ETC ETC Environmental Engineering & Sustainability 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What US federal agency is primarily responsible for setting and enforcing environmental regulations?
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Correct answer)
- OSHA
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Department of Energy
Correct answer: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The US EPA administers major environmental laws including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and RCRA, setting standards and enforcing compliance.
Question 2: What does NPDES stand for in stormwater management?
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (Correct answer)
- National Pipe and Drainage Engineering Standards
- Non-Point Discharge Environmental Survey
- National Permitting and Design Engineering System
Correct answer: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
The NPDES permit program under the Clean Water Act regulates point source discharges of pollutants into waters of the US, including construction site stormwater.
Question 3: What is a SWPPP in construction site environmental compliance?
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (Correct answer)
- Solid Waste Processing and Packaging Procedure
- Site Work Permit for Pipeline Projects
- Structural Wall Panel Protection Program
Correct answer: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
A SWPPP identifies potential pollutant sources, BMPs to minimize runoff contamination, and inspection and maintenance procedures required under the NPDES construction general permit.
Question 4: What does BOD measure in water quality analysis?
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand, the oxygen needed by microbes to decompose organic matter (Correct answer)
- Bulk Organic Density of suspended solids
- Baseline Outflow Discharge rate
- Buffer Oxygen Depth in receiving streams
Correct answer: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, the oxygen needed by microbes to decompose organic matter
BOD measures the dissolved oxygen consumed by biological organisms decomposing organic matter in water over a standard 5-day period at 20 degrees C.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a silt fence on a construction site?
- To trap sediment-laden runoff and prevent it from leaving the site (Correct answer)
- To mark the limits of construction activity
- To prevent workers from entering hazardous areas
- To redirect surface drainage to a retention pond
Correct answer: To trap sediment-laden runoff and prevent it from leaving the site
A silt fence is a temporary sediment control BMP that filters sediment from stormwater runoff at the site perimeter, reducing off-site soil erosion impacts.
Question 6: What does impervious surface mean in stormwater hydrology?
- A surface that prevents water from infiltrating the soil, increasing runoff (Correct answer)
- A surface reinforced against heavy equipment traffic
- A concrete surface designed to resist chemical spills
- A soil layer compacted to 100% Proctor density
Correct answer: A surface that prevents water from infiltrating the soil, increasing runoff
Impervious surfaces such as pavement and rooftops block rainfall infiltration, increasing stormwater runoff volume and peak flow rates.