Environmental Regulatory Compliance

Today, soil degradation induced by human activities afflicts nearly __% of the earth's vegetated surface.

20

How long has it been since water in the deepest part of the Ogallala Aquifer percolated into the ground from the surface?

8,000 years

In 2006, what percentage of the U.S. population is estimated to live in a metropolitan area?

83%

Extractions from the world's genetic library are fueling the biotechnology industry, accounting for:

An increase in crop production of 1% valued at 1 billion dollars; Farm-level sales of bioengineered ag products reaching 10 billion by turn of the century

Characteristics of the urban heat island effect include:

An increase in temperature within an urban area. An increase in precipitation downwind from and urban area.

The three major components of the Water Quality Standards Program are:

Antidegradation, designated use, and water quality criteria

Many studies have found a strong correlation between imperviousness and the health of streams. Most of this research shows that the biodiversity and physical structure of streams begin to show measurable adverse impacts when the impervious surface of their watershed

Approaches 10%

What are the principle human-generated greenhouse gasses?

Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and Nitrous Oxide (N2O). Fluorinated Gasses.

"Greenhouse" gases are:

Carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide that trap long-wave radiation.

Which of the following compounds needed by marine animals for shell building is depleted by ocean acidification?

Carbon ions

Watershed mangers should always think of structure not just as what is there ow, but in terms of:

Change rates of occurrence; Structural changes in progress

Which of the following are available from EPA to help water utility managers in addressing challenges to the water sector?

Climate Ready Estuaries. Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). Healthy Watersheds Program. WaterSense.

What is the definition of climate?

Climate is the weather in an area averaged over an extended period of time.

______ provide the physical template upon which all life is ultimately based.

Climate, hydrology, and geomorphology

Where is the majority of the growth currently taking place in the U.S.?

Coastal communities.

A ____ is an aggregate of populations of different plant and animal species occurring within a given area.

Community

Population projections for the U.S. are pointing to a total population of 400 million citizens by:

2040

What percentage of Americans was able to answer the following question correctly? 1. What is the most common cause of pollution of streams, rivers, and oceans? A. Dumping of garbage by cities. B. Surface water running off yards, city streets, paved lots, and farm fields. C. Trash washed into the ocean from beaches. D. Waste dumped by factories.

28%

What percentage of average U.S. energy consumption is used bu drinking water and wastewater facilities?

3%

The biennial report that should include only a list of waters that are threatened or impaired is the ___________ List.

303(d)

The biennial report that includes all information that the state, tribe, or territory knows about its waters (healthy, threatened, and impaired) is the___________ Report.

305 (b)

Under CWA section ____, states and delegated tribes are required to develop nonpoint source pollution management programs.

319

For every acre of brownfields that are redeveloped, how many acres of greenfields (or undeveloped landscapes) are estimated to be preserved?

4.5 acres

One of the commercially valued ecosystem goods is the annual world fish catch and recreational sport fishery, which together, total approximately

46 billion dollars

The public can get involved in the identification of impaired/threatened waters and TMDL development in all but which one of the following ways?

Develop a TMDL on its own through a citizens group.

Cities applying for NPDES permits for their MS4s are required to:

Develop a plan for reducing pollutant loads; Provide and estimate of the proposed program effectiveness

Which of the following is an EPA adaptation strategy for water programs?

Develop biological indicators. Provide climate change outreach to estuaries and recognize efforts of coastal watersheds to adapt to climate change. Work with states to clarify the types of climate change-related infrastructure expenses that are eligible for State Revolving Fund assistance. Evaluate climate impacts on wet weather programs.

Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas mitigation strategy for water programs?

Develop local watershed approaches for expected changes in water quantity and quality.

From 1982 to 1997, the number of watersheds in which at least 15% of the land cover was developed

Doubled

Grazing with unlimited access to all parts of a stream by livestock can create which of the following adverse impacts?

Downcutting streams and eroding banks; Siltation in the streambed, nutrients and pathogens in the water; Degradation of fish populations; Lowering the water table; Less healthy cattle

When are the effects of the urban heat island most notable?

During periods of high pressure. With light or no winds. With clear skies. At night.

A State or Tribe's antidegradation policy must be identical to what EPA has outlined in the regulation (40 CFR 131.12).

False

A State/Tribe cannot allow an activity that will degrade current water quality once its water quality standards are established.

