NES EXAM I

Question 1

RCRA

Answer 1

resource conservation and recovery act

Regulates newly generated hazardous waste at operating facilities
Defined “hazardous waste”, and established cradle to grave

Question 2

CERCLA

Answer 2

Comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act

Regulates hazardous waste sites for specific chemical contamination. Determined who’s liable-esp orphaned waste
Established superfund- money to treat legacy waste, prioritized sites

Question 3

SARA

Answer 3

superfund amendments and reauthorization act

Question 4

TSCA

Answer 4

Toxic Substances control act
Disclosure of chemicals before manufacture. Disposal rules and ban for PCBs
Register new chemicals produced/imported-test, screen and register for HUMAN toxicity

Question 5

NEPA

Answer 5

national environmental policy act
Broad environmental protection
set up Council on Env Quality- gives advice to president
Environmental Assesment for federally funded projects, EIS

Question 6

CAA

Answer 6

1 NAAQS national ambient air quality standards- what you can breathe
2 NESHAPS national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants

Question 7

clean water act

Answer 7

Protecting SURFACE WATERS- lakes, rivers “navigable”
Regulated wastewater “effluent standard”
1 all waters fishable, swimmable by 1983
2 zero discharge of pollutants from treatment by 1985
Established: NPDES national pollutant discharge elimination system
Regulates pollutants released to water, permit system.
Sparked by Cuyahoga

Question 8

TMDL

Answer 8

max daily load for Non-POINT w/o exceeding water quality regulations
Vs. NPDES point source

Question 9

SWDA

Answer 9

safe drinking water act
EPA has authority for drinking water quality
Established

Question 10

MCL’s

Answer 10

as treatment goal