CESSWI Site Inspection Procedures 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which condition would cause an inspector to classify a sediment basin as non-functional?
- Presence of emergent vegetation along the basin shoreline
- Sediment accumulation reaching one-third of the basin's design storage capacity (Correct answer)
- Water surface showing a slight sheen from normal site runoff
- Riser pipe outlet showing minor erosion at the toe
Correct answer: Sediment accumulation reaching one-third of the basin's design storage capacity
Most design standards require sediment basins to be cleaned when sediment accumulates to one-third of the design storage volume to maintain treatment capacity.
Question 2: What documentation must be retained on-site or made available during a regulatory inspection under the EPA CGP?
- Only the most recent inspection report
- The SWPPP, all inspection reports, and records of corrective actions (Correct answer)
- The contractor's insurance certificate and bonding information
- Equipment maintenance logs and operator certifications
Correct answer: The SWPPP, all inspection reports, and records of corrective actions
The CGP requires that the SWPPP, all inspection reports, and corrective action records be retained and made available to regulators upon request.
Question 3: An inspector finds that a slope with disturbed soil has been left un-stabilized for 20 days without any temporary cover. The applicable CGP requires stabilization within 14 days. How should this be documented?
- As an observation only, since no sediment has left the site yet
- As a corrective action item with the number of days past the stabilization deadline noted (Correct answer)
- As a compliant condition because the slope has not actively eroded
- Defer documentation until the next scheduled inspection
Correct answer: As a corrective action item with the number of days past the stabilization deadline noted
Exceeding the stabilization deadline is a permit violation that must be documented as a corrective action item, including the number of days the deadline has been exceeded.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a 'stabilized construction exit' at a site perimeter?
- To slow construction vehicles to protect roadway pavement
- To remove sediment and mud from vehicle tires before they access public roadways (Correct answer)
- To prevent unauthorized vehicle access to the site
- To comply with OSHA safety regulations for contractor egress
Correct answer: To remove sediment and mud from vehicle tires before they access public roadways
Stabilized exits use aggregate or other materials to dislodge and trap sediment from vehicle tires, preventing tracking of mud onto public roads.
Question 5: When evaluating the effectiveness of hydroseeding applied to a disturbed area, what is the minimum percent vegetative cover typically required before an area is considered 'finally stabilized'?
- 25% cover of native or non-invasive vegetation
- 50% cover of any vegetation type
- 70% cover of native or non-invasive vegetation (Correct answer)
- 100% cover with no bare soil visible
Correct answer: 70% cover of native or non-invasive vegetation
The EPA CGP defines final stabilization as achieving 70% vegetative cover of native or non-invasive species over all disturbed areas.
Question 6: During an inspection, a contractor claims that a BMP was installed correctly but a recent storm damaged it before the inspector's visit. What is the appropriate inspection response?
- Accept the contractor's explanation and note no deficiency
- Document the current condition as a deficiency and require corrective action regardless of cause (Correct answer)
- Extend the corrective action deadline by the number of storm days
- Waive the deficiency only if the contractor provides photo evidence of the original installation
Correct answer: Document the current condition as a deficiency and require corrective action regardless of cause
Inspectors must document conditions as found; storm damage does not exempt a site from corrective action requirements since BMPs must be maintained to function during future storms.
Question 7: Which parameter is most useful for an inspector to record at a stormwater discharge point to quickly assess potential sediment impact without lab analysis?
- Air temperature at time of inspection
- Visual color and clarity of the discharged water (Correct answer)
- Flow rate measured with a weir board
- Conductivity in microsiemens per centimeter
Correct answer: Visual color and clarity of the discharged water
Visual assessment of water color and clarity is a quick field indicator of turbidity and suspended sediment that inspectors use at discharge points without lab equipment.
CESSWI Site Inspection Procedures 4
Which condition would cause an inspector to classify a sediment basin as non-functional?