False

A designated use must apply to an entire water body at all times.

False

A functional difference between lakes and streams is that most of a lake's energy is usually fixed out in the watershed, not in the water body.

False

A state, tribe, or territory that receives 319 grant money must develop a Nonpoint Source Management Plan.

False

A use must be attained before the State or Tribe can designate it for a particular water body.

False

A watershed with 25% impervious surface is likely to have increased runoff and higher peak streamflows, but probably no other problems.

False

All water quality standards are suspended when a variance is issued.

False

All wetland animals spend their entire lives in wetlands.

False

Although the European honeybee is threatened, the diversity of natural pollinators is increasing, due to climatic warming.

False

Although wetlands are considered beneficial to society, this is only from a fish and wildlife perspective.

False

Although wetlands function as indicated in question 8 above, this does little to lower flood heights and reduce erosion downstream and on adjacent lands.

False

An area of cropland roughly 100 times the size of the livestock feedlot area is required to distribute manure nutrients at levels the plants on that land can use.

False

Biological diversity, or biodiversity, refers to the variety of life forms at all levels or organization, and is conveniently often quantified in terms of number of species.

False

Chemical pollutants originate from point sources but not nonpoint sources.

False

Clean Water Act section 404 deals only with the filling of wetlands.

False

Congress charged the "Services"—the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service - with implementation of the Clean Water Act.

False

Congress chose to address nonpoint source issues through regulation in addition to a federal grant program.

False

Continued increases of nonpoint pollution are inevitable given projected population growth.

False

Currently, EPA, states, and tribes are focused solely on the portions of the Clean Water Act, dealing with discharge of pollutants from industrial sources.

False

EPA is the only entity responsible for enforcing NPDES permits.

False

EPA issues regulations identifying exactly how the pollutant budget in a TMDL should be allocated among sources.

False

EPA requires that a state/tribe submit it's 303(d) list annually on April 1.

False

EPS's water quality criteria carry the weight of law and are enforceable.

False

Eutrophication is a human-induced, not a natural, process of lake aging.

False

Fire is an important, beneficial agent of change to western deciduous forest species.

False

Floods are never beneficial.

False

If EPA disapproves a State/Tribe's water quality standards, the Agency automatically begins promulgating Federal standards to replace the disapproved standards.

False

If a waterbody is no longer able to support a documented existing use, that use is no longer listed as one of the designated uses.

False

If monitoring and assessment indicate that a waterbody is impaired by nonpoint sources, and the waterbody is put on the 303(d) list, the state, tribe, or territory must develop a regulatory strategy leading to attainment of Water Quality Standards.

False

In the long run, we can rely on preservation efforts such as zoological breeding programs, botanical gardens and legally protected reserves, to sustain our earth's biodiversity

False

Less than 5% of the world's energy consumption is supplied by fuelwood and other plant material

False

Most suspended sediment in streams and rivers comes from the erosion of streambanks rather than from overland flow across croplands.

False

NPDES permits must eliminate any discharge of pollutants from the permittee's operations.

False

Natural substances, such as leaves and pollen, are never considered sources of water pollution.

False

Nonpoint pollution and eutrophication are not well understood scientifically.

False

Once a State/Tribe has established an antidegradation program and the program has been reviewed and approved by EPA, appropriate State or Tribal officials can decide degradation issues in closed-door sessions.

False

Outputs of N and P to agriculture in the US exceed inputs.

False

Ozone formation mostly takes place at night.

False

People's preference for a meat-rich diet may lead in the future to less cropland and hence less N and P pollution.

False

Soil is the most important non-living resource of the watershed.

False

Soil microorganisms are key to decomposition of wastes such as plastics

False

States, tribes, and territories are required to adopt in their WQS the exact numbers that EPA has published as water quality criteria.

False

States, tribes, and territories are required to develop mandatory nonpoint source regulatory programs in order to obtain 319 grants.

False

Stormwater and CSO wet-weather flows are nonpoint source discharges that occur during and after precipitation events.

False

Tap water is routinely tested and filtered to remove contamination from livestock and pesticides.

False

Technological advances have heightened our awareness of the value of natural goods and services

False

The 404 Permit program, administered jointly by EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, requires that EPA handle the issuance of permits and USACE deal with guidelines, policy, and delegation to the states, tribes, and territories.

False

The CWA sets specific requirements on the amount (location, frequency) and type of ambient monitoring to be done by states.

