DEQ Soil and Land Contamination

Question 1

What is a 'brownfield' site in the context of DEQ land contamination programs?

Accepted Answer

A real property whose expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances or pollutants

Answer

Any agricultural land that has been converted to industrial use

Answer

Land designated as a National Priority List Superfund site

Answer

Any property that has failed a Phase I environmental site assessment

Question 2

What is a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) designed to identify?

Accepted Answer

Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) — evidence of historical or current releases of hazardous substances through records review, interviews, and site reconnaissance

Answer

The precise concentration of contaminants in soil and groundwater through laboratory sampling

Answer

The cost of cleaning up a contaminated property to residential standards

Answer

Whether a property qualifies for the National Priorities List under CERCLA

Question 3

What contaminant class is most commonly associated with underground storage tank (UST) leaks that the DEQ regulates?

Accepted Answer

Petroleum hydrocarbons, including gasoline and diesel fuel

Answer

Heavy metals from industrial plating operations

Answer

Chlorinated solvents from dry cleaning operations

Answer

Pesticides from agricultural operations

Question 4

What is 'natural attenuation' as a remediation strategy for contaminated soil and groundwater?

Accepted Answer

Reliance on natural physical, chemical, and biological processes to reduce contaminant concentrations without active intervention

Answer

Physical excavation and removal of contaminated soil for off-site disposal

Answer

Chemical injection to neutralize contaminants in the subsurface

Answer

Pumping and treating groundwater above ground before reinjecting it

Question 5

What is the purpose of a 'deed restriction' or 'institutional control' on a contaminated property?

Accepted Answer

To limit land use or activities at a site to protect human health when residual contamination remains after cleanup

Answer

To permanently prevent any human activity on contaminated land

Answer

To assign cleanup liability to future property purchasers

Answer

To qualify a site for CERCLA removal funding from the federal government

Question 6

What triggers a 'voluntary cleanup program' (VCP) application to the DEQ?

Accepted Answer

A property owner or prospective purchaser choosing to voluntarily assess and remediate contamination in exchange for liability protection

Answer

A regulatory order from the DEQ requiring a property owner to begin cleanup immediately

Answer

A citizen petition requesting state intervention at a contaminated site

Answer

A CERCLA enforcement order from the EPA requiring state participation in cleanup