Real Estate Test Unit 21

Question 1

asbestos

Answer 1

a mineral once used in insulation and other materials that can cause respiratory diseases

Question 2

brownfields

Answer 2

defunct, derelict, or abandoned commercial or industrial sites; many have toxic wastes

Question 3

capping

Answer 3

the process of laying 2-4 ft of soil over the top of a landfill site and then planting grass on it to enhance the aesthetic value and prevent erosion

Question 4

carbon monoxide (CO)

Answer 4

a colorless, odorless gas that occurs as a by-product of fuel combustion that may result in death in poorly ventilated areas

Question 5

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Answer 5

nontoxic, nonflammable chemicals containing atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, such as air conditioners and refrigerators. CFCs are safe in application but cause ozone depletion

Question 6

comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act (CERCLA)

Answer 6

a federal law administered by the environmental protection agency that establishes a process for identifying parties responsible for creating hazardous waste sites, forcing liable parties to clean up toxic sites, bringing legal action against responsible parties, and funding the abatement of toxic sites

Question 7

encapsulation

Answer 7

a method of controlling environmental contamination by sealing off a dangerous substance, such as asbestos

Question 8

environmental impact statement (EIS)

Answer 8

a statement that details the impact a project will have on the environment

Question 9

environmental site assessment (ESA)

Answer 9

an evaluation of property to show that due care was exercised in the determination of environmental impairments

Question 10

formaldehyde

Answer 10

an air pollutant that is a colorless chemical used to manufacture building materials and many household products, such as particleboard, hardwood plywood paneling, and urea-formaldehyde foam insulation

Question 11

groundwater

Answer 11

water that exists under the earth’s surface within the tiny spaces or crevices in geological formations

Question 12

hydraulic fracturing (fracking)

Answer 12

the process used to extract natural gas from the deep layers of rock in which it is embedded

Question 13

lead

Answer 13

used as a pigment and drying agent in alkyd oil-based paint in about 75% of housing built before 1978. an elevated level of lead in the body can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red blood cells. children younger than 6 are most vulnerable

Question 14

lead-based paint hazard reduction act (LBPHRA)

Answer 14

federal legislation requiring disclosure of the presence of any known lead-based paint hazards to potential buyers or renters. the law does not require that anyone test for the presence of lead-based paint

Question 15

judicial precedent

Answer 15

in law, the requirements established by prior court decisions within the jurisdiction of the dispute

Question 16

mold

Answer 16

a form of fungus that can be found almost anywhere and can grow on almost any organic substance, so long as moisture and oxygen are present. mold growth can gradually destroy what it is growing on, as well as cause serious health problems

Question 17

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Answer 17

used as an insulating material in dielectric oil. it can linger in the environment for long periods of time and can cause health problems

Question 18

radon

Answer 18

a naturally occurring gas that is suspected of causing lung cancer

Question 19

safe drinking water act

Answer 19

an act to protect public health by authorizing the EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water

Question 20

small business liability relief and brownfields revitalization act

Answer 20

law that provides funds to assess and clean up brownfields, clarifies liability protections, and provides tax incentives toward enhancing state and tribal response programs (also known as brownfields law)

Question 21

superfund amendments and reauthorization act (SARA)

Answer 21

an amendatory statute that contains stronger cleanup standards for contaminated sites, increased funding for superfund, and clarifications of lender liability and innocent landowner immunity

Question 22

superfund

Answer 22

popular name of the hazardous-waste cleanup fund established by CERCLA

Question 23

underground storage tanks (USTs)

Answer 23

commonly found on sites where petroleum products are used or where gas stations and auto repair shops are located, and subject to federal and state regulations. in residential areas, tanks are used to store heating oil. over time, neglected tanks may leak hazardous substances into the environment

Question 24

urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI)

Answer 24

insulating foam that can release harmful formaldehyde gases. formaldehyde causes some individuals to suffer respiratory problems, as well as eye and skin irritations

Question 25

water table

Answer 25

the natural level at which the ground is saturated. the water table may be several hundred feet underground or near the surface