False

The definition of a watershed used in this module does not include connections to ground water.

False

The most basic requirement in all MS4 permits is the addition of non-stormwater connections to the storm sewer system.

False

The services flowing from natural ecosystems are usually assigned dollar values in our "market-based" economic system

False

The temperature of stormwater does not have an impact on local ecosystems.

False

There are over one million large dams impounding lakes in the US in addition to all the smaller dams in this country.

False

True or False: Low-density development results in fewer vehicle miles traveled each year.

False

Upon completion, a State/Tribe should submit its water quality standards to EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC, for review.

False

Watershed indicator species, or "canaries in a coal mine," include several types of mammals and birds that are labeled "intolerant" of poor water quality.

False

Watersheds that are seldom disturbed are likely to have more species diversity than watersheds that undergo moderate disturbance.

False

Wetlands in Texas, North Carolina, and Alaska are quite similar.

False

When native species can no longer survive, it is a wise policy to introduce a similar non-native species.

False

Where any of the "priority pollutants" identified by EPA are a concern for a particular water body, the State/Tribe must adopt EPA's criteria for that pollutant.

False

With the absence of human intervention, a totally natural disturbance to an ecosystem will eventually result in the same ecosystem after a full recovery.

False

Coastal estuaries and their associated wetlands are particularly important to the following commercial industries:

Fish and shellfish

Most of the CWSRF dollars loaned to date have gone to:

Construction, expansion, and repair of municipal sewage treatment systems

The economic and environmental benefits of encouraging development where we have existing communities include

Cost savings due to the ability to use existing infrastructure and services; Preserving nearby natural areas that might otherwise be developed to accommodate growth

Which of the following does NOT need to be included in a use attainability analysis that focuses on the economic factor (i.e., "substantial and widespread economic and social impact")?

Cost-benefit analysis.

In the Nonpoint Source Management Plan, the grant recipients must include:

Goals for cleanup and best management practices A monitoring plan Identification of working partnerships Identification

Before deciding antidegradation questions, a State/Tribe must have an antidegradation program as part of its water quality standards. Such a program should include all but which one of the following?

Identification of its outstanding national resource waters (ONRWs).

The effluent guidelines published by EPA:

Identify performance standards for facilities

Threats to ecosystem services are thought to be driven but two underlying forces associated with the unsustainable growth of the human enterprise: population size in per capital consumption and ___:

Impacts from technologies and institutions that generate consumables

Site-specific criteria can be used to address which of the following situations?

It is desirable to establish criteria equal to "natural background" levels. The physical or chemical characteristics of a site alter the bioavailability/toxicity of a pollutant. The sensitivities of species at a site differ from those used to develop national water quality criteria.

The principal regulatory test of whether a criterion's value can be approved in a State or Tribe's water quality standards is:

It protects the designated uses.

Species with especially far-reaching effects on an ecosystem are called:

Keystone species

Up until 1982, 80 million acres in the United States had been converted from undeveloped land to urban and suburban land uses. In the following fifteen-year period from 1982 to 1997, U.S. population increased by 15%. During that same period, the total percentage of developed land increased by

More than 30% (over twice the rate of population growth)

Pollutants commonly associated with nonpoint source pollution include:

Nutrients Clean sediments Oil and grease Pathogens

Temperature increases will not drive which of the following environmental changes?

Ocean acidification

Factors driving sea level rise include which of the following?

Ocean water expansion caused by warmer ocean temperatures.

What waterbody uses must State/Tribal water quality standards protect wherever attainable?

Protection of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water

The Healthy Watersheds Program aims to do all of the following EXCEPT:

Provide technical assistance to the 28 National Estuary Programs.

The Index of Biotic Integrity produces a score by ranking ____ in streams, to serve as a method for assessing stream condition:

Relative abundance and diversity of stream invertebrates

In most cases, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program applies only to direct discharges to _________.

Surface water

What is the most common cause of pollution of streams, rivers, and oceans?

Surface water running off yards, city streets, paved lots, and farm fields.

Which of the following factors do you think is most important for determining runoff speed and volume?

The characteristics of the watershed's ground surface. The intensity of the rainstorm.

A State/Tribe can establish one set of water quality criteria for all of its water bodies.

True

A corridor is a uniquely important type of landscape patch that links other patches to one another.

True

A key element of the Water Quality-based approach under the CWA is the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).

