Basic Environmental Hazards a real estate agent should be aware of in order to protect their client's interests

Question 1

the water table may be ___ or near the ___

Answer 1

several hundred feet underground
or near the surface

Question 2

if groundwater is not protected from ___, the earth’s natural filtering systems may be inadequate to ensure the availability of pure water

Answer 2

contamination

Question 3

The ___ authorizes the EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water

Answer 3

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Question 4

The EPA now requires that water suppliers report any health risk situation within ___ hours

Answer 4

24

Question 5

Runoff from waste disposal sites, leaking underground storage tanks, pesticides, and herbicides are some of the main sources of ___

Answer 5

water contamination

Question 6

Because water flows naturally, contamination can spread…

Answer 6

far from its source

Question 7

Many property disclosure forms require sellers to identify the property’s ___

Answer 7

water source

Question 8

Many property disclosure forms require sellers to identify the property’s water source, such as ___, ___, or some other source.

Answer 8

well water
municipal water supply

Question 9

Any water sources aside from ___ should be tested.

Answer 9

municipal water supply

Question 10

Sellers are generally required to identify the type of ___ because an incorrectly placed or poorly functioning one can contaminate the water source

Answer 10

septic system

Question 11

Real estate licensees should educate sellers about full disclosure concerning a property’s ___ and ___.

Answer 11

water supply and septic systems

Question 12

Real estate licensees should educate buyers about potential ___ sources both on and off a property

Answer 12

groundwater contamination

Question 13

Real estate licensees should recommend ___ the water supply when it is not part of a municipal source

Answer 13

testing

Question 14

Licensees should be alert to the presence of fill pipes, vent lines, stained soil, and fumes or odors. Any of which may indicate the presence of a(n) ___.

Answer 14

Underground storage tanks (UST)

Question 15

Licensees should be alert to the presence of ___, ___, ___, and ___ or ___. Any of which may indicate the presence of an underground storage tank (UST)

Answer 15

fill pipes, vent lines, stained soil, and fumes or odors

Question 16

state and federal laws impose strict requirements on landowners to detect and correct leaks in an effort to protect the ___

Answer 16

groundwater

Question 17

The federal UST program is regulated by the ___

Answer 17

EPA

Question 18

UST regulations regulated by the EPA apply to tanks that contain ___ or ____ and store at least ___% of their volume ___.

Answer 18

hazardous substances or liquid petroleum
10% of their volume underground

Question 19

UST owners are required to ___ and adhere to strict ___ and ___ requirements

Answer 19

register their tanks
technical and administrative

Question 20

UST tanks that hold less than ___ gallons are exempt from federal regulations

Answer 20

110

Question 21

Farm and residential tanks that hold ___ gallons or less of ___ used for noncommercial purposes are exempt from federal regulations

Answer 21

1,100
motor fuel

Question 22

Tanks that store ___ burned on premises are exempt from federal regulations

Answer 22

heating oil

Question 23

Tanks ___ or ___ the floor of underground areas such as basements or tunnels are exempt from federal regulations

Answer 23

on or above

Question 24

Septic tanks and systems for collecting ___ and ___ are exempt from federal regulations

Answer 24

stormwater and wastewater

Question 25

In IL, the ___ section of the IEPA governs the detection, identification, monitoring, mitigation, and removal of buried underground storage tanks (particularly those containing petroleum products).

Answer 25

Leaking Underground Storage Tank

Question 26

In IL, the ___ program from the IEPA is authorized to disburse money from a special fund to assist property owners in complying with mandatory remediation activities

Answer 26

Leaking Underground Storage Tank

Question 27

In IL, the Leaking Underground Storage Tank program is authorized to disburse money from a special fund to assist property owners in complying with mandatory ___.

Answer 27

remediation activities

Question 28

Landfills are lined with ___ or a(n) ___ to prevent leakage of waste material into the water supply

Answer 28

clay or special lining

Question 29

Landfills are lined with clay or a synthetic linter to prevent...

Answer 29

leakage of waste into the water supply

Question 30

a(n) ___ runs from the landfill's base through the cap to vent off accumulated natural gases created by the decomposing waste

Answer 30

ventilation pipe

Question 31

___ have been used as parks and golf courses

Answer 31

capped landfills

Question 32

rapid suburban growth has resulted in many housing developments and office campuses being built on ___

Answer 32

landfill sites

Question 33

most newer landfill sites are ___, but the locations of many older landfill sites are ___.

Answer 33

well documented unknown

Question 34

___ contain radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, toxic chemicals, and waste chemicals produced by medical, scientific, and industrial processes and are usually limited to extremely remote locations, well away from populated areas or farmland

Answer 34

special hazardous waste disposal sites

Question 35

hazardous and radioactive waste disposal sites are subject to strict state & federal regulation to prevent...

Answer 35

the escape of toxic substances