CESSWI SWPPP and Plan Management 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the EPA CGP, which of the following sites is exempt from SWPPP requirements?
- A 2-acre single-family residential lot in a permitted subdivision
- A 0.4-acre commercial lot with no connection to a common plan of development (Correct answer)
- A 1.5-acre school construction project draining to a lake
- A 3-acre road widening project
Correct answer: A 0.4-acre commercial lot with no connection to a common plan of development
Sites disturbing less than 1 acre that are not part of a larger common plan of development are not required to obtain CGP coverage or prepare a SWPPP.
Question 2: A SWPPP inspection form should document all of the following EXCEPT:
- Name and qualifications of the inspector
- Weather conditions at the time of inspection
- Names and contact information of adjacent property owners (Correct answer)
- Date and time of the inspection
Correct answer: Names and contact information of adjacent property owners
Inspection reports must document inspector credentials, weather, date, time, BMP conditions, and corrective actions — adjacent property owner contacts are not required elements.
Question 3: What is the significance of a 'Notice of Termination' (NOT) in SWPPP management?
- It terminates the general contractor's liability for the project
- It formally ends permit coverage once the site meets final stabilization criteria (Correct answer)
- It cancels a stop-work order
- It notifies subcontractors that their work scope is complete
Correct answer: It formally ends permit coverage once the site meets final stabilization criteria
The NOT is submitted to the permitting authority to officially terminate NPDES CGP coverage after the site has achieved final stabilization and all temporary BMPs are removed.
Question 4: Which of the following changes to a construction project would NOT typically require a SWPPP amendment?
- Adding a new batch plant to the site
- Changing the grading contractor (Correct answer)
- Extending the project completion date
- Shifting the location of a temporary sediment basin
Correct answer: Changing the grading contractor
Changing the grading contractor is an administrative change; it does not alter site conditions, drainage, or BMPs, so a SWPPP amendment is generally not required.
Question 5: In a SWPPP, the 'good housekeeping' section typically covers:
- Maintenance schedules for heavy equipment
- Management of construction materials, waste, and spill prevention on-site (Correct answer)
- Employee hygiene standards on the job site
- Landscaping and aesthetic site maintenance
Correct answer: Management of construction materials, waste, and spill prevention on-site
Good housekeeping provisions in a SWPPP address storage, handling, and disposal of construction materials and wastes to prevent pollutants from reaching storm water.
Question 6: A site discharges to a water body listed as impaired for sediment under Section 303(d). What additional SWPPP requirement may apply?
- A doubled perimeter control setback
- Enhanced or more stringent BMPs and possibly a TMDL wasteload allocation (Correct answer)
- Automatic issuance of a stop-work order
- Mandatory third-party inspection program
Correct answer: Enhanced or more stringent BMPs and possibly a TMDL wasteload allocation
Discharges to 303(d) impaired waters for the same pollutant may trigger requirements for enhanced BMPs, numeric benchmarks, or compliance with an applicable TMDL wasteload allocation.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of the 'implementation schedule' section of a SWPPP?
- To list the cost of each BMP
- To sequence BMP installation relative to the phases of construction activity (Correct answer)
- To document inspector qualifications
- To identify the permit application deadline
Correct answer: To sequence BMP installation relative to the phases of construction activity
The implementation schedule ensures that each BMP is installed before or concurrent with the construction phase that creates the corresponding pollutant risk.
CESSWI SWPPP and Plan Management 4
Under the EPA CGP, which of the following sites is exempt from SWPPP requirements?