Question 1

To establish legal responsibility under the Superfund Act, courts use strict liability as well as joint and several liability.

Accepted Answer

Courts use both strict liability and joint and several liability to establish legal responsibility under the Superfund Act. Strict liability means that a defendant can be held liable even if they were not negligent or intentionally responsible for the contamination. Joint and several liability means that multiple parties can be held liable for the same harm and each party may be held responsible for the entire amount of damages, regardless of their individual degree of fault.

Question 2

In 1984, amendments to RCRA restrict landfilling activity, which in turn
A) would cause the MPC of land disposal to rise
B) may offer some incentive for waste disposers to generate less waste
C) reduce the external cost of landfilling
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The amendments to RCRA restrict landfilling activity, which would cause the MPC (marginal private cost) of land disposal to rise. This would make waste disposal more expensive and provide an incentive for waste disposers to generate less waste. Additionally, reducing landfilling activity can also reduce the external cost of landfilling, such as pollution and health hazards. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 3

Lack of good information was among the issues facing the United States as it began to address the hazardous waste site problem in the nation.

Accepted Answer

The lack of good information about hazardous waste sites was one of the challenges facing the United States as it started addressing the problem. This lack of information made it difficult to identify and address the health and environmental risks associated with these sites.

Question 4

A major component of the "cradle-to-grave" management system is
A) identification of hazardous waste
B) a permit system for treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs)
C) a national manifest system for tracking through the waste stream
D) all of the above
E) (a) and (c) only

Accepted Answer

All three components listed in options A, B, and C are essential parts of the cradle-to-grave management system. Identification of hazardous waste is important for proper handling and disposal, permit system for TSDFs ensures that the facilities are operating in compliance with regulations, and the national manifest system tracks the movement of hazardous waste from origin to ultimate disposal. Therefore, all options are correct, and the best answer is D.

Question 5

A type of hazardous substance is
A) an acid or base
B) a heavy metal like copper or mercury
C) synthetic organic chemicals, such as pesticides
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed (acid or base, heavy metals, and synthetic organic chemicals) can be hazardous substances.

Question 6

A set of control strategies to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous waste at every stage of the waste stream is known as
A) source reduction
B) waste management
C) "cradle-to-grave" management
D) risk-benefit analysis

Accepted Answer

The answer of A set of control strategies to reduce...

Question 7

The national manifest system,
A) tracks only the most toxic hazardous wastes
B) tracks hazardous and nonhazardous wastes from the point of generation to disposal
C) was eliminated with the 1984 RCRA amendments
D) is a market-based approach aimed at achieving an efficient solution
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The national manifest system specifically tracks hazardous wastes from the point of generation to disposal, not just the most toxic ones, nor does it track nonhazardous wastes. It was not eliminated with the 1984 RCRA amendments but rather reinforced, and it is not a market-based approach but a regulatory one.

Question 8

The most prevalent type of damage associated with hazardous waste sites is
A) water and soil contamination
B) loss of livestock
C) fish kills
D) air pollution

Accepted Answer

Water and soil contamination is the most common type of damage associated with hazardous waste sites. This is because hazardous waste materials can leach into the ground and water sources, contaminating them and posing risks to human health and the environment. This contamination can also spread to nearby ecosystems and wildlife habitats, causing further damage. Loss of livestock and fish kills may be a result of this contamination, but are not the most prevalent type of damage. Air pollution may also be a concern at hazardous waste sites, but is not as widespread as water and soil contamination.

Question 9

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
A) is a national database providing information about hazardous releases
B) provides information on hazardous substances solely to government officials
C) is no longer maintained and reported to the public
D) provides an annual list of the parties responsible for hazardous releases

Accepted Answer

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a national database that provides information about hazardous releases to the public. It requires certain facilities to report on their releases of a list of specified toxic chemicals. This information helps communities understand the types and amounts of pollutants being released into the environment.

Question 10

The identification of hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
A) uses benefit-cost analysis for characteristic wastes
B) uses a uniform approach to implement the identification criteria
C) employs an index based on toxicity
D) is based on risk-benefit analysis

Accepted Answer

The RCRA uses a uniform approach to implement the identification criteria for hazardous wastes. This approach includes a list of specific wastes and a set of criteria that determine which other wastes are hazardous. It does not use benefit-cost analysis, an index based on toxicity, or risk-benefit analysis to identify hazardous wastes.

Question 11

The feedstock taxes to finance Superfund were devised mainly to act as a market incentive to improve the environment.

Accepted Answer

The primary purpose of the feedstock taxes to finance Superfund was to generate revenue for cleaning up hazardous waste sites, not to serve as a market incentive for environmental improvement.

Question 12

In assessing Superfund, we observe
A) a market-based approach to waste site clean-up
B) the use of benefit-cost analysis to determine abatement levels
C) inefficiency due to uniform site cleanup
D) weak legal standards to identify PRPs

Accepted Answer

Superfund's approach to site cleanup is uniform, meaning each site is treated the same regardless of the level of contamination, potential harm, or location. This can result in inefficiency, as some sites may require more or less extensive remediation efforts than others. Additionally, Superfund has been criticized for its slow and costly cleanup process. However, Superfund does not use market-based approaches or benefit-cost analysis, and it has strong legal standards for identifying potentially responsible parties (PRPs).

