CESSWI Regulatory Compliance & Reporting 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)?
- To eliminate all stormwater runoff from a construction site
- To document BMPs that minimize pollutant discharges to receiving waters (Correct answer)
- To satisfy zoning requirements for grading permits
- To calculate peak runoff rates for drainage design
Correct answer: To document BMPs that minimize pollutant discharges to receiving waters
A SWPPP identifies and documents the BMPs that will be implemented to minimize the discharge of pollutants in stormwater from a construction site.
Question 2: Under the NPDES CGP, who is responsible for ensuring the SWPPP is implemented and updated throughout the construction project?
- The local municipality's stormwater department
- The operator(s) with day-to-day site control (Correct answer)
- The licensed professional who prepared the SWPPP
- The project owner only
Correct answer: The operator(s) with day-to-day site control
Operators with day-to-day operational control of the site are responsible for SWPPP implementation and must ensure it is current and correctly applied.
Question 3: Which Clean Water Act Section prohibits the discharge of any pollutant to navigable waters without a permit?
- Section 208
- Section 303
- Section 319
- Section 301 (Correct answer)
Correct 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.
Question 4: A SWPPP inspection reveals a silt fence has failed and sediment has left the site. What is the first required action under the NPDES CGP?
- Notify the EPA regional office within 24 hours
- Immediately repair the BMP and document the corrective action (Correct answer)
- File an amended NOI within 7 days
- Halt all construction activities until the violation is resolved
Correct answer: Immediately repair the BMP and document the corrective action
When a BMP failure is observed, the operator must immediately repair it and document the corrective action in the SWPPP inspection records.
Question 5: What does 'final stabilization' mean in the context of NPDES Construction General Permits?
- All grading work is complete
- A uniform perennial vegetative cover of 70% has been established, or equivalent stabilization measures are in place (Correct answer)
- The site has passed a final municipal inspection
- Temporary BMPs have been removed from the site
Correct answer: A uniform perennial vegetative cover of 70% has been established, or equivalent stabilization measures are in place
Final stabilization requires a uniform perennial vegetative cover with 70% density or equivalent non-vegetative measures over all disturbed areas with no potential for discharge.
Question 6: Which type of water is specifically exempt from NPDES Construction General Permit requirements when discharged from a construction site?
- Concrete washout water
- Uncontaminated foundation dewatering water meeting permit conditions (Correct answer)
- Turbid runoff from stockpiles
- Porta-potty wastewater
Correct answer: Uncontaminated foundation dewatering water meeting permit conditions
Many NPDES CGPs allow discharge of uncontaminated groundwater or foundation dewatering water provided it meets benchmark turbidity conditions and other requirements.
Question 7: State NPDES programs that are authorized by the EPA to administer stormwater permits are known as having what status?
- Delegated authority
- NPDES primacy (Correct answer)
- Federal equivalency
- Cooperative management
Correct answer: NPDES primacy
States approved by EPA to run their own NPDES permit programs are said to have 'primacy,' meaning they administer the program in place of the federal government.
CESSWI Regulatory Compliance & Reporting 3
What is the primary purpose of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)?