WA UST Site Assessor Exam 2023 with complete solution
What is the hold time for soil and preserved GW GRO samples?
14 days
Is an ICC certification needed to install an AST?
No
Flammability limits of gasoline
1.4 to 7.6%
How many days do you have from a tank closure to report/provide the UST
checklist to ECY?
30 days
MTCA Method A lead CUL, soil
250 mg/kg
MTCA Method A lead CUL, GW
15 ug/L
Is the vadose zone saturated or unsaturated?
Unsaturated
List in order of most mobile to least mobile: Bunker C, heating oil, diesel,
gasoline
Gasoline, diesel, heating oil, Bunker C
Is oxygenated gasoline more or less likely to dissolve in water?
More likely; fuel additives like MTBE are more soluble than gasoline
Where to sample on dispenser?
2 feet below where the piping enters the UST
Where to sample along piping?
Every 50 linear feet and along joints/elbows
How many GW samples are needed after decommissioning if a release to GW is
confirmed, and where relative to the tank?
3; 1 upgradient, 2 downgradient
What vapor is an FID used to measure?
Methane
What is a PID measuring?
Mixture of all volatiles
What conditions might impede a PID?
Moisture/humidity, dust, transformers, power lines
What UST capacity does not require a site assessment at closure?
Less than 110 gallons
Purpose of a site check
To investigate a UST site for the presence of a release when evidence indicated that a
release may have occurred
Purpose of a site assessment
To investigate a UST site at the time of closure or change-in-service to determine if a
release has occurred
Site check vs. site assessment
A site check is an investigation of a UST site for a release when evidence indicates that
one many have occurred; a site assessment determines if a release has occurred
, If a confirmed release is identified and reported within 24 hours, what is and is
not required?
A site assessment is not required; a site characterization is required
What is the historical date before which a UST system may have been
permanently closed or abandoned that ECY may require a site assessment?
December 22, 1988
When should a site safety plan be developed?
Prior to conducting the UST site assessment
What is included under "Level D" PPE?
Steel toe boots, cotton coveralls, hardhat, eye protection
Is respiratory protection included under "Level D" PPE?
No
Are low PID reading sufficient data to complete a site assessment?
No; analytical data is needed
Does a split spoon require use of a drill rig?
Yes
SM
Silty sand - silty sands and sand-silt mixtures
Pt
Highly organic soil - peat, muck, etc.
Is a stockpile considered an appropriate sampling location for contamination
determination?
No
Where should soil samples be collected relative to the water table?
At the approximate top of the water table
Where should GW samples be collected relative to the water table?
At the soil/GW interface
Why is it a bad idea to filter GW samples for petroleum hydrocarbon analysis?
Potential loss of COIs, loss of soluble material
What is the best material for sampling devices when testing for petroleum?
PTFE (Teflon); also glass and stainless steel
What does a "paste tape wheel" measure?
Free product thickness
What does HCID testing provide?
Not a quantitative, but a qualitative detection technique for petroleum constituents
What is the preferred sample container for GRO GW samples?
40 ml, Teflon-lined VOAs with no headspace, HCL-preserved
What is the ideal sample temperature?
4 degrees C
What is a common COI that accompanies waste oil?
Muriatic acid
Purpose of field duplicate samples
To check the variability of the sampling technique and analytical test
Where should the site assessor record site observations?
In a field notebook
What needs to be recorded on the site map?
What is the hold time for soil and preserved GW GRO samples?
14 days
Is an ICC certification needed to install an AST?
No
Flammability limits of gasoline
1.4 to 7.6%
How many days do you have from a tank closure to report/provide the UST
checklist to ECY?
30 days
MTCA Method A lead CUL, soil
250 mg/kg
MTCA Method A lead CUL, GW
15 ug/L
Is the vadose zone saturated or unsaturated?
Unsaturated
List in order of most mobile to least mobile: Bunker C, heating oil, diesel,
gasoline
Gasoline, diesel, heating oil, Bunker C
Is oxygenated gasoline more or less likely to dissolve in water?
More likely; fuel additives like MTBE are more soluble than gasoline
Where to sample on dispenser?
2 feet below where the piping enters the UST
Where to sample along piping?
Every 50 linear feet and along joints/elbows
How many GW samples are needed after decommissioning if a release to GW is
confirmed, and where relative to the tank?
3; 1 upgradient, 2 downgradient
What vapor is an FID used to measure?
Methane
What is a PID measuring?
Mixture of all volatiles
What conditions might impede a PID?
Moisture/humidity, dust, transformers, power lines
What UST capacity does not require a site assessment at closure?
Less than 110 gallons
Purpose of a site check
To investigate a UST site for the presence of a release when evidence indicated that a
release may have occurred
Purpose of a site assessment
To investigate a UST site at the time of closure or change-in-service to determine if a
release has occurred
Site check vs. site assessment
A site check is an investigation of a UST site for a release when evidence indicates that
one many have occurred; a site assessment determines if a release has occurred
, If a confirmed release is identified and reported within 24 hours, what is and is
not required?
A site assessment is not required; a site characterization is required
What is the historical date before which a UST system may have been
permanently closed or abandoned that ECY may require a site assessment?
December 22, 1988
When should a site safety plan be developed?
Prior to conducting the UST site assessment
What is included under "Level D" PPE?
Steel toe boots, cotton coveralls, hardhat, eye protection
Is respiratory protection included under "Level D" PPE?
No
Are low PID reading sufficient data to complete a site assessment?
No; analytical data is needed
Does a split spoon require use of a drill rig?
Yes
SM
Silty sand - silty sands and sand-silt mixtures
Pt
Highly organic soil - peat, muck, etc.
Is a stockpile considered an appropriate sampling location for contamination
determination?
No
Where should soil samples be collected relative to the water table?
At the approximate top of the water table
Where should GW samples be collected relative to the water table?
At the soil/GW interface
Why is it a bad idea to filter GW samples for petroleum hydrocarbon analysis?
Potential loss of COIs, loss of soluble material
What is the best material for sampling devices when testing for petroleum?
PTFE (Teflon); also glass and stainless steel
What does a "paste tape wheel" measure?
Free product thickness
What does HCID testing provide?
Not a quantitative, but a qualitative detection technique for petroleum constituents
What is the preferred sample container for GRO GW samples?
40 ml, Teflon-lined VOAs with no headspace, HCL-preserved
What is the ideal sample temperature?
4 degrees C
What is a common COI that accompanies waste oil?
Muriatic acid
Purpose of field duplicate samples
To check the variability of the sampling technique and analytical test
Where should the site assessor record site observations?
In a field notebook
What needs to be recorded on the site map?
