CESSWI - Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector Regulations and Compliance Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit (CGP), what is the minimum land disturbance threshold that typically requires permit coverage for a construction activity?
- 0.5 acres
- 1.0 acre (Correct answer)
- 5.0 acres
- Any activity regardless of size
Correct answer: 1.0 acre
The U.S. EPA's NPDES stormwater program requires construction site operators to obtain permit coverage for discharges if they disturb one or more acres of land, or are part of a larger common plan of development that will disturb one or more acres.
Question 2: A CESSWI is conducting a site inspection and finds that a silt fence is sagging and has sediment accumulated to more than half its height. According to common compliance standards, what is the most appropriate immediate action?
- Document the finding and schedule maintenance for the following week.
- Remove the silt fence as it is no longer effective.
- Note that the BMP is functioning as intended by capturing sediment.
- Document the deficiency and require that maintenance be performed promptly to restore its function. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Document the deficiency and require that maintenance be performed promptly to restore its function.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) like silt fences require regular maintenance to function correctly. A common rule of thumb is that sediment should be removed when it reaches one-third to one-half the height of the fence. A sagging fence with excessive accumulation is a failing BMP that needs to be documented as a deficiency requiring prompt corrective action.
Question 3: Which of the following is the MOST common type of violation found during regulatory inspections of construction sites with a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)?
- Failure to stabilize the construction entrance.
- Improper concrete washout procedures.
- Inadequate or missing inspection records and documentation. (Correct answer)
- Incorrect installation of erosion control blankets.
Correct answer: Inadequate or missing inspection records and documentation.
While all listed items can be violations, regulatory agencies frequently cite projects for failures in paperwork and documentation. This includes missing, incomplete, or falsified inspection logs, which are often considered the most common type of SWPPP violation.
Question 4: A construction project involves discharging dredged or fill material into a wetland that is considered a 'water of the United States.' Which section of the Clean Water Act (CWA) primarily governs the permitting for this activity?
- Section 303(d)
- Section 311
- Section 402 (NPDES)
- Section 404 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Section 404
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act establishes a program to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA jointly administer this program.
Question 5: An inspector is reviewing a SWPPP for a new 15-acre development. The plan indicates that where a drainage location disturbs more than 10 acres, a sediment basin will be installed. This requirement is a key component of which federal regulation?
- The Coastal Zone Management Act
- The Endangered Species Act
- EPA's Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs) for the Construction & Development Category (Correct answer)
- The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Correct answer: EPA's Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs) for the Construction & Development Category
The EPA's Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs) for the Construction and Development point source category (40 CFR Part 450) contain specific non-numeric effluent limitations. One of these requirements is the installation of a sediment basin for a common drainage location that services an area with 10 or more acres disturbed at one time.
Question 6: During a routine weekly inspection, a CESSWI notices that a new stockpile of soil has been created near a storm drain inlet, and a new staging area for equipment has been established. Neither of these changes is reflected on the SWPPP site map. This situation represents a failure to:
- File the Notice of Intent (NOI) correctly.
- Implement a living document. (Correct answer)
- Conduct a pre-construction meeting.
- Post the construction entrance signage.
Correct answer: Implement a living document.
A SWPPP is intended to be a 'living document' that is updated and amended whenever there are changes to construction activities, site conditions, or control measures. Failing to update the site map and plan to reflect new stockpiles or staging areas is a common compliance failure.
CESSWI - Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector Regulations and Compliance Questions and Answers
Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit (CGP), what is the minimum land disturbance threshold that typically requires permit coverage for a construction activity?