Regulations and Compliance Flashcards
7 cards from real CESSWI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Regulations and Compliance flashcards as text
Under most state MS4 permits, what minimum level of permanent vegetation cover is typically required before a disturbed area is considered 'finally stabilized' and permit coverage can be terminated?
Answer: 70% uniform vegetative cover
Most permits define final stabilization as achieving at least 70% uniform perennial vegetative cover, or equivalent stabilization methods.
A construction site inspection reveals that the SWPPP has not been updated to reflect a design change that relocated the site's primary sediment basin. Which regulatory provision does this most directly violate?
Answer: The requirement to maintain the SWPPP as an accurate, current document reflecting actual site conditions
Permit conditions require that the SWPPP be kept current and reflect actual BMP locations and site conditions throughout construction.
Which federal law establishes the framework for protecting wetlands adjacent to construction sites and requires mitigation for unavoidable impacts?
Answer: The Clean Water Act Section 404 and associated regulatory guidance
CWA Section 404 requires USACE permits for wetland fill and mandates mitigation (avoid, minimize, compensate) for unavoidable wetland impacts.
What is the role of an Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) plan in the context of regulatory compliance for construction projects?
Answer: It documents site-specific BMPs for controlling erosion and sediment, often required by local ordinance and incorporated into the SWPPP
ESC plans document erosion and sediment control measures required by local authorities and are typically incorporated as part of the site's SWPPP.
A CESSWI inspector reviewing site records finds that corrective actions identified in a previous inspection were not implemented within the required timeframe. How should this be documented?
Answer: A new inspection report should note the repeat finding and the failure to correct within the required period
Repeat or unresolved findings must be documented in subsequent inspection reports as ongoing violations, creating an accurate compliance record.
Which of the following best describes the 'common plan of development or sale' concept as it applies to NPDES construction stormwater thresholds?
Answer: It aggregates contiguous or nearby parcels developed under a common plan to determine whether the 1-acre permit threshold is met
Related parcels developed under a common plan are aggregated to determine total disturbance area, even if individual phases are under 1 acre.
Under EPA enforcement authority, which type of penalty can be assessed for each day a construction site is in violation of its NPDES stormwater permit?
Answer: Civil administrative penalties of up to $25,000 per day of violation
EPA can assess civil administrative penalties of up to $25,000 per day per violation for NPDES permit noncompliance under CWA Section 309.