True

A large percentage of irrigation water withdrawn from rivers and streams never makes it to the point of watering the crops due to inefficient water handling.

True

A population of organisms at level "K" has the maximum number of individuals the current environment can support.

True

A use attainability analysis (UAA) is required when removing a designated use that addresses the CWA 101(a)(2) goal.

True

A very high percentage of federally endangered plants and animals rely directly or indirectly on wetlands for their survival.

True

A watershed is one of many types of ecosystems.

True

Agriculture represents the heaviest demand for water in most parts of the United States, and accounts for more than 2/3 of global water use.

True

An increase in precipitation downwind from and urban area.

True

An urban watershed with 25% impervious surface will probably experience 100-year flood levels once every five years, on average.

True

Because of their low topographic position relative to uplands (e.g., isolated depressions, floodplains), some wetlands function to store and slowly release surface water, rain, snowmelt, groundwater, and flood waters.

True

Buffer strips along streambanks are part of the remedy for most of the water quality problems that arise from agriculture and timber harvest.

True

By definition, TMDLs are usually expressed as daily loads.

True

Climate heavily influences streamflow magnitude and timing.

True

Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) are examples of wet-weather flows.

True

Continued release of P from lake bottom sediments, even after P input is halted, can significantly delay lake recovery from eutrophication.

True

Drought is a normal, recurrent event that occurs in virtually all climate zones throughout the world.

True

Dynamic equilibrium implies that a watershed can undergo changes in physical form or biological communities, and still maintain stability and function as long as the changes occur within a normal range of magnitude and frequency.

True

EPA must approve Water Quality Standards adopted by states, authorized tribes, and territories.

True

EPA's regulations dealing with municipal sludge focus on toxics, pathogens, and vectors.

True

Fish and shellfish that depend on wetlands for food or habitat constitute more than 75% of the commercial and 90% of the recreational harvest in the United States.

True

Floods and flash floods are observed more frequently todays than they were fifty years ago.

True

For many changes of concern, there are known solutions but the awareness of the people responsible has been limited.

True

General NPDES permits can be allocated to similar facilities in a state when a large number of such facilities need coverage.

True

Generally, EPA scientists have indicated that most kinds of aquatic ecosystems can endure being significantly impacted once every 3 years and still remain healthy overall.

True

Generally, point sources required to have individual NPDES permits are also required to be assigned individual Wasteload Allocations.

True

Improved records have strengthened our confidence in the conclusions that the global warming trend is clear and primarily the result of human activities.

True

Increased biofuel production is expected to affect the quality and quantity of water resources.

True

Insecticides occur more frequently and usually as higher concentrations in urban streams than in agricultural streams.

True

It is a worthwhile aim of a watershed management strategy to maintain mosaic stability among the ecological components of a watershed.

True

Most eutrophic lakes would still require control of nonpoint inputs of P even if point source inputs of P were reduced to zero.

True

Natural changes cause stress to some plants and animals while benefiting others.

True

Nonpoint source pollution is partly responsible for water shortages.

True

Nonpoint source pollution represents the most significant source of pollution overall in the country.

True

Once the pollutant budget has been met, the next step is "slicing the pie" or allocating the pollutant load among various sources of the pollutant for which the TMDL has been developed.

True

Regulatory standards for disposing of animal wastes are generally less stringent than those for treating human wastes.

True

Riparian succession is different from most forms of plant succession in the greater magnitude and frequency of disturbances.

True

Runoff from cities and acid rain generated by human activities are two of the nonpoint sources of N to surface waters.

True

State/Tribal water quality regulations and an NPDES permit may allow a discharger additional time to comply with permit limits based on new or revised criteria.

True

TMDL strategies are required only for pollutants, not for all forms of pollution.

True

TMDLs must be reviewed and approved by EPA.

True

The CWA requires states to establish Water Quality Standards only for surface waters.

True

The River Continuum Concept describes a continuum of physical conditions typically found along rivers and streams and a subsequent response in their expected biota.

True

The abundance of livestock causes manure production that exceeds the needs of crops to which the manure is applied.

True

The atmosphere is a significant source of N in surface waters

True

The commercial value of pharmaceuticals used in traditional medicine exceeds $40 billion/year with 85% derived from plants

True

The food component driving the detrital food web is dead or decaying plant material.

True

The period of modern man is one of the greatest periods of mass species extinctions the planet has ever seen.

