Mixed Deck — All CESSWI Topics Flashcards

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.

In a SWPPP, the 'good housekeeping' section typically covers:

Answer: Management of construction materials, waste, and spill prevention on-site

Good housekeeping provisions in a SWPPP address storage, handling, and disposal of construction materials and wastes to prevent pollutants from reaching storm water.

On a 2:1 slope where vegetation needs to be established, which Rolled Erosion Control Product (RECP) would be most suitable to protect the seed and soil until the vegetation takes root?

Answer: An erosion control blanket made of straw or coconut fiber.

Erosion control blankets (ECBs) made of natural fibers like straw or coconut are specifically designed to protect seed and soil on slopes, slow water velocity, and promote germination. A lightweight netting alone offers minimal protection. A TRM is typically for high-flow channels or permanent reinforcement, which is more than needed for establishing simple vegetation. Loose straw mulch is less effective on a steep 2:1 slope and would likely require netting or tackifier to hold it in place.

Under good housekeeping practices, how should paints, solvents, and other hazardous construction chemicals be stored on site?

Answer: In original labeled containers under cover, within secondary containment, away from drains

Hazardous chemicals must remain in original labeled containers, be stored under cover within secondary containment, and be kept away from storm drains to prevent spills and runoff contamination.

What does a SWPPP stand for?

Answer: Storm Window Placement Project

In the context of stormwater management and the CESSWI certification, SWPPP stands for Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan. This comprehensive document outlines the Best Management Practices (BMPs) and procedures a construction site will implement to prevent stormwater pollution. It is a critical component of stormwater permits, detailing how a site will comply with environmental regulations.

Which factor in the RUSLE equation accounts for the ability of soil to resist detachment and transport by rainfall?

Answer: K factor (soil erodibility)

The K factor in RUSLE represents soil erodibility, reflecting the soil's susceptibility to detachment and transport by rainfall and runoff.

What is the primary purpose of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) under the Construction General Permit?

Answer: To document BMPs and site conditions to prevent pollutant discharge

A SWPPP identifies BMPs and site-specific measures to prevent stormwater pollution from reaching waters of the United States.

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'water quality volume' (WQv) in stormwater management?

Answer: The volume of runoff from a design storm used to size water quality BMPs

Water quality volume is the runoff volume from a specified small storm (often 1-inch or the 90th percentile event) used to size BMPs for pollutant removal and volume reduction.

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.

Which of the following scenarios would require the installation of a temporary diversion dike above a disturbed area?

Answer: Runoff from undisturbed upland areas drains across an active construction zone

Temporary diversion dikes intercept clean runoff from upland areas before it crosses disturbed ground, preventing it from picking up sediment and complicating stormwater management.

Under the NPDES Construction General Permit, which condition triggers the requirement to implement 'non-storm water management' erosion controls?

Answer: Discharge of irrigation water or dewatering effluent from a construction site

Non-stormwater discharges such as irrigation water or construction dewatering effluent require specific management BMPs because they are not precipitation-generated.

Which Clean Water Act Section prohibits the discharge of any pollutant to navigable waters without a permit?

Answer: Section 301

Clean Water Act Section 301 prohibits the discharge of pollutants to waters of the US except in compliance with a permit such as an NPDES permit.

During a post-storm inspection, an inspector finds that a silt fence has been undermined by concentrated flow. What does this indicate about the original BMP design?

Answer: The silt fence was placed in a concentrated flow path where it should not have been used

Silt fences are designed for sheet flow only; placement in concentrated flow areas is a fundamental design error that leads to failure.

Which vegetative BMP is BEST suited for stabilizing the banks of a constructed drainage channel carrying intermittent high-velocity flows?

Answer: Turf reinforcement mat (TRM) with seeding

Turf reinforcement mats provide structural reinforcement to established vegetation roots, allowing grass to withstand high-velocity flows that would otherwise erode bare or lightly vegetated banks.

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.

An inspector observes concrete washout waste that has been discharged to a drainage channel rather than the designated washout area. How should this be classified?

Answer: A significant non-compliance requiring immediate corrective action due to high pH and toxicity risk

Concrete washout discharged outside designated areas is a significant non-compliance because concrete slurry has a very high pH that is acutely toxic to aquatic life.

When an inspector identifies that a subcontractor—not the prime contractor—has caused an erosion violation, who bears regulatory responsibility?

Answer: The permit holder (typically the owner or prime contractor) remains responsible and must ensure correction

Under most NPDES construction general permits, the permit holder is ultimately responsible for all earth-disturbing activities on the site, including subcontractor work.

What is the primary goal of a site inspection?

Answer: Verify BMPs and compliance

The primary goal of a stormwater site inspection is to verify that Best Management Practices (BMPs) are correctly installed, maintained, and functioning as intended. Inspectors also ensure that the site is in compliance with all applicable stormwater permits and regulations. This proactive approach helps prevent pollution and protect water quality.

A construction project disturbs 0.8 acres. Under federal NPDES rules, is a permit required?

Answer: No, only sites disturbing 1 acre or more require a permit

Federal NPDES Construction General Permits apply to sites disturbing 1 acre or more of land, so a 0.8-acre project does not trigger the federal permit threshold.

Which record type is used to document that a contractor received and understood the SWPPP requirements before beginning earth disturbance?

Answer: Subcontractor acknowledgment form or training record

Subcontractor acknowledgment forms (or training records) document that workers responsible for BMP installation and maintenance have been informed of SWPPP requirements before disturbing soil.