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 the CWA, 'waters of the United States' (WOTUS) is important because it defines the geographic scope of which regulatory program?
Answer: NPDES permit jurisdiction and Section 404 wetland permits
WOTUS defines which water bodies fall under federal CWA jurisdiction, triggering NPDES and Section 404 permit requirements.
A contractor installs a concrete washout area on-site without any liner. Which regulatory concern does this most directly trigger?
Answer: Potential unpermitted discharge of pH-elevated wastewater to stormwater
Unlined concrete washouts can leach alkaline wastewater into stormwater, constituting an unpermitted pollutant discharge under NPDES.
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for which activity?
Answer: Discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States
Section 404 permits issued by USACE are required for discharging dredged or fill material into jurisdictional waters and wetlands.
What does a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) establish for an impaired water body?
Answer: The maximum amount of a pollutant a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards
A TMDL sets the maximum pollutant load a water body can assimilate while still meeting applicable water quality standards.
A CESSWI inspector discovers that a permitted construction site is discharging turbid stormwater directly to a stream without functional BMPs. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
Answer: Document the violation, notify the site operator, and report to the permitting authority
Inspectors document noncompliance and notify operators and the regulatory authority; federal enforcement authority rests with the permitting agency, not the inspector.
Which federal agency has primary enforcement authority for NPDES violations at construction sites in states without authorized NPDES programs?
Answer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA retains direct NPDES enforcement authority in states that have not received EPA authorization to administer their own permit programs.
Under the EPA Construction General Permit, which of the following pollutants from construction sites requires specific BMP controls beyond sediment?
Answer: Concrete washout, paint, and fuel stored on site
The CGP requires BMPs to address non-sediment pollutants including concrete washout, fuels, oils, paints, and other chemicals stored or used on site.