True

The vast majority of flowering plants require animal pollination for successful reproduction

True

There is substantially more water stored in the atmosphere plus ground water than there is in all the bodies of surface fresh water in the world.

True

Transpiration (release of water vapor from the leaves) of plants in the morning causes thunderstorms in the afternoon, demonstrating an ecosystem's ability to exert direct physical influence on local weather

True

Load Allocations apply to _______ sources.

nonpoint

Biogenochemical cycling involves:

the biologic, physical, and chemical transformations of various nutrients within the biota, soils, water, and air.

The technology-based limits for municipal sewage treatment plants involve which of these key parameters?

pH Biochemical oxygen demand Total suspended solids

The various benefits, or values, that wetlands provide to society arise from:

the many ecological functions associated with wetlands

Regional reservoirs are much lower than normal. Does this indicate drought?

yes

A "100-year" storm...

...has a 1% chance of occurring in a given year.

What percentage of the world's water is stored in fresh water lakes, rivers and swamps?

0.01%

Where does the runoff in a given watershed always drain to?

A common place on a point on a downslope body of water.

A "flash flood" is defined by the National Weather Service as:

A flood that occurs less than 6 hours after the start of rainfall. A life-threatening flood. A flood that results from a dam or levee failure.

A waterbody shows symptoms of impairment when it has:

A higher number of generalists A greater proportion of exotics A higher percentage of tolerant species More disease, malformations, and lesions A lower proportion of predators

Which of the following statements, in general, is most accurate?

A perched aquifer underlying porous soils may be recharged completely by a period of heavy, prolonged precipitation.

Climate change is defined as:

A significant change in weather patterns over multiple decades or longer.

The objectives of the Clean Water Act are to:

Address polluted runoff Restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters Support research and demonstration projects Finance wastewater treatment plants and facilities

Examples of ecosystem services include:

Aesthetic beauty Wild game Pollination of crops; Cycling of nutrients Pollination of crops Cycling of nutrients

Foremost among the immediate threats to ecosystem services are:

Destruction of natural habitats; Invasion of non-native species

How often is a State/Tribe expected to revise its criteria?

As necessary

Which of the following components must be included in a TMDL document submitted for EPA review?

Assessment of seasonal variation on the ability of the water body to meet water quality standards. Description of the applicable water quality standards. Allocations to point and nonpoint sources.

From 1980-2000, the number of miles driven by Americans every year increased

At four times the rate of population growth

The Biosphere 2 experiment attempting to duplicate the earth's environment failed in large part due to unexpected problems with the systems' ____:

Atmospheric conditions

The "sequencing" process for the 404 Permit Program includes these steps:

Avoidance, Maximization, and Compensation

"BAT" stands for:

Best Available Technology

Which option below is NOT a strategy to address water shortages?

Building hurricane levees.

Two major recreational activities associated with wetlands are:

Hunting and birding

"Existing use" refers to any use to which the waterbody has been put since this date:

November 28, 1975

_________ use is a term that answers the public's question, "To what uses do we want to be able to put this waterbody?"

Designated

For jurisdictions where the NPDES program has not been authorized, the EPA Region serves as the permitting authority and may carry out which of the following implementation functions?

Enforcing the requirements of the permit. Conducting compliance and monitoring activities. You Answered All in this list Issuing permits. Correct Answer None in this list

Which one of the following is not necessarily involved in assessing the need for a WQBEL?

Establishing a TMDL.

100-year or larger floods are the primary force that determines what a stream channel is shaped like.

False

A significant, warm-season form of air pollution is:

Ground level ozone.

The availability of most natural products (i.e. goods) is in decline due to:

Habitat conversion

The prevailing pattern of development in the last twenty years

Has a dispersed, low density development pattern that increasingly relies upon automobiles for transportation Increasingly relies upon automobiles for transportation. Is closely associated with the highway network

Water quality criteria aimed at providing protection from short term exposure to __________ levels of pollutants are called __________ criteria, whereas WQC addressing long-term exposure to __________ concentrations are called __________ criteria.

High, acute, lower, chronic

When a waterbody needs cleaner water to support a particular use, that use is a _________ use, and the opposite is a ___________ use.

Higher, lower

Among the factors influencing growth patterns in the United States since World War II are

Historical federal financing programs and housing initiatives Federal transportation funding Local land use planning and zoning

Which of the following is true about greenhouse gases?

