework?
- Benzene
- Mercury
- Particulate matter (PM2.5) (Correct answer)
- Hydrogen sulfide
Correct answer: Particulate matter (PM2.5)
PM2.5 is one of six criteria pollutants for which EPA has established NAAQS; benzene and mercury are regulated as hazardous air pollutants instead.
Question 3: A facility subject to Title V permitting must submit a compliance certification to the permitting authority at least:
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every five years
Correct answer: Annually
Title V regulations require sources to submit annual compliance certifications to the permitting authority and EPA.
Question 4: What does the term 'Potential to Emit' (PTE) represent for a stationary source?
- Actual measured emissions over the past year
- Maximum capacity emissions assuming continuous operation with no controls (Correct answer)
- The permitted emission limit set by the state
- Emissions calculated using dispersion modeling
Correct answer: Maximum capacity emissions assuming continuous operation with no controls
PTE is the maximum rate at which a source could emit a pollutant operating at full capacity 24/7 with no add-on controls.
Question 5: During a stack test, Method 9 (EPA Reference Method) is used to measure:
- Sulfur dioxide concentration
- Visible emissions opacity (Correct answer)
- Particulate matter mass loading
- Carbon monoxide levels
Correct answer: Visible emissions opacity
EPA Method 9 is the visual determination of the opacity of emissions from stationary sources, performed by a certified observer.
Question 6: Which program requires facilities that emit 100 tons/year or more of a regulated pollutant to obtain a federal operating permit?
- Title IV Acid Rain Program
- Title V Operating Permit Program (Correct answer)
- New Source Review (NSR)
- National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
Correct answer: Title V Operating Permit Program
Title V of the Clean Air Act establishes the major source operating permit program for facilities emitting 100 tons/year or more of a regulated pollutant.
Question 7: An inspector observes a boiler at a facility running without its baghouse operational. The most immediate regulatory concern is:
- Failure to maintain equipment logs
- Excess particulate matter emissions violating permit limits (Correct answer)
- Improper fuel storage practices
- Missing stack identification tags
Correct answer: Excess particulate matter emissions violating permit limits
Operating combustion equipment without functioning particulate controls typically results in permit limit exceedances for PM emissions.
