IS-0005.A: AN INTRODUCTION TO
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EXAM
2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
(1980) - ....ANSWER ...-created a billion dollar trust fund to pay for Federal and
State response actions when hazardous materials pose or may pose a threat to human
health or the environment
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) - ....ANSWER ...-
expanded and revised CERCLA
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 - ....ANSWER ...-
Title III of SARA; subjects +300 hazardous substances to reporting to local, State, and
Federal agencies; requires local governments to create emergency plans
The National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) -
....ANSWER ...-the basis for Federal action to minimize pollution damage from
discharges of oil or hazardous substances; Federal agencies assist in the development
and evaluation of national, regional, and local oil and hazardous substance pollution
contingency plans
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 1
,National Response Team (NRT) - ....ANSWER ...-publish guidance on emergency
response planning and stand ready to assist States in the event of a major chemical
emergency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - ....ANSWER ...-Deal with inland water
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) - ....ANSWER ...-Deal with coastal water
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) - ....ANSWER ...-
establishes a Federal program to provide comprehensive regulation of hazardous waste,
which includes certain materials held to pose a potential threat to public health and
safety when they are discarded; "cradle to grave management of hazardous waste";
How did the RCRA work? - ....ANSWER ...-Developed cleanup standards, tracks
hazardous waste shipments and developed a permit system for waste disposal sites
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) (1975) - ....ANSWER ...-DOT's
Office of Hazardous Materials Transportation (OHMT) issues regulations dealing with
the shipping and packaging of hazardous materials, including how they are classified
and labeled.
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 - ....ANSWER ...-issues basic safety
and health standards, assigns Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
employees to inspect workplaces, and forces industry to reduce or eliminate job hazards
by imposing fines for identified violations
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) (1989) -
....ANSWER ...-a health and safety standard to ensure the safety of workers
performing hazardous waste cleanup or response actions
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 2
, The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (1976) - ....ANSWER ...-chemical
producers are required to research the effects of new chemicals and notify EPA before
they are manufactured; EPA has the authority to ban or restrict chemical uses if there is
sufficient evidence that the substance poses an "unreasonable risk."
Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (1910) - ....ANSWER ...-requires
regulation of pesticides; amended in 1972 to require testing for short-term and long-term
toxic effects prior to registration
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) (1938) - ....ANSWER ...-requires
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce residue limits by monitoring and
seizing foods whose residues are in excess of standards.
Clean Air Act (CAA) (1970) - ....ANSWER ...-the basic Federal law for controlling
toxic air pollution; requires EPA to keep an up-to-date list of industrial pollutants that
are hazardous to human health, and set an emission standard for each "with an ample
margin of safety;" requires EPA to review public health standards for six major air
pollutants every 5 years; can be based only upon a consideration of public health
Clean Water Act (CWA) (1972) - ....ANSWER ...-set maximum permissible
amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways; aims to make
surface waters swimmable and fishable
Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) - ....ANSWER ...-enacted to protect public water
supplies from contamination by mandating water testing, denying Federal funds to
projects that threaten critical water supplies, and requiring States to submit plans to
protect public wells from contamination; has a "Right to Know" provision in cases
where contaminants exceed Maximum Concentration Levels (MCLs)
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 3
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EXAM
2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
(1980) - ....ANSWER ...-created a billion dollar trust fund to pay for Federal and
State response actions when hazardous materials pose or may pose a threat to human
health or the environment
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) - ....ANSWER ...-
expanded and revised CERCLA
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 - ....ANSWER ...-
Title III of SARA; subjects +300 hazardous substances to reporting to local, State, and
Federal agencies; requires local governments to create emergency plans
The National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) -
....ANSWER ...-the basis for Federal action to minimize pollution damage from
discharges of oil or hazardous substances; Federal agencies assist in the development
and evaluation of national, regional, and local oil and hazardous substance pollution
contingency plans
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 1
,National Response Team (NRT) - ....ANSWER ...-publish guidance on emergency
response planning and stand ready to assist States in the event of a major chemical
emergency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - ....ANSWER ...-Deal with inland water
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) - ....ANSWER ...-Deal with coastal water
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) - ....ANSWER ...-
establishes a Federal program to provide comprehensive regulation of hazardous waste,
which includes certain materials held to pose a potential threat to public health and
safety when they are discarded; "cradle to grave management of hazardous waste";
How did the RCRA work? - ....ANSWER ...-Developed cleanup standards, tracks
hazardous waste shipments and developed a permit system for waste disposal sites
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) (1975) - ....ANSWER ...-DOT's
Office of Hazardous Materials Transportation (OHMT) issues regulations dealing with
the shipping and packaging of hazardous materials, including how they are classified
and labeled.
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 - ....ANSWER ...-issues basic safety
and health standards, assigns Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
employees to inspect workplaces, and forces industry to reduce or eliminate job hazards
by imposing fines for identified violations
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) (1989) -
....ANSWER ...-a health and safety standard to ensure the safety of workers
performing hazardous waste cleanup or response actions
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 2
, The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (1976) - ....ANSWER ...-chemical
producers are required to research the effects of new chemicals and notify EPA before
they are manufactured; EPA has the authority to ban or restrict chemical uses if there is
sufficient evidence that the substance poses an "unreasonable risk."
Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (1910) - ....ANSWER ...-requires
regulation of pesticides; amended in 1972 to require testing for short-term and long-term
toxic effects prior to registration
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) (1938) - ....ANSWER ...-requires
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce residue limits by monitoring and
seizing foods whose residues are in excess of standards.
Clean Air Act (CAA) (1970) - ....ANSWER ...-the basic Federal law for controlling
toxic air pollution; requires EPA to keep an up-to-date list of industrial pollutants that
are hazardous to human health, and set an emission standard for each "with an ample
margin of safety;" requires EPA to review public health standards for six major air
pollutants every 5 years; can be based only upon a consideration of public health
Clean Water Act (CWA) (1972) - ....ANSWER ...-set maximum permissible
amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways; aims to make
surface waters swimmable and fishable
Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) - ....ANSWER ...-enacted to protect public water
supplies from contamination by mandating water testing, denying Federal funds to
projects that threaten critical water supplies, and requiring States to submit plans to
protect public wells from contamination; has a "Right to Know" provision in cases
where contaminants exceed Maximum Concentration Levels (MCLs)
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 3