Human activity has been increasing the amounts of these gases in the atmosphere.

Eutrophication can lead to:

Increase plant, algae and bacteria growth. A decrease in available oxygen for native plants and animal species. A decrease in native fish populations.

The process of eutrophication is caused by:

Increased in a body of water's levels of nitrogen and phosphorus.

During heavy precipitation, relative to undeveloped surfaces, impervious surfaces can cause:

Increased runoff and decreased infiltration.

Which of the following statements is false? The prevailing pattern of low density development has been shown to contribute to

Increased socio-economic integration of residential neighborhoods

Improving water quality by reducing P input in the future is likely to require which of the following approaches?

Increased use of riparian buffers Control of urban runoff Not exceeding thresholds of applying soil nutrients

Adverse effects of eutrophication have been known to include all but which one of the following?

Increased water transparency

Which of the following is expected as a result of climate change?

Increases in heavy precipitation events.

As a strategy for fighting crop pests, chemical pesticides have many drawbacks, except:

Increases of natural predators

Examples of sources covered by NPDES permits include _____________:

Industrial and municipal discharges; Abandoned mines on federal land

Characterize the following Clean Water Act goal/objective: "water quality which provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and provides for recreation in and on the water."

Interim goal

Increased imperviousness resulting from new roads, driveways, and rooftops

Is correlated with decreasing abundance and diversity of aquatic life Increases peak flow, the total volume of runoff, and the frequency of flooding Decreases infiltration and the rate of groundwater recharge

It hasn't rained in four weeks. Does this indicate drought?

It depends

One precipitation event is enough to end a drought in most parts of the U.S.?

It depends

The grass along roadsides and highway medians has become completely parched and unwatered gardens have withered. Does this indicate drought?

It depends

Which is currently growing more rapidly?

Land consumption.

LID is an acronym that stands for

Low Impact Development, and approach to site design that preserves its pre-development hydrology

Weather condition that lead to enhanced air pollution levels include:

Low winds; High Stability; Shallow Mixing Depth.

A _____ allows certain portions of a waterbody below a point source discharge to not meet applicable designated uses and water quality criteria.

Mixing zone

Which of the following is most accurate?

Most human-made changes to watersheds can be controlled but occur due to limited awareness of the remedies or willingness to use them.

Two examples of fish that subsist in freshwater wetlands that have natural low dissolved oxygen concentrations are:

Mud minnow and brown bullhead

Which is most correct about what POTWs can treat, according to the definition used for the NPDES program?

Municipal sewage. Industrial wastes.

Under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), EPA provides annual capitalization to states. In general, states and grant recipients:

Must match federal funds 20%

Which of the following are released from wetlands in the gaseous form:

Nitrogen and sulfur

The AIRNow Air Quality Index monitors the following five air pollutants:

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Sulfur dioxide (SO2) Particulate matter Ozone Carbon monoxide (CO)

Which of the six criteria types always takes precedence over the others?

None in this list!!! Aquatic life Bacteriological Biological Sediment Nutrient Human health

Which of the following is NOT true regarding implementation of TMDLs?

Nonpoint source loadings are implemented through federal regulations under the Polluted Runoff program.

Section 319 funds may be used for the development and implementation of TMDLs in watersheds where:

Nonpoint source pollution is a major contributor

By 2000, the leading sources of impairments to water quality standards across all waterbodies in the United States were from

Nonpoint sources such as runoff from agriculture and land-based activities in urbanized areas

Along with existing uses and high quality uses, what other category of waters must a State or Tribe's antidegradation program address?

Outstanding national resource waters (ONRWs).

Which form of particle pollution would be more harmful; to one's health?

Particles of 2.4 micrometers or less (PM2.5).

In urban areas, primary sources of N and P pollution in surface waters include which of the following?

Pet wastes and lawn fertilizers; Municipal wastewater treatment plants

The main difference between NPDES Phase I and Phase II programs for MS4s is that:

Phase II allows permits for multiple MS4s

Elements like carbon, nitrogen, and ____ comprise the watershed's most important biogeochemical cycles.

Phosphorus

Wasteload Allocations apply to _________ sources.

Point

The original Clean water Act focused on ____, but has been amended to also address ___.

Point sources Non-Point sources

A TMDL includes an overall "budget" for a particular pollutant in a particular body of water, also known as its _______________.

