CESSWI Inspection Procedures and Duties 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scenario represents a 'significant non-compliance' event that typically requires expedited regulatory reporting?
- A silt fence post that is leaning slightly
- An unpermitted discharge of sediment-laden water to a water of the United States (Correct answer)
- A safety cone placed outside the designated area
- A site map that is slightly out of date
Correct answer: An unpermitted discharge of sediment-laden water to a water of the United States
An unpermitted discharge to waters of the US is a significant non-compliance event under most NPDES permits, requiring immediate corrective action and often accelerated reporting to the regulatory agency.
Question 2: When inspecting a sediment retention pond outlet structure, what is the inspector checking by examining the riser barrel and anti-seep collar?
- Whether the pond has sufficient fish habitat
- Whether seepage or piping through or around the embankment could cause structural failure (Correct answer)
- Whether the pond is deep enough for migratory birds
- Whether the riser height matches the original design aesthetics
Correct answer: Whether seepage or piping through or around the embankment could cause structural failure
Anti-seep collars are designed to prevent piping failures along the barrel; inspectors check for signs of seepage, settlement, or erosion around the outlet structure that could indicate embankment instability.
Question 3: A CESSWI inspector identifies a BMP deficiency during an inspection. The timeframe for corrective action under most construction general permits is typically:
- Immediately (within hours) for all deficiencies regardless of severity
- Within 7 calendar days for most deficiencies, with some requiring immediate action for active discharges (Correct answer)
- Within 90 days to allow contractor scheduling
- At the end of the construction project
Correct answer: Within 7 calendar days for most deficiencies, with some requiring immediate action for active discharges
Most CGPs require non-emergency deficiencies to be corrected within 7 calendar days, while active discharges or high-risk conditions may require immediate action.
Question 4: The inspector's duty regarding confidentiality of inspection findings primarily means:
- Inspection reports should be kept secret from the permittee
- Inspection records are typically public documents but should not be selectively shared to benefit one party over another (Correct answer)
- The inspector may sell inspection data to competitors of the permittee
- Findings should only be shared with the inspector's employer, never with regulators
Correct answer: Inspection records are typically public documents but should not be selectively shared to benefit one party over another
Inspection records under NPDES programs are generally public documents subject to disclosure laws; the inspector must handle them objectively without favoritism to any party.
Question 5: When assessing the effectiveness of a fiber wattle (straw roll) installed on a slope, which observation indicates the BMP is performing correctly?
- The wattle is completely buried under eroded sediment
- The wattle is anchored securely, perpendicular to slope flow, with no undercutting or bypass channels (Correct answer)
- The wattle has been removed and replaced with bare soil
- The wattle is installed parallel to the slope contours on the uphill side only
Correct answer: The wattle is anchored securely, perpendicular to slope flow, with no undercutting or bypass channels
A properly installed fiber wattle is staked perpendicular to flow direction with ends turned uphill to prevent bypass, and must show no signs of undercutting or flow routing around it.
Question 6: What is the primary reason inspectors should document the condition of stormwater BMPs at the START of a rain event as well as after?
- To bill the client for additional inspection hours
- Pre-storm documentation establishes a baseline to determine whether damage occurred during the storm or was pre-existing neglect (Correct answer)
- To comply with OSHA workplace safety requirements
- To estimate how much rainfall the site received
Correct answer: Pre-storm documentation establishes a baseline to determine whether damage occurred during the storm or was pre-existing neglect
Pre-storm baseline documentation allows the inspector to differentiate between storm damage (which may require repair timelines) and pre-storm neglect (which may indicate earlier non-compliance).
Question 7: A construction site near a sensitive waterway has a requirement for a 'buffer zone' around the stream. During inspection, equipment tracks are found within the buffer. What should the inspector do?
- Ignore it if no visible erosion has occurred yet
- Document the encroachment, cite the violation, and require remediation of the buffer area per permit conditions (Correct answer)
- Allow the contractor to re-vegetate the buffer at project end without citing a violation
- Expand the buffer boundary to exclude the disturbed area
Correct answer: Document the encroachment, cite the violation, and require remediation of the buffer area per permit conditions
Buffer zone encroachment is a permit violation regardless of whether visible erosion has occurred yet; it must be documented, cited, and remediated to protect the waterway.
CESSWI Inspection Procedures and Duties 5
Which scenario represents a 'significant non-compliance' event that typically requires expedited regulatory reporting?