Maryland Environmental
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)
Environmental questions on the Maryland exam cover both federal environmental laws and Maryland-specific disclosure requirements. Federal topics include lead-based paint (pre-1978 housing), asbestos, radon, underground storage tanks, and CERCLA liability. Maryland has additional state-level environmental disclosure requirements enforced by the Maryland Real Estate Commission — including Maryland-specific environmental conditions that affect property use and disclosure. Environmental questions trip up candidates who studied only federal law without reviewing the MD-specific overlay.
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Maryland Environmental — Practice Questions & Answers
112 questions on Environmental from the Maryland real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 112.
Q1. What is the Maryland Bay Restoration Fund fee associated with?
Explanation
The Bay Restoration Fund (flush tax) is a fee on septic and sewer users to fund upgrades that reduce nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Q2. Radon is a concern in Maryland real estate primarily because:
Explanation
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps from the ground and can accumulate in enclosed spaces, posing a lung cancer risk.
Q3. Under Maryland law, sellers of pre-1978 homes must provide buyers with:
Explanation
Federal law (and Maryland law) requires sellers of pre-1978 housing to provide the EPA lead paint pamphlet and disclose known lead-based paint hazards.
Q4. Which federal law governs the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and may hold current property owners liable for contamination even if they did not cause it?
Explanation
CERCLA (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act), known as Superfund, can impose cleanup liability on current property owners regardless of fault.
Q5. Underground storage tanks (USTs) are an environmental concern in real estate primarily because:
Explanation
USTs, particularly old steel tanks, can corrode and leak petroleum or hazardous chemicals, contaminating soil and groundwater and creating significant liability.
Q6. Asbestos is most hazardous when it is:
Explanation
Asbestos becomes hazardous when it is friable — disturbed or damaged so that fibers are released into the air and can be inhaled.
Q7. A property located within a FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) requires the buyer to:
Explanation
Federal law requires flood insurance on properties in SFHAs when the mortgage is federally backed (FHA, VA, conventional with government-sponsored backing).
Q8. The presence of mold in a home is primarily a concern because:
Explanation
Mold can cause significant health problems, particularly respiratory issues; its presence is a material defect that must be disclosed in Maryland.
Q9. What does the term 'environmental due diligence' typically involve in a commercial real estate transaction?
Explanation
Environmental due diligence for commercial property typically includes a Phase I ESA (records review and site visit) and, if warranted, a Phase II ESA (soil/water sampling).
Q10. Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are required in Maryland residential properties:
Explanation
Maryland law requires carbon monoxide alarms on every level of a dwelling unit that contains a fuel-burning appliance or has an attached garage.
Q11. The Maryland Critical Area Act establishes a buffer around the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries of:
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