LEAD ABATEMENT SUPERVISOR EXAM SOLVED
100% CORRECT!
Introduction
This set simulates the national Lead Abatement Supervisor (EPA/HUD model)
certification examination. It tests mastery of federal rules (TSCA Title IV, EPA RRP, OSHA
1926.62), hazard assessment, approved abatement technologies, site-safety protocols,
clearance sampling, waste management, and supervisory duties. All 75 items are
original, board-level, and reflect 2025 regulatory language. Each multiple-choice
question includes four options and a fully worked solution that cites controlling
regulations and explains distractors.
Question 1
Under TSCA §402/404, a supervisor must renew certification every _____ calendar years.
A. 2
B. 3
C. 5
D. 10
Answer: B. 3
Solution: 40 CFR 745.225(b)(1) requires supervisor refresher training and renewal
every 3 years. Two years is too short; five applies to some state licenses but not federal
TSCA; ten is obsolete.
Question 2
A pre-1978 dwelling tests positive with 0.9 % lead in ceramic-glazed tile. EPA considers
this surface:
A. non-lead-containing
B. lead-based paint (LBP)
C. lead-contaminated dust
D. lead-contaminated soil
Answer: B. lead-based paint (LBP)
Solution: 40 CFR 745.65 defines LBP as ≥0.5 % lead by weight in paint or surface
coating. Tile glaze is a coating; therefore 0.9 % exceeds the federal threshold.
Question 3
pg. 1
,On the first day of an abatement project you discover 12 m² of intact LBP on plaster. The
most appropriate interim control until full abatement is scheduled is:
A. wet-scraping
B. encapsulation with ASTM D3498-approved membrane
C. heat-gun stripping
D. open-flame burning
Answer: B. encapsulation with ASTM D3498-approved membrane
Solution: 40 CFR 745.227(e)(2) allows interim controls (encapsulation/enclosure) if
surfaces are intact. Wet-scraping disturbs paint; heat guns >700 °F and open flame are
prohibited (745.227(e)(4)).
Question 4
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.62(k)(2) sets the employee airborne exposure limit (8-hr TWA) for
inorganic lead at:
A. 30 µg/m³
B. 50 µg/m³
C. 100 µg/m³
D. 200 µg/m³
Answer: B. 50 µg/m³
Solution: The OSHA construction lead standard PEL remains 50 µg/m³ (8-hr TWA).
Thirty is the action level; 100 and 200 are obsolete general-industry figures.
Question 5
During setup you measure 1,800 µg/ft² on an interior windowsill using wipe sampling.
EPA HUD Guideline action level for dust on a sill is:
A. 100 µg/ft²
B. 250 µg/ft²
C. 400 µg/ft²
D. 1,600 µg/ft²
Answer: D. 1,600 µg/ft²
Solution: 2021 HUD Guidelines Table 5 set sill clearance at ≤1,600 µg/ft² for floor dust-
lead. The 400 value applies to floors; 100 and 250 are older HUD/CDC reference levels
no longer used for clearance.
Question 6
Which abatement method is expressly prohibited by EPA RRP for paint removal?
A. electric heat gun <700 °F
pg. 2
, B. chemical stripping with methylene chloride
C. HEPA vacuum-assisted sanding
D. needle-gun scaler with local HEPA exhaust
Answer: B. chemical stripping with methylene chloride
Solution: 40 CFR 745.227(e)(4)(ii) bans methylene-chloride-containing paint removers
on LBP surfaces. Heat guns <700 °F, HEPA-sanding and needle guns with exhaust are
allowed if controls are met.
Question 7
After abatement you collect 5 floor wipe samples; one reads 210 µg/ft². The correct
supervisory action is:
A. reclean entire unit until all samples pass
B. average results and pass if mean ≤400 µg/ft²
C. reclean only the failed room and re-sample it
D. accept because single fail <10 % of samples
Answer: A. reclean entire unit until all samples pass
Solution: 40 CFR 745.227(e)(7)(ii) requires each clearance sample to meet the
standard (floor ≤400 µg/ft²). No averaging or partial acceptance is permitted.
Question 8
Lead-contaminated HEPA vacuum filters are classified under USEPA LEPA as:
A. municipal solid waste
B. non-hazardous industrial waste
C. characteristic hazardous waste (D008) if >5 mg/L TCLP
D. universal waste
Answer: C. characteristic hazardous waste (D008) if >5 mg/L TCLP
Solution: 40 CFR 261.24 lists lead (D008) when TCLP ≥5 mg/L. Filters often exceed this
and must be manifested for hazardous disposal unless decontaminated.
Question 9
During exterior paint removal you detect 1.2 ppm lead in breathing-zone air. Employee
respirator protection must at minimum be:
A. N95 filtering facepiece
B. half-mask negative-pressure with HEPA filters
C. powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with HEPA
D. full-face supplied-air
pg. 3
100% CORRECT!
