CEPSCI Inspection Procedures and Documentation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How often must construction site BMP inspections be conducted under most state NPDES Construction General Permits?
- Once per month
- At least every 7 days and within 24 hours after a 0.5-inch or greater rainfall event (Correct answer)
- Only before significant storms
- Annually
Correct answer: At least every 7 days and within 24 hours after a 0.5-inch or greater rainfall event
Most NPDES Construction General Permits require inspections at least every 7 calendar days and within 24 hours of a qualifying rainfall event to ensure BMPs are functioning properly.
Question 2: What information must be documented in a BMP inspection report?
- Worker names and salaries
- Date, inspector name, weather conditions, BMP status, any discharges, and corrective actions taken (Correct answer)
- Only instances of permit violations
- Only photographs of the site
Correct answer: Date, inspector name, weather conditions, BMP status, any discharges, and corrective actions taken
Inspection reports must document the date and time, inspector's name, weather conditions, condition and effectiveness of each BMP, any discharges observed, and corrective actions needed or taken.
Question 3: When a CEPSCI inspector finds a failed silt fence during an inspection, the first required action is to:
- Wait until the next scheduled maintenance
- Document the deficiency and ensure immediate repair within a specified timeframe (Correct answer)
- Notify the project architect
- Remove the failed BMP permanently
Correct answer: Document the deficiency and ensure immediate repair within a specified timeframe
Inspectors must document the deficiency and ensure corrective action is completed within the timeframe required by the permit, often 7 days or within 24 hours for active discharges.
Question 4: Which document must be available on a construction site at all times and presented to regulators upon request?
- The contractor's insurance certificate
- The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and current inspection records (Correct answer)
- The subcontractor list
- The equipment maintenance logs
Correct answer: The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and current inspection records
The SWPPP and all associated inspection records must be kept on-site and made available to regulatory inspectors upon request as a permit compliance requirement.
Question 5: What should a CEPSCI inspector do when they observe a discharge of sediment-laden water leaving the site?
- Ignore it if it appears minor
- Document the discharge with photos, time, and location, and initiate immediate corrective action (Correct answer)
- Wait until the next scheduled inspection
- Contact the project owner only if the discharge is large
Correct answer: Document the discharge with photos, time, and location, and initiate immediate corrective action
Any discharge of sediment-laden water must be documented immediately with photographs, location, time, and estimated volume, and corrective actions must be initiated promptly to stop and prevent recurrence.
Question 6: The SWPPP must be amended when:
- The project manager requests it
- Site conditions change, new BMPs are added, or inspections reveal existing controls are inadequate (Correct answer)
- Only at the end of the project
- Only after a regulatory inspection
Correct answer: Site conditions change, new BMPs are added, or inspections reveal existing controls are inadequate
The SWPPP is a living document that must be updated whenever site conditions change, BMPs are modified, or inspections indicate that current controls are not functioning adequately.
