9-A ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PROPERTY CONCERNS

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) was enacted in 1970,to declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment.
1. EPA - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
  1. EPA is tasked with creating and enforcing environmental protection standards,helping others with environmental pollution problems through the use of grants and other means..
2. CERCLA - COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE
3. NYSDOH - NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH is responsible for regulating drinking water.
CLEAN AIR ACT requires EPA to develop air quality standards for existing pollutants,along with establishing air standards for new sources of pollution.
1. CLEAN WATER ACT under the clean water act,national water quality standards are determined by the EPA.The act also created a regulatory structure for the discharge of pollution into waterways and gave EPA the right to enact control programs.
  1. CERCLA addresses what to do with closed or abandoned waste sites.(CERCLA also known as the SUPERFUND)
WETLANDS are ecosystems where the land is permeated with water,and are commonly referred to as swamps,bogs and marshes.the water lies either on or near the surface of the land,creating a highly conductive environment for the growth of plants and wildlife.
EXTERNAL OBSOLESCENCE if a nuisance is more or ledd permanent.Examples are noise from an air port or the stench from a factory farm.
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD is a situation that exists with potential for harm to persons or property from conditions that exist outside or within a property.
1. EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS are those concerns that exist outside the boundaries of property,which can have a significant impact on its value.Visible signs give buyers a fear of contamination and make property less desirable.
  1. INTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS are hazards within a property can be as dangerous or more dangerous than external hazards.Good news,that owners and buyers have some power over fixing these problems.
ASBESTOS fibrous material derived from a naturally occuring group of minerals.In past commonly was found in many building materials.Cement,plastic,was used to insulate pipes.FRIABLE materials which are easily crumbled or become powdery when manipulated by hand,are some of the most dangerous asbestos.It is no longer used in construction.
1. get trapped in lung tisue or digestive tract.Breathing problems,ABESTOTIS lung disease.MESOTHELIOMA lung cancer. SYMPTOMS cough,dificult swallowing,anemia,shortness of breath
CARBON MONOXIDE (co) a natural byproduct of fuel combustion,is a colorless,odorless gas released as fuel sources break down to produce heat.
1. POISONING dizziness,headache,nausea,blurred vision,death..
  1. NEW YORK LAW REQUIRES ALL NEW AND EXISTING HOMES AND ALL RENTAL PROPERTIES TO HAVE A CO DETECTOR.
    1. CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFC) are chemical compounds containing chlorine,fluorine and carbon atoms,and are know to deplete the ozone layer.
      1. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (EMFs) are invisible fields produced by electrically charged objects.
        LEAD digesting or inhaling lead or lead dust causes various health issues in children and adults. SYMPTOMS are fatigue,hyperactivity,loss of appetite or weight loss,difficulty sleeping,irritability and reduced attention span. Nerve damage,memory loss and concentration problems.
        RESIDENTIAL LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARD REDUCTION ACT requires sellers,real estate licensees,property management companies and landlords to disclose known lead paint hazards for homes built before 1978. EPA and HUD regulations issued to implement these disclosures.
        METHAMPHETAMINE (meth) is illegal,man made drug that is extremely addictive.
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (USTs)store a variety of substances such as heating oil,gasoline,chemicals,and hazardous waste.NEW YORK property disclosure form REQUIRES SELLERS to disclose the presence of any underground storage tanks or wells.
1. EXEMPTIONS tanks with a capacity of less than 110 gallons. Tanks that are aboveground or at ground level.
MOLD is a fungus that can grow anywhere and on any organic material. MOISTURE,OXYGEN, FOOD SOURCE. Examples like leaky roof that goes undetected. some molds produce toxic substances knwown as MYCOTOXINS.One of these types of mold is BLACK MOLD or STACHYBOTRYS which is greenish-black in color and grows on materials with high cellulose content such as drywall,ceiling tiles,and wood that is chronically moist. HEALTH ISSUES chronic fatigue,flu-like symptoms,digestive problems,immune system problems.
TERMITES easy to identify by home inspector or termite technician.shed wings that means there is infestation somewhere.
1. CARPENTER ANTS they are chewing into wood,creating a living habitat which causes damage.They get into the house through openings in the foundation.they leave sawdust behind.Slit-like holes in wood,especially around windows and doors are also indications of an infestation.
  1. BEDBUGS they are detected by tiny blood stains and droppings on upholstered furniture,mattresses and box springs,baseboards on walls and in variuous cracks and crevices.Causes skin irritation and itching on most people. LANDLORDS AND OWNERS must let prospective tenants know in writing if an apartment has suffered a bedbug infestation in the past year.
RADON is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that emanates from rocks,soil and water because of the decay of uranium.ODORLESS,COLORLESS and TASTELESS. Its RADIOACTIVE. Radon enters a home from the ground ,usually through cracks or holes in the foundation,but can also creep in from uncovered sump pumps and crawl spaces.Recommended that every house be inspected every 2 years. 15% lung cancer. and more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancers each year.NEED DISCLOSURE
GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION is found in subterranean crevices or spaces.
NEW YORK REQUIRES THE SELLER TO DISCLOSE THE SOURCE OF THE WATER SUPPLY-WHETHER A WELL,PRIVATE OR MUNICIPAL.

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9-A ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PROPERTY CONCERNS

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	Created by Brigita Safyra almost 9 years ago