Introduction
This set simulates the national Lead Abatement Supervisor (EPA/HUD model)
certification examination. It tests mastery of federal rules (TSCA Title IV, EPA RRP, OSHA
1926.62), hazard assessment, approved abatement technologies, site-safety protocols,
clearance sampling, waste management, and supervisory duties. All 75 items are
original, board-level, and reflect 2025 regulatory language. Each multiple-choice
question includes four options and a fully worked solution that cites controlling
regulations and explains distractors.
Question 1
Under TSCA §402/404, a supervisor must renew certification every _____ calendar years.
A. 2
B. 3
C. 5
D. 10
Answer: B. 3
Solution: 40 CFR 745.225(b)(1) requires supervisor refresher training and renewal
every 3 years. Two years is too short; five applies to some state licenses but not federal
TSCA; ten is obsolete.
Question 2
A pre-1978 dwelling tests positive with 0.9 % lead in ceramic-glazed tile. EPA considers
this surface:
A. non-lead-containing
B. lead-based paint (LBP)
C. lead-contaminated dust
D. lead-contaminated soil
Answer: B. lead-based paint (LBP)
Solution: 40 CFR 745.65 defines LBP as ≥0.5 % lead by weight in paint or surface
coating. Tile glaze is a coating; therefore 0.9 % exceeds the federal threshold.
Question 3
pg. 1
,On the first day of an abatement project you discover 12 m² of intact LBP on plaster. The
most appropriate interim control until full abatement is scheduled is:
A. wet-scraping
B. encapsulation with ASTM D3498-approved membrane
C. heat-gun stripping
D. open-flame burning
Answer: B. encapsulation with ASTM D3498-approved membrane
Solution: 40 CFR 745.227(e)(2) allows interim controls (encapsulation/enclosure) if
surfaces are intact. Wet-scraping disturbs paint; heat guns >700 °F and open flame are
prohibited (745.227(e)(4)).
Question 4
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.62(k)(2) sets the employee airborne exposure limit (8-hr TWA) for
inorganic lead at:
A. 30 µg/m³
B. 50 µg/m³
C. 100 µg/m³
D. 200 µg/m³
Answer: B. 50 µg/m³
Solution: The OSHA construction lead standard PEL remains 50 µg/m³ (8-hr TWA).
Thirty is the action level; 100 and 200 are obsolete general-industry figures.
Question 5
During setup you measure 1,800 µg/ft² on an interior windowsill using wipe sampling.
EPA HUD Guideline action level for dust on a sill is:
A. 100 µg/ft²
B. 250 µg/ft²
C. 400 µg/ft²
D. 1,600 µg/ft²
Answer: D. 1,600 µg/ft²
Solution: 2021 HUD Guidelines Table 5 set sill clearance at ≤1,600 µg/ft² for floor dust-
lead. The 400 value applies to floors; 100 and 250 are older HUD/CDC reference levels
no longer used for clearance.
Question 6
Which abatement method is expressly prohibited by EPA RRP for paint removal?
A. electric heat gun <700 °F
pg. 2
, B. chemical stripping with methylene chloride
C. HEPA vacuum-assisted sanding
D. needle-gun scaler with local HEPA exhaust
Answer: B. chemical stripping with methylene chloride
Solution: 40 CFR 745.227(e)(4)(ii) bans methylene-chloride-containing paint removers
on LBP surfaces. Heat guns <700 °F, HEPA-sanding and needle guns with exhaust are
allowed if controls are met.
Question 7
After abatement you collect 5 floor wipe samples; one reads 210 µg/ft². The correct
supervisory action is:
A. reclean entire unit until all samples pass
B. average results and pass if mean ≤400 µg/ft²
C. reclean only the failed room and re-sample it
D. accept because single fail <10 % of samples
Answer: A. reclean entire unit until all samples pass
Solution: 40 CFR 745.227(e)(7)(ii) requires each clearance sample to meet the
standard (floor ≤400 µg/ft²). No averaging or partial acceptance is permitted.
Question 8
Lead-contaminated HEPA vacuum filters are classified under USEPA LEPA as:
A. municipal solid waste
B. non-hazardous industrial waste
C. characteristic hazardous waste (D008) if >5 mg/L TCLP
D. universal waste
Answer: C. characteristic hazardous waste (D008) if >5 mg/L TCLP
Solution: 40 CFR 261.24 lists lead (D008) when TCLP ≥5 mg/L. Filters often exceed this
and must be manifested for hazardous disposal unless decontaminated.
Question 9
During exterior paint removal you detect 1.2 ppm lead in breathing-zone air. Employee
respirator protection must at minimum be:
A. N95 filtering facepiece
B. half-mask negative-pressure with HEPA filters
C. powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with HEPA
D. full-face supplied-air
pg. 3