Question 13

Under the Superfund Act, the EPA has the authority to require those responsible for a hazardous substance release, known as potentially responsible parties (PRPs), to correct the problem and pay for damages.

Accepted Answer

This is correct, as stated in the Superfund Act, the EPA has the authority to require PRPs to clean up hazardous substance releases and pay for damages.

Question 14

Under the Superfund law (CERCLA),
A) remedial actions are official short-term responses to restore immediate control
B) high-risk sites are placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) through a risk-ranking system
C) only current waste site owners are potentially responsible parties (PRPs)
D) EPA has no authority to force responsible parties to pay for damages

Accepted Answer

The Superfund law or CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) allows the EPA to identify high-risk sites and place them on the National Priorities List (NPL) through a risk-ranking system. This enables the EPA to prioritize Superfund site cleanups based on the level of risk they pose to human health and the environment. The NPL also triggers enforcement actions against potentially responsible parties (PRPs) for the cleanup costs. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. A is incorrect because remedial actions are long-term responses to clean up or permanently eliminate hazardous substances, rather than immediate control. C is incorrect because PRPs can include past and present owners and operators of the site and those who generated or transported hazardous substances to the site, not just current owners. D is incorrect because the EPA has the authority to seek reimbursement from PRPs that are responsible for damages through cost recovery and enforcement actions.

Question 15

Love Canal was declared a disaster area by
A) the State of California
B) President Reagan
C) President Carter
D) the Department of Justice

Accepted Answer

President Carter declared Love Canal a national disaster area in 1978, providing federal aid to the affected residents and prompting efforts to clean up the toxic waste.

Question 16

According to the textbook application, General Electric is dredging the Hudson River because it illegally released tons of pesticides into the river, starting in 1940.

Accepted Answer

General Electric is dredging the Hudson River because it released polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), not pesticides, into the river from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Question 17

Official responses to a hazardous substance release aimed at restoring immediate control are referred to as
A) removal actions
B) remedial actions
C) records of decisions
D) preliminary assessments

Accepted Answer

Removal actions are aimed at restoring immediate control over a hazardous substance release. These actions are considered short-term and involve actions taken to prevent or minimize the release, without necessarily addressing the long-term cleanup or remediation. Remedial actions, on the other hand, are long-term actions taken to address contamination that has already occurred. Records of decisions and preliminary assessments are documents that are prepared during the response and cleanup process, but they do not involve the immediate control of a hazardous substance release.

Question 18

Abandoned or underdeveloped real properties whose development is complicated by contamination are referred to as
A) NPL sites
B) Superfund sites
C) brownfield sites
D) RCRA sites

Accepted Answer

Abandoned or underdeveloped real properties whose development is complicated by contamination are referred to as brownfield sites. NPL sites and Superfund sites are specific designations of contaminated sites that require federal attention and funding. RCRA sites refer to hazardous waste facilities regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Question 19

The economic sector responsible for the largest amount of hazardous waste is
A) households
B) industry
C) government
D) institutions

Accepted Answer

Industry is responsible for the largest amount of hazardous waste due to the nature of their operations and use of chemicals in production processes. Households, government, and institutions generate hazardous waste as well, but not to the same extent as industry.

Question 20

The series of events that begins with waste generation and continues through transport, storage, treatment, and disposal is known as
A) the "cradle to grave" management system
B) the waste manifest system
C) the waste stream
D) the Superfund cleanup process

Accepted Answer

The term "waste stream" refers to the complete flow of waste from its source through to disposal, encompassing generation, transport, storage, treatment, and disposal.

Quiz 17: Managing Hazardous Solid Waste and Waste Sites

To establish legal responsibility under the Superfund Act, courts use strict liability as well as joint and several liability.

In 1984, amendments to RCRA restrict landfilling activity, which in turn

Lack of good information was among the issues facing the United States as it began to address the hazardous waste site problem in the nation.

A major component of the "cradle-to-grave" management system is

A type of hazardous substance is

A set of control strategies to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous waste at every stage of the waste stream is known as

The national manifest system,

The most prevalent type of damage associated with hazardous waste sites is

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)

The identification of hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

The feedstock taxes to finance Superfund were devised mainly to act as a market incentive to improve the environment.

In assessing Superfund, we observe

Under the Superfund Act, the EPA has the authority to require those responsible for a hazardous substance release, known as potentially responsible parties (PRPs), to correct the problem and pay for damages.

Under the Superfund law (CERCLA) ,

Love Canal was declared a disaster area by

According to the textbook application, General Electric is dredging the Hudson River because it illegally released tons of pesticides into the river, starting in 1940.

Official responses to a hazardous substance release aimed at restoring immediate control are referred to as

Abandoned or underdeveloped real properties whose development is complicated by contamination are referred to as

The economic sector responsible for the largest amount of hazardous waste is

The series of events that begins with waste generation and continues through transport, storage, treatment, and disposal is known as