Pollutant "cap"

TMDLs determine what level of ____________ would be consistent with meeting Water Quality Standards.

Pollutant load

Biological life plays an important role in regulating the earth's climate by:

Prevent overheating by removing more of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as the sun grows brighter Destabilizing climatic cooling through increased runoff associated with increased rainfall resulting with increased rainfall resulting in nutrient-enhanced growth of phytoplankton Enhancing warming trends by speeding up microbial decomposition of dead matter

The three tiers for antidegradation include:

Preventing degradation that would result in loss of an existing/attained use. Virtually no lowering of water quality, on specialty designated waters. Preventing "freefall" from considerably better than WQS down to just barely meeting them.

Recreation is often divided into what two subcategories?

Primary contact/secondary contact

Which of these options are climate change-related benefits of using Green Infrastructure?

Rain gardens and permeable pavement can help reduce nuisance flooding. Rainwater captured in cisterns and rain barrels reduce use of potable municipal water (which also reduces energy used to treat the water). Trees and green roofs can help lower building energy use, reducing the need to turn up the air conditioning. Living shorelines act as buffers to reduce the impact of storm surges.

Water Quality Standards are parameter-specific based on which of these factors?

Recurrence interval/frequency Level/concentration/magnitude Duration

The following actions can help reduce the formation of air pollutants:

Reducing the miles travelled in cars and trucks. Reducing the miles travelled in cars and trucks. Mowing lawns with electric mowers or in the early morning or later evening hours. Using energy efficient appliances. Reducing heating and cooling needs. Reducing the miles travelled in cars and trucks. Mowing lawns with electric mowers or in the early morning or later evening hours. Using energy efficient appliances. Filling gas tanks in the late evening or at night. Mowing lawns with electric mowers or in the early morning or later evening hours. Planting trees and vegetation. Mowing lawns with electric mowers or in the early morning or later evening hours. Planting trees and vegetation. Reducing heating and cooling needs. Filling gas tanks in the late evening or at night. All in this list Reducing heating and cooling needs. Using energy efficient appliances. Filling gas tanks in the late evening or at night.

How are States and Tribes expected to implement water quality standards once they are approved by EPA?

Regularly monitor and assess ambient water quality. Identify waters that are not attaining WQS. Write NPDES Permits as necessary to meet WQS.

"Green Infrastructure" such as trees in a street in a developed area can

Regulate heat, improve air quality, retain storm water and mitigate flooding

The following measures can help reduce stormwater impacts:

Rerouting downspouts from driveways to lawns and gardens. Replacing traditional roofing materials with roof gardens. Reducing the size of parking lots. Replacing traditional roofing materials with roof gardens. Rerouting downspouts from driveways to lawns and gardens. Replacing traditional roofing materials with roof gardens. Diverting street gutters to rain gardens. Reducing the size of parking lots. Rerouting downspouts from driveways to lawns and gardens. Replacing traditional cement walkways and driveways with porous materials. Diverting street gutters to rain gardens. Reducing the size of parking lots. Reducing the size of parking lots. Replacing traditional cement walkways and driveways with porous materials. Diverting street gutters to rain gardens. Replacing traditional cement walkways and driveways with porous materials. Replacing traditional roofing materials with roof gardens. Diverting street gutters to rain gardens.

Which of the following types of waters are covered by the Clean Water Act?

Rivers Lakes Streams Estuaries Wetlands

In addition to rainfall, which other factors determine whether a flood will occur?

Saturation of soil Watershed conditions Watershed conditions; Saturation of soil; Location of rainfall Watershed conditions; Saturation of soil Location of rainfall Snowmelt Land use/built features

Which of the following has been observed as an indicator of current climate change?

Sea level is rising. Atmospheric water vapor is increasing. Snow and ice cover have decreased in most areas. Temperatures at Earth's surface have increased over recent decades.

The two biennial reports that states, tribes, and territories are required to submit providing the results of their monitoring efforts are:

Section 305(b) and 303(d) reports

Key Clean Water Act Tools include:

Section 404 Regulation of discharge of dredged or fill materials Section 401 Water Quality Certification National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Clean Water State Revolving Fund Section 319 Nonpoint Source Programs

The leading pollutant of concern for most waterbodies in the United States is

Sediment

Which of the following are characteristic traits of nonpoint pollution?

