ECI Grade 4 Practice Test

Question 1

Learning styles can be classified:

Answer 1

a. Infant, Child, Adult, and Senior
b. Remedial, Standard, Superior, and Independent
c. Visual, Auditory, Reading, and Kinesthetic
d. Elementary, Technical, Academic, Recreational

Question 2

Which of the following sections of the Code of Federal Regulations determines the concentrations
of toxins, heavy metals, pathogens, and other pollutants found in sewage sludge?

Answer 2

a. 20 CFR 1910.1450
b. 20 CFR 136
c. 40 CFR 403
d. 40 CFR 503

Question 3

One of your industrial users disposes of dewatered pretreatment sludge as non-hazardous solid
waste. They routinely perform priority pollutant metals analyses on sludge samples. You are concerned
that total chromium levels in the sludge may make it a federal EPA hazardous waste by the Toxicity
Characteristic. The federal toxicity level for total chromium, based on the Toxicity Characteristic
Leaching Procedure (TCLP), is 5.0 mg/L. What would the minimum total chromium concentration in
the sludge have to be for it to have a possibility of meeting the federal Toxicity Characteristic?

Answer 3

a. 5 mg/kg
b. 50 mg/kg
c. 100 mg/kg
d. 1,000 mg/kg

Question 4

A metal finishing facility regulated under the metal finishing federal pretreatment category samples
their industrial discharge once per week. Assuming the performance of their pretreatment plant is
at the national mean and variability level, would increasing their sampling frequency to ten samples
per month be better or worse for their discharge compliance?

Answer 4

a. Worse because increased sampling could increase the chances of discharge violations
b. Better because increased sampling could increase the compliance rate of the monthly
discharge
c. Worse because increased sampling increases the statistical possibility of violations of
the monthly average
d. Better because more sampling enables better quality control of the pretreatment plant

Question 5

When developing a lesson plan, the following factor must be considered:

Answer 5

a. the trainees’ current level of knowledge
b. the methods and materials used to gather the information
c. trainees’ expectations
d. the manner in which achievement of the expectations will be rewarded

Question 6

Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE) is a phased approach that:

Answer 6

a. characterizes the acute or chronic toxicity of an effluent.
b. identifies the toxicant(s) of concern.
c. confirms toxicity.
d. identifies the species most vulnerable to the toxicants of concern

Question 7

An application for laboratory accreditation (ELAP or NELAP) includes:

Answer 7

a. laboratory information; personnel qualifications for the lab director and the quality assurance
officer; fields of testing; invoice for fees; and the submission of a quality assurance manual.
b. laboratory information; personnel qualifications for the lab director, the emergency response
team leader, and the quality assurance officer; fields of testing; and the submission of a quality
assurance manual.
c. laboratory information; personnel qualifications for the lab director and the quality assurance
officer; fields of testing; and the submission of a quality assurance manual and the standard
operating procedures manual.
d. laboratory information; personnel qualifications for the lab director, the quality assurance
officer, and the safety officer; fields of testing; and the submission of a standard operating
procedures manual.

Question 8

When you become aware of an unsafe practice or work condition:

Answer 8

a. immediately identify the person responsible.
b. immediately redirect your team to resolve the issue.
c. begin processing an incident/accident report.
d. ask the employees to step away from the job for a moment to evaluate the scene.

Question 9

Upon receiving an accident/incident report, the supervisor should immediately:

Answer 9

a. assign the report follow-up to the next available lead inspector.
b. determine if the hazard still exists.
c. determine if the report refers to a “lost time” event.
d. forward the report to the Safety Officer/Coordinator.

Question 10

When developing an emergency response plan, the first step is to:

Answer 10

a. inventory all chemicals in the plant.
b. identify the tasks assigned to each group responding to emergency activities.
c. identify the line of authority in an emergency.
d. identify the hazards and dangers faced by the plant.

Question 11

One of your senior inspectors received a promotion and left. You must decide whether to replace
her with two trainees or one experienced Inspector. In your justification to your superiors, you
should include:

Answer 11

a. an equally balanced argument for both options, and then let the supervisor decide.
b. a carefully developed argument for only the option you prefer, and ignore the other
options.
c. a thorough review of all reasonable alternatives, including not replacing the promoted
inspector, and a recommendation with a justification.
d. copies of job descriptions, the relevant portion of your hiring practices, and the most
recent performance review of the departed inspector.

