CESSWI - Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector SWPPP and Plan Management Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A SWPPP must be amended within a specific timeframe after certain events. Which of the following scenarios triggers a mandatory SWPPP amendment under the typical EPA Construction General Permit (CGP)?
- A change in the project's construction schedule that delays the start date by one month.
- A change in design, construction, operation, or maintenance that has a significant effect on the potential for pollutant discharge. (Correct answer)
- The replacement of one brand of silt fence with a different brand that has equivalent specifications.
- A routine weekly inspection identifies that a BMP requires minor maintenance.
Correct answer: A change in design, construction, operation, or maintenance that has a significant effect on the potential for pollutant discharge.
According to the EPA's Construction General Permit (CGP) and similar state permits, a SWPPP must be amended when there is a change in design, construction, operation, or maintenance that could significantly impact the discharge of pollutants. Minor schedule changes, equivalent material substitutions, or routine maintenance findings do not typically require a formal amendment, although maintenance must be documented.
Question 2: An inspector is reviewing a construction site's SWPPP records. Which of the following documents is NOT typically required to be kept on-site or readily available as part of the SWPPP documentation?
- The original Notice of Intent (NOI) submitted to the regulatory agency.
- Inspection reports from all required site inspections.
- The personal qualifications and resume of the SWPPP designer. (Correct answer)
- Records of employee training related to SWPPP implementation.
Correct answer: The personal qualifications and resume of the SWPPP designer.
While the SWPPP must be prepared by a qualified person, their full resume or curriculum vitae is not a required record to be kept with the on-site SWPPP. The plan should identify the stormwater team members and their responsibilities. However, the permit coverage letter, NOI, inspection reports, training logs, and records of any corrective actions are all essential compliance documents that must be maintained.
Question 3: A construction site operator has completed all construction activities and established a uniform, perennial vegetative cover with a density of 85% across all previously disturbed areas. What is the next critical step for the operator regarding their NPDES permit?
- Continue weekly inspections for a full calendar year to ensure vegetation survival.
- Amend the SWPPP to reflect the 'post-construction' phase.
- Submit a Notice of Termination (NOT) to the permitting authority. (Correct answer)
- Send a letter to the local municipality certifying project completion.
Correct answer: Submit a Notice of Termination (NOT) to the permitting authority.
Once a construction site has met the final stabilization requirements defined in the permit (e.g., achieving 70% or greater permanent vegetative cover), the operator is eligible to terminate their permit coverage. To do this, they must submit a formal Notice of Termination (NOT) to the permitting authority (like the EPA or state agency). Until the NOT is submitted and approved, the operator remains responsible for permit compliance.
Question 4: During a site walk, a CESSWI identifies that a subcontractor's new staging area for material storage is located in an area not designated on the SWPPP site map and lacks required perimeter controls. This represents a failure in what critical aspect of SWPPP management?
- Final stabilization.
- Permit termination.
- Plan implementation and communication. (Correct answer)
- Effluent limitation monitoring.
Correct answer: Plan implementation and communication.
The SWPPP is a living document that must accurately reflect site conditions. Failing to place controls around a new staging area and not updating the site map shows a breakdown in implementing the plan as written and communicating SWPPP requirements to all personnel, including subcontractors. All contractors and subcontractors on site are responsible for implementing parts of the SWPPP.
Question 5: All personnel involved in activities that could impact stormwater quality must receive training. What is the primary purpose of documenting this training and keeping records with the SWPPP?
- To provide a defense against any citizen lawsuits.
- To demonstrate compliance with a specific requirement of the Construction General Permit. (Correct answer)
- To track employee performance for annual reviews.
- To allow for billing the client for training-related expenses.
Correct answer: To demonstrate compliance with a specific requirement of the Construction General Permit.
The Construction General Permit explicitly requires that personnel receive training on stormwater pollution prevention measures. Maintaining a log of who was trained, the date, and the topics covered is a required record-keeping activity to demonstrate to regulators that the permittee is complying with the training requirements of the permit.
Question 6: Which of the following is the most accurate description of the relationship between the Comprehensive SWPPP (C-SWPPP) and the On-Site SWPPP (OS-SWPPP)?
- The OS-SWPPP is a preliminary draft, while the C-SWPPP is the final, approved version.
- The C-SWPPP is for industrial sites, and the OS-SWPPP is for construction sites.
- The C-SWPPP contains all documents submitted for permit coverage, while the OS-SWPPP is the version kept on-site, often excluding large engineering reports but including logs and inspection records. (Correct answer)
- The OS-SWPPP is only required for sites larger than 50 acres, while the C-SWPPP is required for all sites.
Correct answer: The C-SWPPP contains all documents submitted for permit coverage, while the OS-SWPPP is the version kept on-site, often excluding large engineering reports but including logs and inspection records.
The Comprehensive SWPPP (C-SWPPP) includes the full collection of documents submitted for permit coverage, such as the NOI, site plans, and detailed engineering reports. The On-Site SWPPP (OS-SWPPP) is the version maintained at the construction site. It is often a condensed version that includes the essential elements of the C-SWPPP plus active, site-specific records like inspection logs, training records, and corrective action reports, but may exclude bulky engineering reports for practicality.
CESSWI - Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector SWPPP and Plan Management Questions and Answers
A SWPPP must be amended within a specific timeframe after certain events.
Which of the following scenarios triggers a mandatory SWPPP amendment under the typical EPA Construction General Permit (CGP)?