ASBOG ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology Environmental Site Assessment and Remediation Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) as a remediation strategy relies on:

Accepted Answer

Natural biological, chemical, and physical processes to reduce contaminant concentrations over time

Answer

Physically excavating and disposing of contaminated soil off-site

Answer

Adding chemical oxidants to destroy contaminants in-situ

Answer

Installing a permeable reactive barrier to intercept the plume

Question 2

A permeable reactive barrier (PRB) treats contaminated groundwater by:

Accepted Answer

Allowing the plume to flow passively through reactive media (commonly zero-valent iron) that degrades contaminants

Answer

Physically blocking and containing the plume within a steel sheet pile wall

Answer

Pumping groundwater from the plume to an above-ground treatment system

Answer

Injecting steam to volatilize and extract contaminants

Question 3

Electrokinetic remediation is particularly suited for treating contaminated soils that are:

Accepted Answer

Fine-grained, low-permeability soils where hydraulic methods are ineffective

Answer

Coarse-grained sands with high hydraulic conductivity

Answer

Fractured bedrock with open fractures

Answer

Shallow vadose zone soils with volatile contaminants

Question 4

The Risk-Based Corrective Action (RBCA) framework determines site cleanup goals based on:

Accepted Answer

Site-specific risk to identified human health and ecological receptors

Answer

Technology-based limits achievable by best available treatment

Answer

The most stringent federal standard regardless of site-specific conditions

Answer

Restoration to pre-industrial background concentrations

Question 5

Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) is most effective for removing which type of contaminants?

Accepted Answer

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the unsaturated vadose zone

Answer

Non-volatile heavy metals in fine-grained soils

Answer

Radioactive isotopes bound to soil particles

Answer

Dense non-volatile petroleum residues below the water table

Question 6

Bioremediation treats organic contaminants by:

Accepted Answer

Using microorganisms to metabolically degrade contaminants into less harmful end products

Answer

Using high-temperature thermal processes to destroy contaminants

Answer

Physically separating contaminants from soil using water washing

Answer

Chemically oxidizing contaminants using permanganate or persulfate