Inspection Procedures and Documentation Flashcards

What level of rainfall typically triggers a required post-storm inspection under most NPDES Construction General Permits?

Answer: 0.5 inches in a 24-hour period

Most NPDES Construction General Permits require a post-storm inspection within 24 hours of a storm event producing 0.5 inches or more of rainfall.

An inspector notices that a contractor has not documented any BMP inspections for the past three weeks. This indicates:

Answer: A potential permit violation for failure to conduct and document required inspections

Failure to conduct and document required inspections at the required frequency is a specific permit violation that can result in enforcement action regardless of whether BMPs are actually functioning.

Which of the following is a required element of a SWPPP?

Answer: A site map showing drainage patterns, BMP locations, and discharge points

The SWPPP must include a site map clearly showing topography, drainage patterns, all BMP locations, areas of land disturbance, and points of stormwater discharge from the site.

What does final stabilization mean in the context of NPDES permit termination?

Answer: All disturbed areas have a uniform perennial vegetative cover of at least 70% or equivalent permanent stabilization measure

Final stabilization is achieved when all disturbed areas have established a perennial vegetative cover with at least 70% density, or when equivalent non-vegetative permanent stabilization such as pavement or riprap has been applied.

Why is it important to include the weather conditions at the time of inspection in inspection reports?

Answer: To establish context for BMP performance observations and demonstrate the inspection met permit requirements

Documenting weather conditions contextualizes BMP performance and demonstrates that inspections were actually conducted as required, since a functioning BMP observed during dry weather versus after rainfall tells a different compliance story.

A discharge point on a construction site SWPPP map is defined as:

Answer: Any location where stormwater leaves the construction site boundary

Discharge points are all locations where stormwater runoff exits the construction site boundary, and each must be identified on the SWPPP site map and monitored during inspections.