ICC Environmental Standards and Permits 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the EPA's RRP Rule require for contractors renovating pre-1978 homes in Illinois?
- Using only lead-free paint
- Certification and lead-safe work practices to minimize lead dust (Correct answer)
- Demolishing all lead-painted surfaces
- Hiring union workers only
Correct answer: Certification and lead-safe work practices to minimize lead dust
The EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule requires certified contractors to use lead-safe work practices to protect families from lead dust.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of erosion and sediment controls on Illinois construction sites?
- To reduce noise pollution
- To prevent sediment-laden stormwater from polluting nearby waterways (Correct answer)
- To comply with OSHA trenching regulations
- To reduce dust in dry weather
Correct answer: To prevent sediment-laden stormwater from polluting nearby waterways
Erosion controls such as silt fences and inlet protection prevent disturbed soil from washing into streams and storm drains.
Question 3: Which of the following is a common Best Management Practice (BMP) for stormwater control on Illinois job sites?
- Storing materials on the sidewalk
- Installing silt fencing around disturbed areas (Correct answer)
- Leaving graded soil exposed over winter
- Directing runoff into the nearest creek
Correct answer: Installing silt fencing around disturbed areas
Silt fencing is one of the most widely used BMPs to filter runoff and trap sediment before it leaves the construction site.
Question 4: In Illinois, who is responsible for ensuring that underground storage tanks (USTs) discovered during excavation are properly reported?
- Only the property owner
- The contractor who discovers them must report to Illinois EPA (Correct answer)
- The local fire chief only
- No reporting is needed if the tank is empty
Correct answer: The contractor who discovers them must report to Illinois EPA
Contractors who discover USTs during excavation are required to report them to Illinois EPA regardless of whether the tank appears empty.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment before construction in Illinois?
- To design the drainage system
- To identify recognized environmental conditions and past contamination on the site (Correct answer)
- To obtain a building permit
- To assess the structural load capacity of the soil
Correct answer: To identify recognized environmental conditions and past contamination on the site
A Phase I ESA reviews site history, records, and visual observations to identify potential contamination before construction begins.
Question 6: Illinois contractors performing asbestos abatement must be licensed by which state agency?
- Illinois Commerce Commission
- Illinois EPA
- Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) (Correct answer)
- Illinois Secretary of State
Correct answer: Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
The Illinois Department of Public Health licenses and oversees all asbestos abatement contractors and workers in the state.
ICC Environmental Standards and Permits 2
What does the EPA's RRP Rule require for contractors renovating pre-1978 homes in Illinois?