CES Environmental Site Assessment & Investigation Flashcards
6 cards from real CES practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CES Environmental Site Assessment & Investigation flashcards as text
What analytical method is commonly used to quantify petroleum contamination in soil samples?
Answer: Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) analysis
TPH analysis measures the total concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon compounds in soil and is the standard method for characterizing petroleum-contaminated sites.
What qualifications must a 'Environmental Professional' (EP) meet to conduct a Phase I ESA under ASTM E1527-21?
Answer: Licensed professional engineer or geologist, or equivalent education and experience in environmental site assessment
ASTM E1527-21 defines the EP as someone who holds a state professional license (PE/PG) or has relevant education and three years of experience in environmental site assessment.
Which federal regulatory database is routinely reviewed during a Phase I ESA records search?
Answer: EPA ECHO and RCRIS databases for regulated facilities and RCRA sites
EPA regulatory databases such as ECHO and RCRIS are reviewed to identify nearby regulated facilities, RCRA generators, and sites with known compliance issues.
What is 'non-aqueous phase liquid' (NAPL) and why is it critical to identify during site investigation?
Answer: A contaminant that exists as a separate liquid phase from water, serving as a persistent long-term contamination source
NAPLs (e.g., petroleum as LNAPL; chlorinated solvents as DNAPL) are immiscible with water and act as persistent source zones that continuously dissolve into groundwater, making them difficult and costly to remediate.
What key elements are included in a Site Health and Safety Plan (HASP) for field investigation activities?
Answer: Hazard assessment, PPE requirements, decontamination procedures, and emergency contact information
A HASP identifies site hazards, prescribes protective equipment, establishes decontamination protocols, and provides emergency response procedures to safeguard field investigation workers.
What is a 'data gap' in environmental site investigation, and why is it important to document?
Answer: Missing information needed to fully characterize contamination or complete a risk assessment, guiding future investigation
Data gaps are areas of insufficient information that prevent confident characterization of contamination or accurate risk assessment, and identifying them directs the scope of additional investigation.