Environmental Management practice questions

Answer: D) Universal waste

• AIncorrect. That's a different category.
• BIncorrect. They need special handling.
• CIncorrect. That's a different category.
• DCorrect. A simplified hazardous waste category.

Answer: A) National Pretreatment Program standards, including categorical limits and POTW local limits

Indirect dischargers to a POTW must meet National Pretreatment Program requirements: general and specific prohibitions, EPA categorical standards, and local limits developed by the POTW.

• ACorrect. Under 40 CFR 403, industrial users that discharge to a POTW must meet the general and specific prohibitions and any categorical pretreatment standards. Local limits set by the POTW also count as pretreatment standards.
• BIncorrect. NPDES permits cover point-source discharges directly to waters of the United States. A discharge into a POTW is an indirect discharge, which is controlled through pretreatment requirements.
• CIncorrect. SPCC plans deal with preventing oil spills from storage containers. They do not set limits on routine process wastewater sent to a sewer.
• DIncorrect. Stormwater plans deal with runoff from industrial activity. Process wastewater sent to a POTW falls under the pretreatment program.

Answer: C) 110% of the volume of the largest tank inside the dike

SPCC rules require secondary containment for 100% of the largest single container plus freeboard for precipitation, so outdoor dikes are commonly sized to 110% of the largest tank. Other programs differ; for example, RCRA container storage uses the greater of 10% of total volume or 100% of the largest container.

• AIncorrect. Bulk oil containment is sized from the single largest container, not a fraction of the combined volume. Half of the total could be less than one full tank failure in some layouts, and more than needed in others.
• BIncorrect. This could not hold a catastrophic failure of the largest tank. SPCC (40 CFR 112.8(c)(2)) requires capacity for the entire contents of the largest single container. A 10% figure appears only in RCRA container-storage rules, and there it applies to total volume, compared against the largest container.
• CCorrect. SPCC (40 CFR 112.8(c)(2)) requires secondary containment for the entire capacity of the largest single container plus enough freeboard to hold precipitation. Sizing an uncovered dike to 110% of the largest tank is the common practical way to provide that freeboard, and some state and local rules require it.
• DIncorrect. Containment is based on the largest single container, because simultaneous failure of every tank is not the design case. Sizing for the combined volume goes beyond the common rule, and it still allows no freeboard for rainwater in an uncovered dike.

Answer: B) Environmental management

• AIncorrect. That's ISO 45001.
• BCorrect. It uses plan-do-check-act.
• CIncorrect. That's ISO 9001.
• DIncorrect. That's ISO 27001.

Answer: B) The F, K, P and U lists in 40 CFR Part 261, Subpart D

RCRA listed hazardous wastes are on the F (non-specific source), K (specific source), P (acute) and U (toxic) lists in 40 CFR 261 Subpart D. Characteristic wastes are identified by ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity.

• AIncorrect. These are the four RCRA characteristics. They identify characteristic hazardous wastes, not listed wastes.
• BCorrect. F covers non-specific-source wastes and K covers specific-source wastes. P and U (§261.33) cover discarded commercial chemical products: P-list wastes are acute hazardous wastes and U-list wastes are toxic wastes.
• CIncorrect. The CERCLA list sets reportable quantities for release reporting. It does not decide which wastes are RCRA listed hazardous wastes.
• DIncorrect. The Section 313 list sets which chemicals must be reported in annual release inventories. It is not used to classify RCRA listed wastes.

Answer: A) Direct emissions

• ACorrect. From sources the organization owns or controls.
• BIncorrect. That's Scope 2.
• CIncorrect. That's Scope 3.
• DIncorrect. That's part of Scope 3.

Answer: B) Containers stay closed except when adding or removing waste and are marked with "Hazardous Waste," the hazards, and the accumulation start date

Under 40 CFR 262.17, large quantity generator containers must stay closed except when waste is added or removed. They must be marked "Hazardous Waste" with a hazard indication and the accumulation start date, and waste may be held for no more than 90 days.

• AIncorrect. Containers must always be closed during accumulation, except when waste is being added or removed. Leaving them open for a whole shift does not comply.
• BCorrect. Section 262.17 requires containers to be closed except when waste is being added or removed. Each container must be marked with the words "Hazardous Waste," an indication of the hazards of the contents, and the date accumulation began, clearly visible for inspection.
• CIncorrect. The accumulation start date must be clearly visible on each container during accumulation so the 90-day limit can be checked. A hazard indication is also required.
• DIncorrect. A large quantity generator may accumulate waste for no more than 90 days without a permit. The 180-day period applies to small quantity generators.

Answer: B) Physically separate oil from the wastewater so it can be removed before discharge

An oil-water separator is wastewater treatment equipment that separates oil from water so the oil can be removed before the water is discharged. It does not neutralize pH, remove dissolved metals, or oxidize dissolved organics.

• AIncorrect. Adjusting pH is done by chemical neutralization, not by an oil-water separator.
• BCorrect. Federal regulations define an oil-water separator as wastewater treatment equipment that separates oil from water. It uses a separation tank with parts such as skimmers, weirs and sludge hoppers.
• CIncorrect. Removing dissolved metals takes chemical treatment such as precipitation. A separator removes oil that separates out of the water.
• DIncorrect. Chemical oxidation is a separate treatment process. An oil-water separator works physically, by separating oil from water, and does not destroy dissolved organics.

Answer: C) It goes with the shipment and is signed by the generator, transporter and designated facility, tracking the waste from generation to final destination.

The hazardous waste manifest is prepared by the generator and signed by each party that handles the waste. It tracks the shipment from generation to the designated facility (cradle to grave).

• AIncorrect. Under § 262.23, the generator must hand-sign the manifest certification and get the initial transporter's signature and acceptance date before the waste leaves the site.
• BIncorrect. Under § 262.20, the generator prepares the manifest and must designate a permitted facility on it. The generator keeps one copy and gives the remaining copies to the transporter.
• CCorrect. The manifest is RCRA's cradle-to-grave tracking document. The generator and transporter sign it at pickup, and the designated facility signs it on receipt. A large quantity generator that doesn't get the signed copy back must follow up within 35 days and file an Exception Report within 45 days (§ 262.42).
• DIncorrect. Under § 262.20(a), any generator that transports or offers hazardous waste for offsite treatment, storage or disposal must prepare a manifest. A bill of lading does not replace it.

Answer: C) Cradle-to-grave

A cradle-to-grave LCA covers every stage from raw material extraction through disposal. Cradle-to-gate, gate-to-gate and gate-to-grave each cover only part of the life cycle.

• AIncorrect. Cradle-to-gate covers resource extraction and manufacturing only up to the point where the product leaves the factory gate. It leaves out use and disposal.
• BIncorrect. Gate-to-gate looks at one module or process inside the life cycle, such as a single manufacturing step. It does not cover the whole product life.
• CCorrect. Cradle-to-grave covers the full life cycle, from the raw material extraction stage through the end-of-life stage, including disposal.
• DIncorrect. Gate-to-grave starts after the product leaves the factory gate. It leaves out raw material extraction and manufacturing.