Certified Forester Practice Exam

What is the key feature of the Clean Water Act?

1. Maintain air quality standards

2. Protect endangered species

3. Control releases of air pollutants

4. Establish goals for water quality

The correct answer is: Establish goals for water quality

The key feature of the Clean Water Act is to establish goals for water quality. This legislation aims to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters by setting forth a framework for regulating the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. One of its primary objectives is to ensure that water quality meets specific standards, which can involve achieving levels that are safe for swimming, fishing, and other recreational uses as well as protecting aquatic life. While maintaining air quality standards, protecting endangered species, and controlling air pollutants are significant environmental concerns, they fall under different regulatory frameworks. For example, air quality is primarily managed under the Clean Air Act, and species protection is addressed through the Endangered Species Act. The Clean Water Act focuses specifically on the quality of water bodies, making its emphasis on establishing water quality goals a central aspect of its mission.