The major source of water pollution in the US today; intermittent and variable over time

Which of the following is not true?

The major sources of nonpoint pollution are agriculture and mining.

Albedo is the measure of

The radiation reflectivity of a material or surface.

The following actions can help reduce the impact to the urban heat island effect:

The use of construction materials with high albedo and low heat capacity. Increasing the efficiency of air conditioning and heating units. Increasing the number of trees and amount of vegetation.

Wetlands are important to humans because:

They function in flood protection by storing and slowly releasing surface water They help improve water quality, including drinking water They trap suspended sediments before they reach open water

Estuaries and their coastal marshes serve as important nursery areas for the young of many recreational (game) and commercial fish and shellfish because:

They produce so much plant biomass and invertebrate life

Sewage sludge can be disposed of:

Through land application In landfills By incineration

An example of an animal that travels from uplands to vernal pools to breed and lay eggs is:

Tiger salamander

Which of the following must be included in a State/Tribe's notification about a formal public hearing on water quality standards?

Time and location of the hearing. Location of the EPA submission package for public review. Listing of major issues to be addressed. Agenda.

Historically, cities in the U.S. grew most rapidly along

Train and tram lines.

Two types of food webs, the herbivore-carnivore food web and the detrital food web, are associated with wetlands.

True

Urbanization can cause stream channels to become wider and deeper.

True

Warming in the United States is expected to exceed 2℃/3.6℉ during this century.

True

Water quality criteria specify the conditions that a waterbody needs to meet a particular designated use.

True

Wetland ecosystems are excellent study sites to learn about vegetative structure and the various ecological functions (e.g., nutrient cycling), natural ecological processes (e.g., plant succession), biodiversity, and plant-animal interactions.

True

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world and manifest substantial biodiversity.

True

Wetlands restoration may be the most cost-effective method of decreasing nonpoint N pollution.

True

When a State/Tribe includes a technology-based effluent limit in an NPDES permit, it is a performance standard only and the permitting authority generally cannot require the use of a particular technology to achieve the limit.

True

When using the Integrated Reporting categories, the 303(d) list is represented by category 5.

True

Where a State/Tribe's water quality standards do not allow for consideration of dilution/mixing, water quality criteria must be attained at the effluent's location in the receiving water.

True

If a waterbody is attaining water quality standards, __________ provisions apply.

Use designations(s) Water quality criteria Antidegradation

Which of the following activities CAN harm downstream watershed ecosystems?

Walking your dog. Fighting green invaders (weeds and insects). Maintaining a green, weed-free lawn. Driving or parking your car. Washing your car.

Which one of the following cannot be a State/Tribal designated use?

Waste transport

Each time a State/Tribe conducts a triennial review of its water quality standards, what water bodies must States/Tribes examine?

Water bodies (or segments) with less than the CWA 101(a) goal uses designated.

What contributes to coastal zone "hotspots" of acidification and hypoxia?

Water pollution and increased absorption of carbon dioxide.

Which of the following does a State/Tribe need to establish as cornerstones of an effective water quality program?

Water quality criteria Designated uses Antidegradation policy

Which of the following must be included in a State/Tribe's submission of its water quality standards to EPA for review?

Water quality criteria sufficient to protect designated uses. Methods and analyses used to support the standards. Information to support uses not specified in CWA Section 101(a)(2). General State/Tribal policies affecting application and implementation of the standards. Certification by the Attorney General or appropriate Tribal legal authority. Waterbody use designations that are consistent with the Clean Water Act. An antidegradation policy and accompanying implementation procedures.

Which of the following is the most accurate?

Watershed ecosystems can be changed permanently by natural evolutionary events.; Natural changes do cause adverse effects on some components of the ecosystem, while benefiting others.

___________ criteria, like human health/fish consumption criteria, deal with the effects of pollutants with high bioaccumulation factors.

Wildlife

A change of concern is:

any change that results in the loss of a beneficial functional or structural characteristic of the watershed.

Cumulative impacts from multiple agents of change are potentially more of a challenge to watershed management because:

different agents of change are contributing impacts at a variety of spatial and temporal scales; it is often difficult to identify the amount of adverse impact that comes from each agent of change, when planning a remedy.

Wetlands are thought of as "biological supermarkets" because:

they produce great quantities of food that attracts many animal species

EPA regulations require that WQS be met within ________ years after a TMDL is approved for a waterbody.

there is no limit