Massachusetts Environmental
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)
Environmental questions on the Massachusetts exam cover both federal environmental laws and Massachusetts-specific disclosure requirements. Federal topics include lead-based paint (pre-1978 housing), asbestos, radon, underground storage tanks, and CERCLA liability. Massachusetts has additional state-level environmental disclosure requirements enforced by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons — including Chapter 21E contamination liability. Environmental questions trip up candidates who studied only federal law without reviewing the MA-specific overlay.
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Massachusetts Environmental — Practice Questions & Answers
90 questions on Environmental from the Massachusetts real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 90.
Q1. Massachusetts requires the deleading of residential properties built before 1978 when:
Explanation
Under Massachusetts lead paint law (M.G.L. c. 111, §197), owners of pre-1978 properties where a child under age 6 lives must delead or bring lead paint to a lower-risk condition.
Q2. The federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act requires sellers of pre-1978 homes to provide buyers with:
Explanation
Federal law requires sellers (and landlords) of pre-1978 housing to provide an EPA-approved pamphlet about lead paint hazards, disclose any known lead-based paint, and give buyers a 10-day period to conduct an inspection.
Q3. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that enters homes primarily through:
Explanation
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by uranium decay in soil and rock. It typically enters buildings through cracks, gaps, and openings in foundations and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US.
Q4. CERCLA (Superfund) makes which party potentially liable for cleaning up hazardous waste on a property?
Explanation
CERCLA imposes broad and potentially joint and several liability on potentially responsible parties including current and past owners, operators, waste generators, and transporters, regardless of fault.
Q5. Asbestos-containing materials in buildings become hazardous primarily when they are:
Explanation
Asbestos is most dangerous when it is friable — able to be crumbled by hand pressure and releasing fibers into the air. Intact, well-maintained asbestos materials may pose minimal risk if left undisturbed.
Q6. Underground storage tanks (USTs) containing petroleum products are regulated in Massachusetts primarily because of the risk of:
Explanation
Leaking underground storage tanks can contaminate soil and groundwater, posing serious environmental and human health risks. Massachusetts has strict UST regulations and requires cleanup of contaminated sites.
Q7. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) involves:
Explanation
A Phase I ESA is a non-invasive investigation that reviews historical records, aerial photographs, regulatory databases, and conducts a site visit to identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs). It does not include sampling.
Q8. In Massachusetts, which agency administers the Superfund Cleanup Program known as the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP)?
Explanation
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) administers the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP), which governs the investigation and cleanup of oil and hazardous material releases in the state.
Q9. Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) was commonly used in homes built in the 1970s and is a concern because it:
Explanation
UFFI was banned for residential use in 1982 because it can outgas formaldehyde, an irritant and potential carcinogen, into the indoor air. Disclosure of UFFI in Massachusetts is required.
Q10. The presence of wetlands on a property in Massachusetts is regulated primarily because wetlands:
Explanation
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. c. 131 § 40) regulates activities in and near wetlands because they provide critical flood control, wildlife habitat, water quality, and storm damage protection functions.
Q11. The EPA-recommended action level for radon in a home is:
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