Air & Water Quality Control

What is air pollution?

The release of pollutants into the air that are detrimental to human health and the planet.

How many deaths does air pollution cause annually according to WHO?

7 million deaths worldwide.

What percentage of humans breathe air exceeding WHO guidelines for pollutants?

99%.

What are the major sources of air pollution?

Mobile sources (cars, buses, planes), stationary sources (power plants, factories), area sources (agricultural areas), and natural sources (wildfires, volcanoes).

What is acid deposition?

The process where pollutants like SO2 or NOx interact with sunlight and water vapor to form acids that fall to the earth as acid rain or snow.

What is the primary harm caused by acid deposition?

It harms aquatic life, particularly when the pH of a lake falls below 5.

What is the role of the ozone layer?

It filters UV radiation from reaching the earth.

What are the primary causes of ozone layer depletion?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

What is human-induced climate change?

The greenhouse gas effect caused by gases like CO2 and methane capturing heat and raising global temperatures.

What are the consequences of global climate change?

Sea-level rise, heat waves, and more frequent and intense weather events.

What is indoor air pollution?

Pollution in poorly ventilated buildings from airborne pathogens and inorganic compounds.

What did the 1967 Air Quality Act do?

Amended the Clean Air Act of 1963 to provide a federal scheme for air pollution control.

What is the purpose of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970?

To create a federal/state partnership for air quality standards and emissions control.

What are National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?

Standards established by the EPA to protect human health and welfare from air pollutants.

What are the two types of NAAQS standards?

Primary standards (protect human health) and secondary standards (protect public welfare).

What are criteria pollutants?

Pollutants that have established NAAQS, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and lead.

What are State Implementation Plans (SIPs)?

Plans created by states to achieve and maintain NAAQS within their air quality regions.

What are New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)?

Technology-based standards for new, modified, and reconstructed stationary sources of air pollution.

What did the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment establish?

Programs for protecting public health from exposure to toxic air pollutants.

What was the significance of Massachusetts v. EPA?

The Supreme Court held that the EPA has the authority to regulate greenhouse gases as air pollutants.

What are Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards?

Regulations that set fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.

What is the California Waiver in relation to the Clean Air Act?

An exception allowing California to set its own vehicle emission standards that can be stricter than federal standards.

What is the purpose of Section 108 of the Clean Air Act?

To require the EPA to identify air pollutants that may endanger public health or welfare.

What does Section 112 of the Clean Air Act mandate?

Technology-based standards to reduce hazardous air emissions from major sources.

What is the role of Title II of the Clean Air Act?

To establish emissions standards for automobiles and light trucks.

What does Title III of the Clean Air Act authorize?

Citizen suits against violators of emissions standards.

What is the function of Title V of the Clean Air Act?

To require permits for all major industrial sources with state administration and federal oversight.

Fisheries

Uses of water for fish farming and aquatic life.

Cleaning and manufacturing

Uses of water in industrial processes and sanitation.

Recreation

Uses of water for leisure activities such as swimming and boating.

Water quality issues

Concerns regarding the availability and cleanliness of water.

Scarcity and pollution

Factors affecting the availability and purity of water.

Pathogens

Bacteria and viruses that can contaminate water.

Toxic Trait Organics

Includes PCBs, solvents, and antibiotics that are harmful pollutants.

Heavy Metals

Includes mercury, cadmium, and lead, which are toxic to health.

Conventional Organics

Includes oil and grease that can pollute water bodies.

Nutrients

Includes nitrogen and phosphorus that can cause eutrophication.

Ionizing Radiation

Radiation from the decay of atoms that can contaminate water.

Mineral content

The concentration of minerals present in water.

Solid Content

The amount of solid particles present in water.

pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water.

Temperature

The thermal state of water, affecting its quality.

Coastal Contamination

Pollution affecting coastal waters, impacting health and ecosystems.

BEACH Act

Legislation for testing and monitoring coastal water quality.

Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs)

High-density animal farming operations impacting water quality.

Hydraulic Fracking

Method for extracting natural gas that poses environmental risks.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Regulates public drinking water supply to protect health.

Primacy

States' authority to implement drinking water standards.

Clean Water Act (CWA)

Regulates water quality standards and pollution discharges.

Water Quality Standards

Criteria for maintaining the quality of U.S. waters.

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)

The maximum amount of a pollutant a water body can receive.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

Permits required for discharging pollutants into U.S. waters.

NPDES Permit Violations

Illegal discharges or failures to comply with permit requirements.

What does Section 319 of the Clean Water Act require?

States to develop nonpoint source pollution management programs to receive Section 319 funding.

Is it legal to discharge pollutants into waters of the United States under the NPDES program?

False

What does TMDL refer to under the Clean Water Act?

The amount of a specific pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet Water Quality Standards.

What is required for all waters on a state's 303(d) list?

A TMDL.

Who approves or disapproves TMDLs?

EPA.

Does the 303(d) list require states to develop a Continuing Planning Process for its cleanest waters?

False

What are the components of Water Quality Standards under the Clean Water Act?

Designated Uses, Water Quality Criteria, and an Antidegradation Policy.

Where can the Clean Water Act be found?

At 33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.

Can states apply to EPA for 'primacy' under the Safe Drinking Water Act?

False

What does the Safe Drinking Water Act authorize EPA to do?

Set standards to protect against contaminants in drinking water.

What are common sources of water pollution?

Stormwater runoff, malfunctioning sewage treatment plants, runoff from Confined Animal Feed Operations, and wastewater from hydraulic fracking.

What do Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards refer to?

How far vehicles must travel on a gallon of fuel.

Did the United States Supreme Court reject EPA's 'endangerment finding' in 2009?

False

What do New Source Performance Standards refer to under the Clean Air Act?

Technology-based standards that apply to certain categories of stationary sources.

Do states have the option of developing State Implementation Plans under the Clean Air Act?

False

How often must NAAQS be reviewed under the Clean Air Act?

Every five years, not eighteen months.

What are primary standards under the Clean Air Act?

Required for each criteria pollutant and necessary to protect health.

Do NAAQS set national standards for indoor air quality?

False

What did Congress envision regarding jurisdiction for clean air programs in 1970?

They did not envision exclusive federal jurisdiction.

What were the original six criteria pollutants in the Clean Air Act?

Carbon monoxide, ground level ozone, particulates, and lead.

Did the Clean Air Act of 1963 authorize the Environmental Protection Agency?

False

What are the major sources of air pollution?

Mobile sources, stationary sources, indirect sources, and natural sources.

Are taxes and subsidies used to prevent pollution?

False, they do not violate the Supremacy Clause.

What common law remedies can address environmental issues?

Trespass, nuisance, and negligence.

What are some reasons supporting regulation to protect the environment?

The 'Tragedy of the Commons,' the 'Free-Rider' problem, and pollution as an economic externality.

Did modern environmental regulation in the U.S. develop in the early 1900s?

False