CALIFORNIA AIR QUALITY SPECIALIST
CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION 350
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
SECTION 1: FEDERAL & STATE CLEAN AIR ACTS (Questions 160)
1. Which federal law governs air quality standards in the United States?
A) National Environmental Policy Act
B) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
C) Clean Air Act
D) Safe Drinking Water Act
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Clean Air Act provides the legal framework for regulating air
pollutants to protect public health and the environment.
2. Which agency is primarily responsible for implementing and enforcing the
Clean Air Act?
A) Department of Energy
B) California Air Resources Board
,C) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
D) Department of Transportation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The EPA is the primary federal agency tasked with implementing
and enforcing the Clean Air Act.
3. Which California Senate Bill formally established the state's goal to achieve
carbon neutrality no later than 2045?
A) SB 375
B) SB 100
C) SB 1020
D) AB 32
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SB 1020 mandates state agencies to reach carbon neutrality by
2045, accelerating prior goals set under AB 32.
4. What does the acronym NAAQS stand for?
A) National Association for Air Quality Standards
B) National Ambient Air Quality Standards
C) National Air Assessment and Quality System
,D) National Advisory for Air Quality Science
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NAAQS are EPAestablished limits on air pollutants considered
harmful to public health and the environment.
5. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are established by
which federal agency?
A) CARB
B) EPA
C) OSHA
D) NOAA
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets NAAQS for
criteria pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
6. Which California agency oversees statelevel air quality standards and
policies?
A) CALTRANS
B) California Air Resources Board (CARB)
C) California Department of Public Health
, D) CalRecycle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CARB is California's lead agency for air pollution control,
responsible for maintaining and enforcing the state's air quality standards.
7. The California law AB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act) mandated
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to what level by 2020?
A) 2000 levels
B) 1990 levels
C) 2005 levels
D) 50% below 1990 levels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AB 32 established the 1990level GHG reduction target by 2020.
8. What is the primary purpose of air quality regulation?
A) Increase emissions
B) Protect public health and the environment
C) Reduce oxygen levels
D) Increase fuel consumption
CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION 350
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
SECTION 1: FEDERAL & STATE CLEAN AIR ACTS (Questions 160)
1. Which federal law governs air quality standards in the United States?
A) National Environmental Policy Act
B) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
C) Clean Air Act
D) Safe Drinking Water Act
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Clean Air Act provides the legal framework for regulating air
pollutants to protect public health and the environment.
2. Which agency is primarily responsible for implementing and enforcing the
Clean Air Act?
A) Department of Energy
B) California Air Resources Board
,C) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
D) Department of Transportation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The EPA is the primary federal agency tasked with implementing
and enforcing the Clean Air Act.
3. Which California Senate Bill formally established the state's goal to achieve
carbon neutrality no later than 2045?
A) SB 375
B) SB 100
C) SB 1020
D) AB 32
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SB 1020 mandates state agencies to reach carbon neutrality by
2045, accelerating prior goals set under AB 32.
4. What does the acronym NAAQS stand for?
A) National Association for Air Quality Standards
B) National Ambient Air Quality Standards
C) National Air Assessment and Quality System
,D) National Advisory for Air Quality Science
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NAAQS are EPAestablished limits on air pollutants considered
harmful to public health and the environment.
5. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are established by
which federal agency?
A) CARB
B) EPA
C) OSHA
D) NOAA
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets NAAQS for
criteria pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
6. Which California agency oversees statelevel air quality standards and
policies?
A) CALTRANS
B) California Air Resources Board (CARB)
C) California Department of Public Health
, D) CalRecycle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CARB is California's lead agency for air pollution control,
responsible for maintaining and enforcing the state's air quality standards.
7. The California law AB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act) mandated
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to what level by 2020?
A) 2000 levels
B) 1990 levels
C) 2005 levels
D) 50% below 1990 levels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AB 32 established the 1990level GHG reduction target by 2020.
8. What is the primary purpose of air quality regulation?
A) Increase emissions
B) Protect public health and the environment
C) Reduce oxygen levels
D) Increase fuel consumption
