CESSWI Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a stabilized construction entrance/exit (also called a rock pad or wheel wash) under pollution prevention requirements?
- To create a permeable surface that allows stormwater to infiltrate before leaving the site
- To reduce the tracking of mud and sediment onto public roads by construction vehicles (Correct answer)
- To serve as a secondary containment area for fuel and chemical storage
- To provide a designated area for concrete truck washout operations
Correct answer: To reduce the tracking of mud and sediment onto public roads by construction vehicles
Stabilized construction entrances are designed to dislodge mud and debris from vehicle tires so it does not get tracked onto public roadways, where it can be washed into storm drains.
Question 2: During a site inspection, you observe vehicle maintenance being performed on bare soil near a drainage channel. Which pollution prevention concern is MOST significant?
- Excessive noise from engine operations near residential areas
- Potential petroleum product spills contaminating stormwater runoff (Correct answer)
- Increased dust generation from vehicle movement on unpaved surfaces
- Risk of workers slipping on wet soil during maintenance activities
Correct answer: Potential petroleum product spills contaminating stormwater runoff
Vehicle maintenance on bare soil near drainage channels creates a direct pathway for petroleum products (oil, hydraulic fluid, fuel) to enter stormwater conveyances and downstream water bodies.
Question 3: Under NPDES construction stormwater permits, non-stormwater discharges from a construction site are generally:
- Always permitted as long as they are less than 100 gallons per day
- Prohibited unless specifically authorized in the permit or excluded by regulation (Correct answer)
- Allowed during daylight hours without restriction if diluted to acceptable levels
- Permitted if the contractor notifies the local municipality 48 hours in advance
Correct answer: Prohibited unless specifically authorized in the permit or excluded by regulation
Non-stormwater discharges are prohibited under NPDES construction permits unless they are specifically listed as authorized exceptions (such as uncontaminated groundwater dewatering) or are separately permitted.
Question 4: Which of the following construction activities requires a designated washout area to prevent discharge of process water to storm drains?
- Earthmoving with tracked excavators
- Concrete placement and finishing operations (Correct answer)
- Installation of silt fence along perimeter slopes
- Seeding and mulching of disturbed areas
Correct answer: Concrete placement and finishing operations
Concrete placement and finishing generates washout water with high pH and suspended solids, requiring a dedicated washout area to capture this process water and prevent it from reaching storm drains.
Question 5: A construction site SWPPP requires an inventory of materials that could contribute pollutants to stormwater. Which document is MOST commonly used to identify the hazardous properties of construction chemicals on this inventory?
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS), formerly known as MSDS (Correct answer)
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit application
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) narrative only
Correct answer: Safety Data Sheet (SDS), formerly known as MSDS
Safety Data Sheets (SDS), formerly Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), are the standard reference for identifying the environmental hazard properties, spill response procedures, and storage requirements for construction chemicals.
Question 6: Street sweeping of public roads adjacent to a construction site is primarily performed to address which stormwater pollution concern?
- Reduce vehicle noise from heavy construction truck traffic on roadways
- Remove tracked sediment and debris before it is washed into storm drains by rain (Correct answer)
- Improve site visibility for construction personnel operating heavy equipment
- Prevent pavement damage caused by excessive weight of sediment deposits
Correct answer: Remove tracked sediment and debris before it is washed into storm drains by rain
Street sweeping removes sediment tracked from construction sites onto public roads before rainfall events can mobilize that material into storm drains and downstream waterways.
Question 7: Under good housekeeping practices, construction site dumpsters used for general solid waste should be:
- Left uncovered to allow rainwater to drain naturally through the waste
- Covered or lidded to prevent stormwater from contacting and mobilizing waste materials (Correct answer)
- Positioned directly over storm drain inlets for convenient waste water disposal
- Cleaned weekly by pressure washing, with wash water discharged to the nearest channel
Correct answer: Covered or lidded to prevent stormwater from contacting and mobilizing waste materials
Dumpsters should be covered to prevent rain from contacting waste, which can generate contaminated leachate that runs off as polluted stormwater.
CESSWI Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping 2
What is the purpose of a stabilized construction entrance/exit (also called a rock pad or wheel wash) under pollution prevention requirements?