Exam Prep: 300 Multiple Choice Questions & Answers
SWRCB Certified Technician Preparation Guide
SECTION 1: REGULATIONS & COMPLIANCE (Q1–Q20)
1. Under California regulations, which agency has primary oversight of
underground storage tanks (USTs)?
A) EPA
B) California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
C) California Air Resources Board
D) Department of Toxic Substances Control
✔ Answer: B
2. The California UST program is primarily governed by which code?
A) California Health & Safety Code Division 20, Chapter 6.7
B) California Penal Code Section 11
C) California Water Code Section 500
D) California Civil Code Section 3300
✔ Answer: A
3. How often must UST owners submit annual reports to the local agency?
A) Monthly
B) Quarterly
C) Annually
D) Every 5 years
✔ Answer: C
4. What is the minimum training requirement for a UST Service Technician
in California?
A) No training required
B) Must pass a state-approved exam and hold a valid certification
, C) Only on-the-job training required
D) College degree in environmental science
✔ Answer: B
5. A UST system installed after which year must meet federal technical
standards?
A) 1985
B) 1988
C) 1993
D) 2000
✔ Answer: B
6. What is the required notification period before beginning UST installation
in California?
A) 24 hours
B) 3 days
C) 7 days
D) 30 days
✔ Answer: C
7. Which California agency issues UST Service Technician certifications?
A) SWRCB
B) DTSC
C) Cal/OSHA
D) CalRecycle
✔ Answer: A
8. How long is a California UST Service Technician certificate valid?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
✔ Answer: C
9. What must a UST operator do if a release is suspected?
A) Wait 30 days before reporting
B) Notify the local agency immediately (within 24 hours)
C) Only notify if more than 100 gallons are lost
D) File a report at year end
✔ Answer: B
,10. Under California law, who is responsible for corrective action costs if a
UST leaks?
A) The federal government
B) The tank manufacturer
C) The responsible party/owner-operator
D) The local fire department
✔ Answer: C
11. Which of the following is NOT a required component of a UST facility
permit application in California?
A) Tank specifications
B) Site map
C) Owner's financial statement
D) Installer credentials
✔ Answer: C
12. California's Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund provides funding
for:
A) New tank installations
B) Corrective action for petroleum UST releases
C) Annual compliance inspections
D) Tank replacement subsidies
✔ Answer: B
13. A Class A operator must be recertified every:
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) 10 years
✔ Answer: B
14. Which regulation requires secondary containment for new UST systems
in California?
A) Title 23, CCR
B) Title 40, CFR
C) Both A and B
D) Neither
✔ Answer: C
15. What is the deadline to report a confirmed release to the SWRCB?
, A) 24 hours
B) 5 days
C) 10 days
D) 30 days
✔ Answer: A
16. California requires monitoring of vapor in the interstitial space of
double-walled tanks at least:
A) Daily
B) Weekly
C) Monthly
D) Annually
✔ Answer: C
17. Who may witness a tightness test on a UST system in California?
A) Anyone
B) Only the owner
C) A certified UST technician or inspector
D) A licensed plumber
✔ Answer: C
18. What is the minimum containment volume required for a UST spill
bucket?
A) 1 gallon
B) 5 gallons
C) 15 gallons
D) 55 gallons
✔ Answer: C
19. Secondary containment must be tested:
A) At installation only
B) Every 3 years
C) Every 5 years
D) Annually
✔ Answer: B
20. Under California law, which of the following triggers mandatory UST
upgrade or closure?
A) Change of ownership
B) Failure of a tightness test
SWRCB Certified Technician Preparation Guide
SECTION 1: REGULATIONS & COMPLIANCE (Q1–Q20)
1. Under California regulations, which agency has primary oversight of
underground storage tanks (USTs)?
A) EPA
B) California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
C) California Air Resources Board
D) Department of Toxic Substances Control
✔ Answer: B
2. The California UST program is primarily governed by which code?
A) California Health & Safety Code Division 20, Chapter 6.7
B) California Penal Code Section 11
C) California Water Code Section 500
D) California Civil Code Section 3300
✔ Answer: A
3. How often must UST owners submit annual reports to the local agency?
A) Monthly
B) Quarterly
C) Annually
D) Every 5 years
✔ Answer: C
4. What is the minimum training requirement for a UST Service Technician
in California?
A) No training required
B) Must pass a state-approved exam and hold a valid certification
, C) Only on-the-job training required
D) College degree in environmental science
✔ Answer: B
5. A UST system installed after which year must meet federal technical
standards?
A) 1985
B) 1988
C) 1993
D) 2000
✔ Answer: B
6. What is the required notification period before beginning UST installation
in California?
A) 24 hours
B) 3 days
C) 7 days
D) 30 days
✔ Answer: C
7. Which California agency issues UST Service Technician certifications?
A) SWRCB
B) DTSC
C) Cal/OSHA
D) CalRecycle
✔ Answer: A
8. How long is a California UST Service Technician certificate valid?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
✔ Answer: C
9. What must a UST operator do if a release is suspected?
A) Wait 30 days before reporting
B) Notify the local agency immediately (within 24 hours)
C) Only notify if more than 100 gallons are lost
D) File a report at year end
✔ Answer: B
,10. Under California law, who is responsible for corrective action costs if a
UST leaks?
A) The federal government
B) The tank manufacturer
C) The responsible party/owner-operator
D) The local fire department
✔ Answer: C
11. Which of the following is NOT a required component of a UST facility
permit application in California?
A) Tank specifications
B) Site map
C) Owner's financial statement
D) Installer credentials
✔ Answer: C
12. California's Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund provides funding
for:
A) New tank installations
B) Corrective action for petroleum UST releases
C) Annual compliance inspections
D) Tank replacement subsidies
✔ Answer: B
13. A Class A operator must be recertified every:
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) 10 years
✔ Answer: B
14. Which regulation requires secondary containment for new UST systems
in California?
A) Title 23, CCR
B) Title 40, CFR
C) Both A and B
D) Neither
✔ Answer: C
15. What is the deadline to report a confirmed release to the SWRCB?
, A) 24 hours
B) 5 days
C) 10 days
D) 30 days
✔ Answer: A
16. California requires monitoring of vapor in the interstitial space of
double-walled tanks at least:
A) Daily
B) Weekly
C) Monthly
D) Annually
✔ Answer: C
17. Who may witness a tightness test on a UST system in California?
A) Anyone
B) Only the owner
C) A certified UST technician or inspector
D) A licensed plumber
✔ Answer: C
18. What is the minimum containment volume required for a UST spill
bucket?
A) 1 gallon
B) 5 gallons
C) 15 gallons
D) 55 gallons
✔ Answer: C
19. Secondary containment must be tested:
A) At installation only
B) Every 3 years
C) Every 5 years
D) Annually
✔ Answer: B
20. Under California law, which of the following triggers mandatory UST
upgrade or closure?
A) Change of ownership
B) Failure of a tightness test
