CESSWI Inspection Procedures and Duties 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a post-storm inspection, an inspector finds that a check dam in a swale has been overtopped and partially washed out. What is the correct first step?
- Wait for the swale to dry before assessing damage
- Document the damage with photos and require repair within the timeframe specified by the permit (Correct answer)
- Remove the damaged check dam entirely
- Install a larger culvert in its place
Correct answer: Document the damage with photos and require repair within the timeframe specified by the permit
Post-storm damage must be documented and repaired within permit-specified timeframes, typically within 7 days, to restore BMP function before the next rain event.
Question 2: Which condition would MOST likely trigger an inspector to recommend a SWPPP amendment?
- Seasonal change from spring to summer
- A change in site conditions, phasing, or new pollutant sources not covered in the original SWPPP (Correct answer)
- The addition of a second inspector to the project
- Replacement of a silt fence with an identical silt fence
Correct answer: A change in site conditions, phasing, or new pollutant sources not covered in the original SWPPP
SWPPP amendments are required when site conditions, construction phasing, or pollutant sources change in ways not addressed by the original plan.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of maintaining a chain of evidence and photographic documentation during a CESSWI inspection?
- To satisfy social media reporting requirements
- To provide a legally defensible record of site conditions and compliance status (Correct answer)
- To help contractors identify their best workers
- To create marketing material for the inspection firm
Correct answer: To provide a legally defensible record of site conditions and compliance status
Thorough photographic and written documentation creates a defensible record that can be used in enforcement actions, legal proceedings, or compliance demonstrations.
Question 4: An inspector observes concrete washout occurring directly on the ground without a designated washout area. This is a concern primarily because:
- Concrete is too heavy for the soil to support
- Concrete washout water is highly alkaline and can kill aquatic life if it reaches waterways (Correct answer)
- Workers may slip on wet concrete
- Concrete washout uses too much water
Correct answer: Concrete washout water is highly alkaline and can kill aquatic life if it reaches waterways
Concrete washout water has a very high pH (often above 11) and contains metals that are toxic to aquatic organisms, making containment critical.
Question 5: When inspecting a stabilized construction entrance, the inspector should verify that:
- The entrance is paved with asphalt for permanence
- The stone apron is adequate depth, width, and length to remove mud from vehicle tires (Correct answer)
- Only concrete trucks are allowed to use the entrance
- A wash rack is installed at every entrance
Correct answer: The stone apron is adequate depth, width, and length to remove mud from vehicle tires
A stabilized construction entrance must have sufficient stone depth (typically 6 inches), width (12 feet minimum), and length (50 feet minimum) to function as a tire-cleaning BMP.
Question 6: Who is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the SWPPP is implemented and maintained on a construction site?
- The CESSWI inspector hired by the regulatory agency
- The permittee (owner/operator) of the construction site (Correct answer)
- The equipment rental company
- The local municipality's public works department
Correct answer: The permittee (owner/operator) of the construction site
The permittee (typically the owner or general contractor) holds the NPDES permit and bears legal responsibility for SWPPP implementation and maintenance.
Question 7: An inspector finds that vegetation on a previously disturbed slope has less than 70% cover. What does this indicate?
- The site can be considered permanently stabilized
- The stabilization is inadequate and active erosion control BMPs must remain in place (Correct answer)
- The vegetation is sufficient if the slope is less than 3:1
- Only annual grasses are required for stabilization
Correct answer: The stabilization is inadequate and active erosion control BMPs must remain in place
Most NPDES permits require at least 70% uniform vegetative cover before a disturbed area is considered finally stabilized and BMPs can be removed.
CESSWI Inspection Procedures and Duties 3
During a post-storm inspection, an inspector finds that a check dam in a swale has been overtopped and partially washed out.
What is the correct first step?