Question 1

To grow cranberries, Eva used a wet area on her property. When cranberries were linked to cancer and the market for cranberries collapsed, Eva wanted to drain the wet area to be able to raise goats because goat cheese is popular. To make this change Eva must:

Accepted Answer

A)  obtain permission from the state of Massachusetts to stop growing cranberries 
B)  obtain permission from the Department of Agriculture to stop growing cranberries 
C)  obtain a license from the Department of the Interior to develop a goat farm 
D)  Eva does not need any permits; she may change her farm however she wants 
E)  none of the other choices

Question 2

In Massachusetts v. EPA, Massachusetts and other states sued the EPA for not regulating vehicle emissions that may contribute to greenhouse gases. The Supreme Court held that there was no evidence that the emissions contributed to greenhouse effects.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

The Clean Air Act, which establishes federal authority to control air pollution, has had major amendments added in:

Accepted Answer

A)  1977 and 2000 
B)  1977 and 1980 
C)  1977 and 1990 
D)  1990 and 2000 
E)  1990 and 2009

Question 4

Federal law that deals with pesticide registration is:

Accepted Answer

A)  TSCA 
B)  FIFRA 
C)  RCRA 
D)  Clean Water Act 
E)  ERISA

Question 5

Ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity are all characteristics of:

Accepted Answer

A)  hazardous waste 
B)  nonhazardous waste 
C)  legal waste 
D)  unregulated waste 
E)  waste regulated only by private agencies

Question 6

Prior to passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other regulatory statutes in the 1970s, the most important protection for the environment came from:

Accepted Answer

A)  state pollution control agencies 
B)  international pollution control treaties 
C)  common law remedies 
D)  interstate compacts to deal with pollution 
E)  individual action since there was no law to deal with such problems

Question 7

Under the Clean Air Act, the standards for the construction of new industrial plants depend on:

Accepted Answer

A)  the size of the plant 
B)  the economic impact of the plant 
C)  the kind of good the plant is producing 
D)  the air quality of the area in which a plant is built 
E)  the number of employees the plant will employ when finished

Question 8

The following is not a requirement of businesses that want to build a new polluting plant in nonattainment areas?

Accepted Answer

A)  the operators of the new plant must agree to control the plant's pollution to the maximum degree by the use of the LAER (Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate Technology) 
B)  the operators of new plants must show that a net air quality improvement will be had after the plant is built 
C)  the operators of the new plant must certify all their other plants are meeting requirements of the State Implementation Plan 
D)  new plants can be built in nonattainment areas only if the pollution from the new plant is offset by reductions in the same type of pollutant from other plants in the area. 
E)  all of the other choices are requirements

Question 9

The ____ is the agency with primary responsibility for the Endangered Species Act.

Accepted Answer

A)  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 
B)  Bureau of Land Management 
C)  Environmental Protection Agency 
D)  National Park Service 
E)  none of the other choices are correct

Question 10

In Massachusetts v. EPA, where Massachusetts and other states sued to force regulation of greenhouse gases from vehicles, the Supreme Court held that:

Accepted Answer

A)  EPA has final determination of all such regulations; the states may not force EPA to regulate air quality 
B)  EPA is following the orders of Congress on emissions, so the states can petition Congress, not the courts 
C)  EPA would allow the states to set their own emission standards as part of their State Implementation Plans 
D)  all of the other specific choices are covered in the law 
E)  none of the other choices are correct

Question 11

While most water pollution sources are regulated, publicly owned sewage treatment works are not.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Ozone is one of the major pollutants that has not decreased significantly in the lower levels of the atmosphere since the passage of the Clean Air Act. It is mostly produced by:

Accepted Answer

A)  coal plants 
B)  imperfect burning of petroleum products 
C)  biofuels 
D)  nuclear plants 
E)  aerosol cans

Question 13

Under the common law, there is:

