Oregon Environmental
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)
Environmental questions on the Oregon exam cover both federal environmental laws and Oregon-specific disclosure requirements. Federal topics include lead-based paint (pre-1978 housing), asbestos, radon, underground storage tanks, and CERCLA liability. Oregon has additional state-level environmental disclosure requirements enforced by the Oregon Real Estate Agency — including Oregon's comprehensive hazardous materials disclosure. Environmental questions trip up candidates who studied only federal law without reviewing the OR-specific overlay.
Oregon Exam Study Resources
Everything you need to pass — in one place.
Oregon Environmental — Practice Questions & Answers
114 questions on Environmental from the Oregon real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 114.
Q1. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that forms from the decay of:
Explanation
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas produced by the natural decay of uranium in soil and rock. It can enter buildings through foundation cracks and accumulate to dangerous levels. The EPA recommends mitigation when indoor levels exceed 4 pCi/L.
Q2. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) primarily oversees:
Explanation
Oregon DEQ is responsible for protecting Oregon's air, land, and water quality. It administers cleanup of contaminated sites under state Superfund programs, issues environmental permits, and monitors compliance with environmental regulations.
Q3. Lead-based paint disclosure requirements under federal law apply to residential properties built:
Explanation
Federal law (the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992) requires sellers and landlords to disclose known lead-based paint hazards in residential housing built before 1978, the year the U.S. banned the use of lead-based paint in homes.
Q4. Which of the following environmental hazards is MOST commonly associated with older commercial properties and is regulated under CERCLA (Superfund)?
Explanation
Underground storage tanks (USTs) at old gas stations, dry cleaners, and industrial sites can leak petroleum products into the soil and groundwater, creating Superfund liability. CERCLA (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) governs cleanup of such sites.
Q5. Oregon requires disclosure of tsunami inundation zone risk for properties located in:
Explanation
Oregon requires disclosure when a property is located within an area designated as a tsunami inundation zone on official maps. This is particularly relevant in coastal communities along the Oregon Coast. The seller must disclose this risk to buyers.
Q6. Asbestos in a property is most dangerous when it is:
Explanation
Asbestos is most dangerous when it is friable — meaning it is crumbling, damaged, or disturbed and releasing microscopic fibers into the air. When inhaled, these fibers can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Intact, non-friable asbestos may be left undisturbed.
Q7. The Oregon Forest Practices Act governs:
Explanation
Oregon's Forest Practices Act (ORS Chapter 527) regulates commercial and private forest operations — including harvesting, reforestation, and road building — to protect forest resources, water quality, fish habitat, and other environmental values.
Q8. In Oregon, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is typically ordered to:
Explanation
A Phase I ESA is a standard due diligence tool in commercial real estate that reviews historical records, regulatory databases, and conducts a site inspection to identify potential environmental contamination risks before a property is acquired, protecting buyers and lenders from CERCLA liability.
Q9. Under CERCLA, which party can be held liable for cleanup costs at a contaminated site?
Explanation
CERCLA imposes broad liability on 'potentially responsible parties' (PRPs), including: current owners and operators, past owners/operators at the time of disposal, generators of hazardous substances, and transporters. Liability is joint and several, strict, and retroactive.
Q10. Which federal agency administers the Superfund program under CERCLA?
Explanation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the Superfund (CERCLA) program, which identifies and cleans up the nation's most contaminated hazardous waste sites. Oregon DEQ also administers Oregon's own state Superfund program for state-regulated sites.
Q11. An Oregon coastal property in a tsunami inundation zone should be disclosed to a prospective buyer because it represents:
104 more Environmental questions
Create a free account to unlock all 114 Oregon Environmental questions with full explanations.
Free account · No credit card · Instant access to 25 questions
Ready to take the full exam? Start free.
25 free questions · No signup · Instant access to all Oregon topics