ASBOG ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology Environmental Site Assessment and Remediation Questions and Answers 1

Question 1

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) per ASTM E1527-21 is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A non-intrusive records review and site inspection to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs)

Answer

A Phase I ESA involves reviewing historical records, aerial photographs, regulatory databases, and conducting a site walk to identify RECs without any intrusive sampling.

Question 2

What does 'REC' stand for in ASTM Phase I Environmental Site Assessment terminology?

Accepted Answer

Recognized Environmental Condition

Answer

A Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) is the presence or likely presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products due to any release to the environment on a property.

Question 3

Under CERCLA (Superfund), which parties can be held liable for hazardous substance cleanup costs?

Accepted Answer

All Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs), including past owners, operators, generators, and transporters

Answer

CERCLA imposes strict, joint and several liability on all PRPs, meaning any single PRP can be held responsible for the entire cleanup cost regardless of their proportional contribution.

Question 4

The primary purpose of a soil vapor survey in environmental site characterization is to:

Accepted Answer

Detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) migrating from contaminated subsurface zones

Answer

Soil vapor surveys detect VOCs volatilizing from contaminated soil or groundwater, enabling delineation of contamination zones without extensive and costly soil coring.

Question 5

The 'pump-and-treat' groundwater remediation method involves:

Accepted Answer

Extracting contaminated groundwater, treating it at the surface, and discharging or reinjecting the treated water

Answer

Pump-and-treat systems use extraction wells to pull contaminated groundwater to the surface where it is treated by technologies such as air stripping or activated carbon before discharge or reinjection.

ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology Practice Test

ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology Practice Test

ASBOG ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology Environmental Site Assessment and Remediation Questions and Answers 1