Question 12

In the management-by-exception concept:

Answer 12

a. objectives are non-specific.
b. tasks are closely managed.
c. all activities are reported in detail.
d. standard routines are not reported.

Question 13

USEPA first publishes both new and modifications to existing regulations in:

Answer 13

a. Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations
b. EPA Regional websites
c. the Federal Register
d. guidance manuals

Question 14

Generally, as an individual progresses upward in management, reliance on personal technical
skill:

Answer 14

a. changes to the more complex.
b. decreases.
c. increases.
d. remains the same.

Question 15

When a great deal of authority is delegated on many levels, an organization may be described as:

Answer 15

a. authoritarian.
b. centralized.
c. decentralized.
d. unstructured.

Question 16

Recognition and job security are indications of:

Answer 16

a. a good organization.
b. a good supervisor.
c. external morale factors.
d. internal morale factor.

Question 17

The managerial function which involves devising an appropriate system of pay is:

Answer 17

a. controlling.
b. organizing.
c. planning.
d. staffing.

Question 18

Word has just come down from the upper management that operating funds are being cut. How
should this be handled?

Answer 18

a. Cut the supplies and repairs in order to balance the budget
b. Fire some of the less productive, older employees
c. Keep it quiet and do what you have to do-the less said the better
d. Let the other personnel know what the situation is and ask for their help

Question 19

What term means that the employee reports to one specific supervisor, and that the delegation
of authority comes from one particular supervisor to the employee?

Answer 19

a. Unity of command
b. Span of supervision
c. Organizational chart
d. Formal organization

Question 20

Training staff to implement changes in regulations should include:

Answer 20

a. review of the old regulations, statement of the new regulation, review of the changes.
b. group inspecting a site for compliance with the changes.
c. creating a mock-up with violations for staff to practice on.
d. e-mailing them and telling them things have changed.

Question 21

When reviewing plans for compliance with storm water and pretreatment requirements, you will
need:

Answer 21

a. two complete sets
b. just the Plumbing sheets
c. just the Landscape, Plumbing, and specification sheets
d. the landscape, contour, mechanical, and plumbing sheets

Question 22

The term “control” in management practices is:

Answer 22

a. backward-looking.
b. concentrating on the present.
c. forward-looking.
d. not connected to the other managerial functions.

Question 23

The term “accountability” in management practices is the:

Answer 23

a. liability for the manner in which an obligation is discharged.
b. quality of being able to perform a skill.
c. power to do a specific job, granted by a superior.
d. power given to another person in the organization to accomplish a specific job.

Question 24

Which of the following traits is not associated with the Theory X managerial style?

Answer 24

a. Work-centered with emphasis on efficiency and authority
b. People must be controlled and directed to achieve organizational objectives
c. People learn, under proper circumstances, to accept and seek responsibility
d. Intermediate managers defer significant decisions to their supervisors

Question 25

Plans that describe a course of action to deal with out-of-the-ordinary events are called what?

Answer 25

a. Strategic plans
b. Contingency plans
c. Single-use plans
d. Emergency plans

Question 26

Why are good records important?

Answer 26

a. To demonstrate pattern of lawful behavior over time
b. To polish your report-writing skills
c. To record all uncritical events
d. To give bookkeepers a job

Question 27

A public outreach brochure should:

Answer 27

a. include as many issues as can be fit in
b. be published anonymously
c. avoid graphics
d. have multiple ways (phone, e-mail, website) to get more information

Question 28

Industrial/commercial wastestreams are classified as follows:

Answer 28

a. singular, diverse, and complex
b. direct, indirect, and looped
c. regulated, unregulated, and dilution
d. categorical, local, and combined

Question 29

Which of the following would likely be most scrutinized by the U.S. EPA in an annual pretreatment
report?

Answer 29

a. Reissuance of IU permits
b. Public relations activities
c. Data/information management
d. New IU and qualifications of SIU

Question 30

The managerial function which includes the guiding, teaching, motivating, and supervising of
employees is:

Answer 30

a. Reissuance of IU permits
b. Public relations activities
c. Data/information management
d. New IU and qualifications of SIU

Question 31

The managerial function which includes the guiding, teaching, motivating, and supervising of
employees is:

Answer 31

a. staffing.
b. planning.
c. organizing.
d. directing.

