Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 1 - 15 of 28 results

• What is a site assessment and what is the difference between a site assessment and a site investigation?

  The first step of the site assessment process is known as a preliminary assessment (PA). This assessment gathers historical and other readily available information on site conditions and surroundings to evaluate whether the site poses a potential threat to human health and the environment and/or whether further investigation is needed…

  • Last published: March 1, 2024

• Why hasn’t the Norwood Landfill Site been identified as a Superfund Site? Two nearby landfills, Folcroft and Clearview, which were established and in use at the same time as Norwood Landfill and Dump have both been designated as Superfund sites.

  EPA is still conducting its investigation of the Norwood Landfill Site to determine if it should be placed on the National Priorities List (NPL), or Superfund List. Thus far, the data collected has not demonstrated that the site warrants placement on the NPL. Both the Folcroft and Clearview Landfills went…

  • Last published: March 15, 2024

• Why Doesn't my Output Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Match my Input VMT?

  See More Frequent Questions about MOVES and Related Models . This problem usually occurs when the run specification does not include all possible vehicle and fuel types. MOVES internally allocates the input VMT to each of the source types and fuel types and only reports the VMT for the fuel…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• What does MOVES Assume for Future Year Fleet Fuel Efficiency and Emissions?

  See More Frequent Questions about MOVES and Related Models . MOVES reflects all fuel economy and emissions standards that were final as of the model release date. For a list of recent regulations accounted for in the most recent MOVES version, see the see the Overview of EPA’s Motor Vehicle…

  • Last published: October 23, 2024

• Are renovations performed on detached garages, sheds and other detached outbuildings on the property subject to the RRP Rule?

  Yes. EPA interprets target housing to include pre-1978 buildings or structures that are (1) located on the residential portion of the property, and (2) associated with the residential use of the property. As a practical matter, the entire property of most urban and suburban residential lots is normally considered to…

  • Last published: July 3, 2024

• How do the RRP requirements apply to renovations on a pre-1978 building that contains both multi-room apartments (i.e., target housing) and zero-bedroom dwellings?

  In pre-1978 buildings that contain a mix of target housing and zero-bedroom dwellings, the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule applies only to renovations performed in target housing and common areas. Common areas are those portions of a property generally accessible to residents/users of target housing, and can exist…

  • Last published: November 14, 2024

• Does zoning affect the target housing determination? For example, would a pre-1978 house that is zoned for commercial or office use, but used for residential purposes be considered target housing?

  In determining whether a pre-1978 property is target housing, it is the actual or intended use of the property that matters, not its zoning classification. Therefore, a pre-1978 house that is used or intended to be used as a residence, even if only temporary, is target housing regardless of its…

  • Last published: November 14, 2024

• Why did EPA wait so long to begin its investigation of the Norwood Landfill and Old Norwood Dump?

  In the months leading up to the preliminary assessment, EPA gathered information on the property to determine whether a site investigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) was warranted. EPA determined to proceed with an investigation and EPA began procuring contractor services to conduct the preliminary…

  • Last published: March 1, 2024

• How would the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule classify a pre-1978 property that is used for both residential and non-residential purposes?

  EPA has interpreted target housing to include pre-1978 buildings or structures that are (1) located on the residential portion of the property, and (2) associated with the residential use of the property. In other words, if a portion of residential property is used for nonresidential purposes, the portion will nonetheless…

  • Last published: November 14, 2024

• If a renovation is taking place in a home built in 1950, but in an addition that was built in 1980, does the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule apply to the renovation?

  Yes. The RRP Rule applies to a renovation in target housing unless it has been determined that the components affected by the renovation are free of paint or other surface coatings that contain lead equal to or in excess of 1.0 milligrams per square centimeter (mg/cm2) or 0.5% by weight…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• Older hotels built before 1978 are knocking down walls, combining two hotel rooms, and making their units two-room or even three-room suites. Does the RRP Rule apply when one-room units are converted to two-room suites?

  Yes. A renovation performed for the purpose of converting a building, or part of a building, into target housing or a child-occupied facility is a renovation for purposes of the RRP Rule. Hotel suites that provide a sleeping area that is separate from the living area are covered by the…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• What is "housing for persons with disabilities"?

  “Housing for persons with disabilities” means housing that is designed to meet the special needs of persons with disabilities and that is reserved for such persons. A person with a disability may include a person who has a disability attributable to a mental or physical impairment, or a person with…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• Does the term "target housing" mean just low income housing, or any home built before 1978 regardless of the financial status of the occupants?

  Answer: “Target housing” means any housing constructed prior to 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities or any 0-bedroom dwelling (unless any child who is less than six years of age resides or is expected to reside in such housing). The income of the occupants of the…

  • Last published: January 13, 2025

• What is the key question EPA tries to answer through a site investigation?
  
  

  Findings of the site investigation determine what hazardous substances may be present, whether they may be released to the environment, and any potential threat to human health. Information about the site that is collected in the preliminary assessment and site investigation phase helps EPA to evaluate the risks posed by…

  • Last published: March 4, 2024

• How does MOVES Calculate CO2 and CO2 Equivalent Emissions?

  See More Frequent Questions about MOVES and Related Models . MOVES calculates the energy it takes to operate an onroad vehicle based on energy consumption rates as explained in the technical reports Greenhouse Gas and Energy Consumption Rates for Onroad Vehicles MOVES3 (pdf) (November 2020, EPA-420-R-20-015) and Exhaust Emission Rates…

  • Last published: March 20, 2024