Tennessee Environmental
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)
Environmental questions on the Tennessee exam cover both federal environmental laws and Tennessee-specific disclosure requirements. Federal topics include lead-based paint (pre-1978 housing), asbestos, radon, underground storage tanks, and CERCLA liability. Tennessee has additional state-level environmental disclosure requirements enforced by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) — including Tennessee-specific environmental conditions that affect property use and disclosure. Environmental questions trip up candidates who studied only federal law without reviewing the TN-specific overlay.
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Tennessee Environmental — Practice Questions & Answers
110 questions on Environmental from the Tennessee real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 110.
Q1. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that enters homes primarily through:
Explanation
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas produced by the decay of uranium in soil and rock. It enters buildings through cracks in foundations, floors, and walls. Tennessee has areas with elevated radon levels, particularly in East Tennessee.
Q2. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is responsible for:
Explanation
TDEC administers Tennessee's environmental regulatory programs, including hazardous waste management, water quality, air quality, and cleanup of contaminated sites. Real estate professionals should be aware of TDEC's role regarding environmental hazards.
Q3. Lead-based paint disclosure is required for residential properties built before:
Explanation
Federal law (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act) requires disclosure of known lead-based paint hazards in homes built before 1978. Buyers must receive an EPA-approved information pamphlet and have a 10-day inspection opportunity.
Q4. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) controls large amounts of land along Tennessee's waterways. Property near TVA-controlled shoreline may be subject to:
Explanation
TVA controls flowage easements and shoreline along many of Tennessee's lakes and rivers. Property owners near TVA-controlled shoreline must obtain TVA permits for docks, boathouses, and other structures, and are subject to TVA land use policies.
Q5. Underground storage tanks (USTs) containing petroleum or hazardous substances are regulated under which federal law?
Explanation
Underground storage tanks are primarily regulated under Subtitle I of RCRA. EPA and state agencies like TDEC regulate UST installation, operation, and cleanup of leaks. Contaminated sites may also trigger CERCLA Superfund liability.
Q6. Asbestos-containing materials in buildings are most hazardous when they are:
Explanation
Asbestos is most hazardous when it is friable — easily crumbled or broken by hand pressure — releasing microscopic fibers into the air that can be inhaled. Intact, undisturbed asbestos generally does not pose an immediate health risk and may be managed in place.
Q7. Mold growth in a property is primarily caused by:
Explanation
Mold requires moisture and organic material to grow. Water intrusion from leaks, flooding, or condensation creates ideal conditions. Mold remediation requires addressing the underlying moisture source to prevent recurrence.
Q8. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA/Superfund) is significant to real estate because it:
Explanation
CERCLA imposes strict, joint-and-several liability for cleanup of contaminated sites on potentially responsible parties including current owners, past owners, operators, and generators of hazardous waste — even if the contamination predates their ownership.
Q9. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) involves:
Explanation
A Phase I ESA is a non-invasive assessment that reviews historical records, aerial photographs, regulatory databases, and performs a site visit and interviews to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs). No sampling is performed in a Phase I.
Q10. Which of the following is a seller's obligation regarding known environmental hazards under the Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure?
Explanation
The Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure requires sellers to disclose known material defects, including environmental hazards, that affect the property's value or desirability. The seller is not required to remediate but must disclose what they know.
Q11. The primary concern with lead paint in homes built before 1978 is that it poses a health risk primarily to:
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