Soil and Land Contamination Flashcards
6 cards from real Environmental Compliance Inspector practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Soil and Land Contamination flashcards as text
Under RCRA, what triggers the classification of a site as a solid waste management unit (SWMU)?
Answer: Any area where solid or hazardous waste has been placed or where hazardous constituents have migrated
A SWMU is any unit at a facility where solid or hazardous waste has been placed or where hazardous constituents may have migrated to soil or groundwater.
Which federal program specifically addresses the cleanup of contaminated brownfield sites through grants and technical assistance?
Answer: EPA Brownfields Program
The EPA Brownfields Program provides grants and technical assistance to communities for assessing and cleaning up lightly contaminated properties known as brownfields.
What is the primary purpose of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) under ASTM E1527?
Answer: To identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs) through records review and site inspection without sampling
A Phase I ESA identifies recognized environmental conditions (RECs) through historical records, regulatory database review, and visual site inspection — no sampling is conducted.
Underground storage tanks (USTs) containing petroleum products are regulated primarily under which statute?
Answer: RCRA Subtitle I
RCRA Subtitle I establishes the federal UST program, setting requirements for leak detection, spill/overfill prevention, and corrective action for petroleum and hazardous substance USTs.
What soil sampling method is most appropriate when a compliance inspector needs a representative average concentration across a large, relatively uniform area?
Answer: Composite sampling across a grid pattern
Composite sampling across a grid pattern averages concentrations over the area, providing a cost-effective representative estimate for large uniform areas.
Which document establishes the risk-based corrective action (RBCA) framework most widely used by states for petroleum-contaminated soil cleanup?
Answer: ASTM E1739 Standard Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action
ASTM E1739 established the RBCA framework, which uses site-specific risk calculations to set cleanup goals for petroleum-contaminated sites rather than applying uniform standards.