Accepted Answer

A)  no right to pollute water 
B)  a right to pollute water 
C)  a right to pollute water as long as you then clean it up 
D)  a right to pollute water as long as you have an appropriate permit 
E)  a right to pollute water as long as you compensate the people downstream

Question 14

Companies that accidentally spill pollutants into the waters of the U.S. must report such spills.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Control of point source water pollution has been the primary goal of federal water pollution law.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

In a pollution case involving a public nuisance, the right held in common by the public that has likely been violated is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  community's right to a reasonably clean and safe environment 
B)  community's right to a sterile environment 
C)  community's right to a health-promoting environment 
D)  community's right to an allergen-free environment 
E)  community's right to a peaceful environment

Question 17

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act defines which of the following as potentially responsible parties who can be held liable for cleanup costs and damages to natural resources from hazardous wastes:

Accepted Answer

A)  current owners of a hazardous waste site 
B)  prior owners of a site at the time of hazardous waste disposal 
C)  any hazardous was generator who arranged for disposal at the site 
D)  all of the other specific choices are correct 
E)  none of the other specific choices are correct

Question 18

Under the ____ the EPA must set pollution standards and, through forced cooperation of the states, to enforce the standards across the country.

Accepted Answer

A)  Free Air Act 
B)  Fresh Air Act 
C)  Clean Environment Act 
D)  No Pollution Act 
E)  none of the other choices are correct

Question 19

Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate Technology is:

Accepted Answer

A)  developed by EPA by accounting for economic costs and technical feasibility 
B)  generally considered only a little less restrictive than the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) required in nonattainment areas 
C)  a more stringent requirement than the Best Available Technology requirement 
D)  determined on an industry-by-industry basis and is applied uniformly regardless of the level of pollution 
E)  determined after a company has bought the maximum pollution offset available in the area

Question 20

Prior to passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other regulatory statutes in the 1970s, the common law:

Accepted Answer

A)  provided the most important protection for the environment 
B)  provided a little protection for the environment, but most came from state statutes 
C)  provided very little protection for the environment 
D)  was regarded as useless because it was rarely enforced with regard to the environment 
E)  led to a high number of suits against companies that polluted a lot

Exam 21: Environmental Law

To grow cranberries, Eva used a wet area on her property. When cranberries were linked to cancer and the market for cranberries collapsed, Eva wanted to drain the wet area to be able to raise goats because goat cheese is popular. To make this change Eva must:

In Massachusetts v. EPA, Massachusetts and other states sued the EPA for not regulating vehicle emissions that may contribute to greenhouse gases. The Supreme Court held that there was no evidence that the emissions contributed to greenhouse effects.

The Clean Air Act, which establishes federal authority to control air pollution, has had major amendments added in:

Federal law that deals with pesticide registration is:

Ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity are all characteristics of:

Prior to passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other regulatory statutes in the 1970s, the most important protection for the environment came from:

Under the Clean Air Act, the standards for the construction of new industrial plants depend on:

The following is not a requirement of businesses that want to build a new polluting plant in nonattainment areas?

The ____ is the agency with primary responsibility for the Endangered Species Act.

In Massachusetts v. EPA, where Massachusetts and other states sued to force regulation of greenhouse gases from vehicles, the Supreme Court held that:

While most water pollution sources are regulated, publicly owned sewage treatment works are not.

Ozone is one of the major pollutants that has not decreased significantly in the lower levels of the atmosphere since the passage of the Clean Air Act. It is mostly produced by:

Under the common law, there is:

Companies that accidentally spill pollutants into the waters of the U.S. must report such spills.

Control of point source water pollution has been the primary goal of federal water pollution law.

In a pollution case involving a public nuisance, the right held in common by the public that has likely been violated is the:

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act defines which of the following as potentially responsible parties who can be held liable for cleanup costs and damages to natural resources from hazardous wastes:

Under the ____ the EPA must set pollution standards and, through forced cooperation of the states, to enforce the standards across the country.

Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate Technology is:

Prior to passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other regulatory statutes in the 1970s, the common law: