Environmental Issues

Question 1

National Environmental Policy Act (1969)

Answer 1

This act created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Council for Environmental Quality, giving them a mandate to establish environmental standards for land use planning. the act also required environmental impact surveys on large development projects

the environmental Protection Agency establishes protective usage restrictions and guidelines for dealing with hazardous materials and other environmental concerns

Question 2

Clean Air Amendment (1970)

Answer 2

this act authorized the EPA to establish air quality standards for industrial land uses as well as for automobile and airplane emissions

Question 3

Water Quality Improvement Act (1970), The Water Pollution Control Act Amendment (1972), The Clean Water Act Amendment (1977)

Answer 3

these acts addressed standards to control water pollution and industrial wastes from the standpoints of future prevention as well as remediation of existing pollution

Question 4

Resource Recovery Act (1970), The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund) (1980), The Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (1986)

Answer 4

these acts addressed disposal of solid and toxic wastes and measures for managing waste. in addition, the Superfund act provided money for hazardous waste disposal and the authority to charge cleanup costs to responsible parties

Question 5

Lead-based paint ban (1978), Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazardous Reduction Act (1992, 1996)

Answer 5

These regulations banned lead in the manufacture of paint and established disclosure requirements and guidelines for testing and remediation

Question 6

Responsibilities and Liabilities

Answer 6

licensees are expected to be aware of environmental issues and to know where to look for professional help. they are not expected to have expert knowledge of environmental law nor of physical conditions in a property. rather, they must treat potential environmental hazards in the same way that they treat other material facts about a property: disclosure

Question 7

Lead Paint

Answer 7

heavy metal once widely used in paints and plumbing materials. it has been banned in paint since 1978 and in new pluming since 1988

it continues to be a health threat, particularly to children, as it occurs in airborne paint particles, paint chips, and soil and groundwater polluted.by various external sources of emission. inspection should be performed by licensed lead inspectors

Question 8

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

Answer 8

Federal Law requires sellers of houses built before 1978 to make.a lead-based paint disclosure before accepting an offer to purchase. The licensee must tell the seller about this requirement, give the seller proper disclosure form, and make sure that the buyer receives it

Question 9

Radon

Answer 9

is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the soil throughout the United States

It enters buildings through foundation and floor cracks, wall seams, sump pits, and windows, among other ways. At accumulation above certain levels, it is suspected of contributing to cancer. excessive radon can be removed by special ventilation systems. professional and home inspections are available

Radon is a serious threat to human health. It is the highest cause of lung cancer in the world for non-smokers

Question 10

Basics of Mitigating Radon

Answer 10

Radon mitigation is any process used to reduce radon gas concentration in the breathing zones of occupied buildings, or radon from water supplies. Radon is an important contributor to environmental radioactivity

Question 11

Asbestos

Answer 11

A powdery mineral once commonly used as a fireproof insulating material around pipes, in floor tiles and linoleum, in siding and roofing, in wallboard, joint compound, and many other applications

When airborne, it is a health hazard. Its use today is highly restricted, and removal can be expensive and dangerous. inspection by certification inspector is the best way to determine whether a building needs treatment

Question 12

Mold

Answer 12

Is a fungus that grows in the presence of moisture and oxygen on virtually any kind of organic surface

it often destroys the material it grows on and emits toxic irritants into the air. Tightly sealed structures with inadequate ventilation are most susceptible. Roof leaks, improper venting of appliances, runoff from gutters and downspouts, and floor damage are common contributors. In recent years, mold-and-mildew-related lawsuits and claims have become sustainable

Question 13

Costly and Hazardous

Answer 13

For the last couple decades, it was common to have a few residential property owners appeal their property value because the house next door is a “drug” or “crack” house. now there seems to be another more hidden problem, meth labs

Question 14

IAAO (International Association of Assessing Officers) Standard

Answer 14

The IAAO Standard on the Valuation of Properties Affected by Environmental Contamination was updated in July 2001. Although methemphtemine is not mentioned specifically, it would fit under the following sections

Question 15

Buyer Beware

Answer 15

the old saying of “caveat emptor”, buyer beware is very appropriate in this discussion. In most states, realtors, property owners or lending institutions are not required to disclose that a property was previously used as a myth lab. Some states do have legislation pending on this. Potential purchasers of property should now include that as a question before purchasing and would be wise to check with local law enforcement

Question 16

Stigma

Answer 16

“stigma is an intangible factor, which may be measurable in terms of cost to cure, but may affect market value, at least as determined through the sales comparison approach. It may be seen as a blight or perceived blemish or stain on property. where contamination problems are not obvious, the stigma is likely to be overstated, and value effects may be minimal.” (IAAO 2001)