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

A brownfield is a property where real or perceived contamination complicates redevelopment, and DEQ brownfield programs provide liability protections and cleanup assistance to encourage productive reuse.

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

A Phase I ESA is a non-invasive investigation that identifies recognized environmental conditions through document review and site observation without collecting samples.

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

Leaking USTs at gas stations and commercial facilities are a major source of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in soil and groundwater, regulated under both RCRA and state UST programs.

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

Monitored natural attenuation relies on naturally occurring processes such as biodegradation, dilution, and sorption to reduce contaminant concentrations over time, while monitoring confirms the site is progressing toward cleanup goals.

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

Institutional controls like deed restrictions limit land use (e.g., prohibiting residential use or groundwater extraction) to protect human health when cleanup leaves residual contamination in place.

DEQ - Department of Environmental Quality Practice Test

DEQ - Department of Environmental Quality Practice Test

DEQ Soil and Land Contamination