How does the DAO address environmental performance standards during operation?

• A. By cataloging best practices for environmental protection.
• B. By specifying compliance criteria for emissions, discharges, noise, and other indicators, and monitoring them.
• C. By limiting monitoring to annual reports only.
• D. By allowing unrestricted emissions with fines later.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the DAO requires concrete, measurable requirements for how a facility must perform environmentally during operation, and it mandates ongoing verification. It does this by specifying compliance criteria for emissions, discharges, noise, and other indicators, and by requiring continuous monitoring of these factors. This creates enforceable standards that operators must meet and allows the authority to track performance over time and take corrective actions as needed. It’s not just a list of best practices, nor is it acceptable to rely only on annual reports or to permit unrestricted emissions with penalties later. The emphasis on defined limits plus regular monitoring ensures protection is applied actively throughout operation.