Question 32

Decentralized authority describes the process of:

Answer 32

a. changing an organization from centralized to decentralized.
b. delegating authority to one’s superiors instead of one’s subordinates.
c. delegating power for decisions to lower levels.
d. retracting authority that has been previously delegated, and probably changing
functions and duties.

Question 33

The most effective way to obtain an employee’s cooperation on a plan is to:

Answer 33

a. let the employee know you will assume full responsibility.
b. let the employee know that he or she will be held personally responsible for the plan.
c. let the employee know his or her role in originating the plan and or the part he or she
will play in implementation.
d. let the employee know your availability in the implementation of the plan.

Question 34

Storm run-off conveyances may be used to:

Answer 34

a. direct irrigation run off to a natural watercourse
b. control construction site erosion
c. meet LID/LEED requirements
d. store linear material during construction

Question 35

One opening has become available which would be an advancement to any one of three qualified
employees. How should this situation be handled?

Answer 35

a. Hire an outsider to fill the position
b. Pick one and notify all personnel of the change
c. Split the work between the three and leave the position open
d. Talk to the three as a group, explain the situation and make your selection, then notify
all personnel of the change

Question 36

If you were supervisor of two lead inspectors, one whose work was exceptionally good and a
second whose work was substandard, what should you do?

Answer 36

a. Demote the substandard inspector and bring up a replacement from the ranks
b. Discuss the problem with the substandard inspector and offer to help before any other
action is taken
c. Find a replacement and then fire the substandard inspector
d. Wait to see if the substandard inspector does better

Question 37

What is the best way to prevent sexual harassment?

Answer 37

a. Ignore any accusations
b. Require victims to prepare a written document
c. Set an example by your own behavior
d. Tell people sexual harassment is wrong

Question 38

BMPs are intended to:

Answer 38

a. forestall regulatory rigor on the part of the local storm run-off authority.
b. manage on-site pollution prevention effectively and efficiently.
c. catalog everything a potential discharger could do whenever it rains.
d. protect staff from distraction during rain events.

Question 39

A fully developed MS4-compliant Stormwater Management Plan includes:

Answer 39

a. an Illicit Connection/Illegal Discharge elimination program.
b. a Critical Source permitting program.
c. a Public Information and Participation program.
d. a Natural Flow Control and Elimination program.

Question 40

When an employee breaks the rules and requires discipline, who is responsible for administering
it?

Answer 40

a. Fellow employees
b. The personnel office
c. The supervisor
d. Upper management

Question 41

You are tasked with preparing the program budget for next year. Inflation is predicted to be 7
percent. Your service area growth is expected to be 10 percent. To prepare your budget you
should:

Answer 41

a. take last year’s budget and add 7 percent.
b. take last year’s budget and add 10 percent.
c. take last year’s budget and add 17 percent.
d. analyze each component of your budget and selectively apply inflation and growth
factors to each budget component.

Question 42

You are asked to compare two methods of collecting samples. Use the following information:
The base salary of an Inspector is $35,000; employer paid benefits add 35% to the base salary;
administrative overhead adds another 45% to the base salary; there are 10 paid holidays and
15 days paid sick leave per year; the hourly salary is determined by dividing the monthly salary
by 174. Method 1 uses a single glass composite bottle that must be manually washed after each
use requiring 0.5 hours. Method 2 uses a disposable plastic bag insert requiring 0.3 hours and
costs $5.00 per bag. How much is the difference in price per sample between the two methods?

Answer 42

a. $6.04
b. $2.05
c. $1.04
d. $11.04

Question 43

40 CFR 403.12 (o) (3) requires POTWs to retain reports for a minimum of years,
which shall be extended during the course of any unresolved litigation regarding the
discharge of pollutants by the Industrial User or the operation of the POTW
Pretreatment Program or when requested by the Director or the Regional
Administrator.

Answer 43

a. Two
b. Three
c. Seven
d. Ten

Question 44

In the evaluation of an applicant for employment, which of the following may enter
into your decision?

Answer 44

a. Age
b. Education level
c. Minority classification
d. Marital status

Question 45

Which of the following is of most concern regarding infiltration of groundwater into
a sewer system?

