Wastewater Laboratory Analyst Certification Exam Practice Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_2l642
1. Within the federal government, the following branch generates laws:
(a) Congress
(b) Office of the President
(c) Supreme Court
(d) Library of Congress: A
Explanation
Just a little reminder from your high school government class. The federal govern-
ment is divided into 3 branches: executive - the President; legislative - Congress (the
Senate and the House of Representatives); and judicial - the Supreme Court. The
legislative branch generates laws so the correct answer is Congress. The Library of
Congress is not correct, but those into speed reading may have just seen the word
"Congress" and selected this answer.
2. The law that governs wastewater analysis is:
(a) Safe Drinking Water Act
(b) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(c) Clean Water Act
(d) Federal Water Pollution Control Act: C
Explanation
The correct answer is the Clean Water Act. The Safe Drinking Water Act covers drink-
ing water, while the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act covers hazardous
waste disposal. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act is a precursor to the Clean
Water Act and has been superseded.
3. Within the federal agency that develops wastewater regulations, the Office
that is responsible for the wastewater programs is:
(a) Office of Enforcement
(b) Office of Research and Development
(c) Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(d) Office of Water: D
Explanation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develops wastewater regulations and
within the EPA the Office of Water is responsible for wastewater programs under the
Clean Water Act. The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response regulates
hazardous waste disposal, not wastewater. The Office of Research and Develop-
1/5
, Wastewater Laboratory Analyst Certification Exam Practice Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_2l642
ment may at times be involved in the development of wastewater methods, but it
does not administer the wastewater programs.
4. Compliance monitoring analysis of wastewater:
(a) can be performed by any method
(b) can be performed by any method in Standard Methods
(c) can be performed by any method in the 18th Edition of Standard Methods
(d) can be performed by any method listed in 40 CFR 136: D
Explanation
The Clean Water Act specifically authorizes the EPA Administrator to identify testing
procedures that are appropriate for monitoring wastewater. These identified methods
are listed in 40 CFR 136.
5. Allowed methods of analysis of heptachlor in wastewater include:
(a) EPA 8081
(b) EPA 608
(c) SM 6630 B & C
(d) ASTM D3086-90: B,C,D
Explanation
Heptachlor, a pesticide, is a target analyte of EPA method 608 (organochlorine pes-
ticides by GC-ECD), SM 6630 B&C (Standard Methods organochlorine pesticides
by liquid-liquid extraction GC method I and liquid-liquid extraction GC method II),
and ASTM D3086-90. Heptachlor is a target analyte for EPA method 8081, but
this method is part of SW-846. Methods in SW-846 are not identified as approved
methods for analysis of wastewater in 40 CFR 136.
6. The legal responsibility for insuring that the approved methods of analysis
have been used to generate data lies with:
(a) the laboratory
(b) the EPA
(c) the person who signs the DMR
(d) the state agency issuing the permit: C
Explanation
The ultimate responsibility for determining that the correct methods have been used
and referenced lies with the person who signs the Discharge Monitoring Report
(DMR). The signature is attestation that the signer takes all responsibility.
2/5
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_2l642
1. Within the federal government, the following branch generates laws:
(a) Congress
(b) Office of the President
(c) Supreme Court
(d) Library of Congress: A
Explanation
Just a little reminder from your high school government class. The federal govern-
ment is divided into 3 branches: executive - the President; legislative - Congress (the
Senate and the House of Representatives); and judicial - the Supreme Court. The
legislative branch generates laws so the correct answer is Congress. The Library of
Congress is not correct, but those into speed reading may have just seen the word
"Congress" and selected this answer.
2. The law that governs wastewater analysis is:
(a) Safe Drinking Water Act
(b) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(c) Clean Water Act
(d) Federal Water Pollution Control Act: C
Explanation
The correct answer is the Clean Water Act. The Safe Drinking Water Act covers drink-
ing water, while the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act covers hazardous
waste disposal. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act is a precursor to the Clean
Water Act and has been superseded.
3. Within the federal agency that develops wastewater regulations, the Office
that is responsible for the wastewater programs is:
(a) Office of Enforcement
(b) Office of Research and Development
(c) Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(d) Office of Water: D
Explanation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develops wastewater regulations and
within the EPA the Office of Water is responsible for wastewater programs under the
Clean Water Act. The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response regulates
hazardous waste disposal, not wastewater. The Office of Research and Develop-
1/5
, Wastewater Laboratory Analyst Certification Exam Practice Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_2l642
ment may at times be involved in the development of wastewater methods, but it
does not administer the wastewater programs.
4. Compliance monitoring analysis of wastewater:
(a) can be performed by any method
(b) can be performed by any method in Standard Methods
(c) can be performed by any method in the 18th Edition of Standard Methods
(d) can be performed by any method listed in 40 CFR 136: D
Explanation
The Clean Water Act specifically authorizes the EPA Administrator to identify testing
procedures that are appropriate for monitoring wastewater. These identified methods
are listed in 40 CFR 136.
5. Allowed methods of analysis of heptachlor in wastewater include:
(a) EPA 8081
(b) EPA 608
(c) SM 6630 B & C
(d) ASTM D3086-90: B,C,D
Explanation
Heptachlor, a pesticide, is a target analyte of EPA method 608 (organochlorine pes-
ticides by GC-ECD), SM 6630 B&C (Standard Methods organochlorine pesticides
by liquid-liquid extraction GC method I and liquid-liquid extraction GC method II),
and ASTM D3086-90. Heptachlor is a target analyte for EPA method 8081, but
this method is part of SW-846. Methods in SW-846 are not identified as approved
methods for analysis of wastewater in 40 CFR 136.
6. The legal responsibility for insuring that the approved methods of analysis
have been used to generate data lies with:
(a) the laboratory
(b) the EPA
(c) the person who signs the DMR
(d) the state agency issuing the permit: C
Explanation
The ultimate responsibility for determining that the correct methods have been used
and referenced lies with the person who signs the Discharge Monitoring Report
(DMR). The signature is attestation that the signer takes all responsibility.
2/5
