CEM CEM Environmental Auditing & Site Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)?
- To remediate contaminated soil on-site
- To identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs) through records review and site inspection (Correct answer)
- To collect soil and groundwater samples for laboratory analysis
- To calculate cleanup costs for a contaminated property
Correct answer: To identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs) through records review and site inspection
A Phase I ESA identifies Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) through historical records review, regulatory database searches, and a non-invasive site inspection without sampling.
Question 2: Under ASTM E1527-21, which of the following is NOT a standard component of a Phase I ESA?
- Interviews with owners and occupants
- Review of historical aerial photographs
- Collection of soil samples for chemical analysis (Correct answer)
- Review of federal and state environmental databases
Correct answer: Collection of soil samples for chemical analysis
ASTM E1527-21 defines Phase I ESAs as non-invasive assessments; soil sampling is a Phase II activity triggered when RECs are identified.
Question 3: An environmental audit that verifies whether a facility's operations comply with applicable laws and regulations is called a:
- Management systems audit
- Compliance audit (Correct answer)
- Liability audit
- Functional audit
Correct answer: Compliance audit
A compliance audit specifically evaluates whether a facility's practices, records, and operations conform to applicable environmental laws, permits, and regulations.
Question 4: Which document serves as the primary guide for conducting environmental management system (EMS) audits?
- ISO 14001
- ISO 19011 (Correct answer)
- ASTM E2107
- 40 CFR Part 63
Correct answer: ISO 19011
ISO 19011 provides guidelines for auditing management systems, including environmental management systems, covering audit principles, managing audit programs, and auditor competence.
Question 5: During a site assessment, a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) is best described as:
- Any chemical stored on-site regardless of quantity
- The presence or likely presence of hazardous substances under conditions that indicate an existing or past release (Correct answer)
- A permit violation documented by a regulatory agency
- An area where stormwater runoff collects on the property
Correct answer: The presence or likely presence of hazardous substances under conditions that indicate an existing or past release
A REC indicates the presence or likely presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products due to a release, threatened release, or material threat of a release to the environment.
Question 6: Which phase of an environmental site assessment involves soil borings, groundwater monitoring wells, and laboratory analysis?
- Phase I ESA
- Phase II ESA (Correct answer)
- Phase III ESA
- Remedial Investigation
Correct answer: Phase II ESA
Phase II ESAs involve intrusive investigation techniques such as soil borings and groundwater sampling to confirm or characterize contamination identified during Phase I.
CEM CEM Environmental Auditing & Site Assessment 1
What is the primary purpose of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)?