Answer 45

a. BOD
b. Fuel from underground storage tanks
c. Heavy Metals
d. Ammonia

Question 46

Which of the following may a POTW provide to users with non-domestic wastewater
discharges?

Answer 46

a. Information on the Industrial General Permit (IGP)
b. Legal advice
c. Brand of pretreatment equipment needed
d. Size of pretreatment equipment needed

Question 47

Pollutants of concern from non-domestic sources that are not normally removed by
POTW treatment systems and may cause pass thru or interference contain:

Answer 47

a. NON-compatible pollutants.
b. conventional pollutants.
c. hazardous waste.
d. NON-biodegradable pollutants.

Question 48

What is one of the main concern of groundwater infiltration to the sanitary sewer?

Answer 48

a. It increases root intrusion in the collection system.
b. Groundwater may contain sediment that settles in the sewer line and
decreases the capacity of the pipe.
c. It increases organic loading to the POTW.
d. It may contribute explosive or toxic liquids or gases.

Question 49

A POTW has three permitted Industrial Users who comprise the entire controllable
industrial loading at the treatment plant. Here are their flows and the results of their
last few COD samples:
Soda Bottling Plant:
10,000 gpd, COD (mg/L): 1200, 1500, 1450
Metal Finisher:
2500 gpd, COD (mg/L): 35, 60, 90
Refried Bean Manufacturer:
5000 gpd, COD (mg/L): 3500, 4550, 4400
The Refried Bean Manufacturer has increased production and decreased water use,
resulting in occasional noncompliance with local limits. Using the Uniform Limits
Method, the local limit for COD was established as 4400 mg/L. Given the industrial
component of the COD MAHL for the treatment plant is 800 pounds per day, which
incorporates a 20% safety factor, what would the Refried Beans Manufacturer’s
COD discharge concentration limit be if the limit were developed through the Mass
Proportion Method?

Answer 49

a. 3100
b. 9200
c. 6200
d. 11100

Question 50

When can the Control Authority modify an Industrial User’s permit?

Answer 50

a. When a violation occurs
b. When there is good cause to make a change
c. To raise pollutant limits
d. When a new type of business moves in

Question 51

Prior to issuing a permit to a new industry, which of the following should the permit
writer do?

Answer 51

a. Collect a wastewater sample
b. Send an invoice for permit fees
c. Review the businesses OSHA compliance
d. Inspect the facility

Question 52

After a Pretreatment Compliance Inspection, the EPA Auditors expect that the
pretreatment department will:

Answer 52

a. update its municipal code or sewer use ordinance.
b. re-evaluate local limits.
c. begin correcting the deficiencies described in the closing conference.
d. wait for the audit report before beginning to correct deficiencies.

Question 53

Public Outreach projects by pretreatment departments should focus on which of the
following?

Answer 53

a. Hazardous waste disposal
b. Fats, Oils, and Grease in sewers
c. Sanitary wipes clogging pipes
d. Preventing pollution

Question 54

Your recent Pretreatment Compliance Inspection indicated some deficiencies in
your Pretreatment program the previous year. Specifically, not enough inspections
were performed at 3 of your Industrial User (IU) facilities, one of your quarterly
reports was late and one of your IU’s was in SNC and the notice was not pub lished
in the newspaper. What is the best way to respond to these items?

Answer 54

a. Argue with the inspectors and tell them the regulations are unnecessary
b. Punish your staff for not keeping track of their Industrial User’s activities
c. Put reminders on your calendar and send the appropriate reminders to your
staff to ensure you and your staff are meeting deadlines. Publish the SNC
in the newspaper as soon as possible. Describe these corrections to the
inspectors at the end of the PCI and include them in your written response
to the PCI.
d. Conduct additional inspections at the IU’s, file an extra quarterly report and
publish the SNC immediately.

Question 55

You have been getting reports from your collection systems crew of grease buildup
in the sewer lines in a busy commercial district in town. You have an ordinance that
requires the use of Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to control the discharge of
wastewater that harms the sewer system. Some restaurants have Oil and Grease
Interceptors (OGI’s) while others do not. How would you proceed?

