Clean Water Act - Exception or Variances

The video tutorial explains how exceptions or variances from the Clean Water Act's requirements can be requested. The EPA grants two primary variances: economic justification and process justification. Economic justification involves adjusting standards based on a firm's financial ability to implement the best available technology for reducing pollution. Process justification, or fundamentally different factor variance, considers unique operational or cost factors not accounted for in the original guidelines. Both variances aim to ensure pollution reduction while considering economic and operational constraints.

What is the primary consideration for granting an economic justification variance under the Clean Water Act?

• The firm's history of compliance

• The firm's ability to pay fines

• The firm's economic ability to implement the best available technology

• The firm's location and size

How does the EPA adjust standards for firms under economic justification?

• By allowing them to discharge more pollutants

• By reducing the number of inspections

• By exempting them from all regulations

• By permitting the use of the best practical technology within their economic ability

What is a key factor in granting a fundamentally different factor variance?

• The firm's ability to pay

• The firm's size

• The firm's operational and cost differences

• The firm's location

Which of the following is NOT considered when granting a fundamentally different factor variance?

• Operational aspects

• The firm's environmental impact

• The firm's ability to pay

• Cost considerations

What does the fundamentally different factor variance focus on?

• The firm's compliance history

• The firm's location

• The firm's ability to pay fines

• Cost and operational aspects