Answer 55

a. Tell the collection system crew you don’t have the staff or time to deal with
it. Let your supervisor know you need more staff to approach the issue.
b. Conduct inspections at all facilities including an inspection of each OGI’.
Start a database or spreadsheet of the grease removal devices at each
facility and the frequency at which they are cleaned. Notify the restaurants
that do not have OGI’s that they will need to install equipment to remove
fats, oils and grease.
c. Notify your supervisor of the problem so he/she is aware of the problem.
Discuss the possibility of adding additional staff.
d. Review sewer construction drawings for sags, changes in line size, root
intrusion, and line replacements. JPC

Question 56

A local contract lab was hired for under a two-year contract to run the analyses for
Priority Pollutants at your wastewater treatment plant. The lab is certified to analyze
metals and conventional pollutants in wastewater so they sub-contracted the
organic analyses to another full-service lab that is 200 miles away. The results
indicate the local lab did not meet QA/QC requirements for lead, hexavalent
chromium and VOC’s in a recent test. What should you do?

Answer 56

a. Report the problems to the lab and ask them to recheck the sample for lead.
Submit another sample for hexavalent chromium. Also, ask them to contact
the sub-contract lab to recheck the sample for VOC’s.
b. Resample for lead, hexavalent chromium and VOC’s.
c. Tell the lab they will not get paid for the results.
d. Tell the lab you will rescind their contract and you will work directly with the
sub-contract lab.

Question 57

For ongoing enforcement issues: Which working relationship should a pretreatment
program manager engage only after all other reasonable approaches have failed?

Answer 57

a. The Agency Attorney
b. Environmental Groups
c. Industrial Groups
d. The News Media

Question 58

What information should be reviewed first in planning site inspection safety
requirements for a selected firm or permittee?

Answer 58

a. The Permit Application File
b. The Agency Safety Policy
c. The Job Safety Analysis Report
d. Material Safety Sheets

Question 59

Who has primary responsibility to ensure duties are performed in a safe manner at
all times?

Answer 59

a. The immediate supervisor
b. The employee performing the task
c. The division manager
d. The safety officer

Question 60

The General Pretreatment Regulations (40CFR403) were modified in 2006. These
modifications are commonly called:

Answer 60

a. the Streamlining Rule.
b. the DSS (Domestic Sewer Study) regulations.
c. the PIRT (Pretreatment Implementation Review Taskforce) Rule.
d. the DSE (Domestic Sewage Exclusion)

Question 61

Severe weather in the form of rain, is likely to:

Answer 61

a. increase I&I, change the F/M ratio, and increase the TSS at the headworks.
b. bypass the treatment works entirely.
c. collapse old and deteriorated sections of the Collections system.
d. result in lift station wet wells overflowing by shorting out wet-well pumps.

Question 62

40 CFR 403.12 requires approved POTW Pretreatment programs to annually report:

Answer 62

a. a summary of the status of Industrial User compliance over the reporting
period.
b. your Program budget and funding sources.
c. your equipment inventory (dedicated to the pretreatment program).
d. a summary of the Categorical Determinations completed during the reporting
period.

Question 63

A Pretreatment Information Management System must, at a minimum:

Answer 63

a. store and retrieve user data (control mechanisms, inspections and
monitoring, and compliance activity).
b. store and retrieve program development documentation (ordinances,
budgets, inventories, etc.).
c. support the development and maintenance of technically based Local Limi ts.
d. support scheduling routine inspections and monitoring.

Question 64

The majority of a typical Pretreatment program budget is consumed by:

Answer 64

a. labor.
b. Capital expenditures.
c. computer services.
d. contract laboratory fees.

Question 65

The key to purchasing quality equipment and material is to carefully specify your
requirements and:

Answer 65

a. take immediate action if the product prematurely fails.
b. return all defective equipment and material for replacement or reimbursement.
c. purchase and thoroughly test a single unit before committing.
d. get bids from at least three established and reputable providers.

Question 66

Successful communication requires mutual:

Answer 66

a. agreement.
b. confusion.
c. transmission.
d. understanding.

Question 67

How can the supervisor be certain that inspections are being completed as
scheduled?

Answer 67

a. Ask the employees
b. Hire someone to inspect completed work
c. Use a software that compares work assigned with work completed
d. Wait and see if there are any failures

Question 68

A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan includes a schedule of inspections, a
monitoring plan, and:

Answer 68

a. an inventory of everything that gets wet when it rains.
b. a description of spill control equipment on site.
c. contact information for the local storm runoff management agency.
d. an Annual Comprehensive Stormwater Compliance Evaluation.