CPESC Permit Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the NPDES Construction General Permit, what is the typical acreage threshold that triggers permit coverage requirements?
- 0.5 acres
- 1 acre (Correct answer)
- 2 acres
- 5 acres
Correct answer: 1 acre
The NPDES Construction General Permit generally requires coverage for land-disturbing activities affecting 1 acre or more.
Question 2: Which document must be prepared and implemented before land disturbance begins on a project requiring NPDES permit coverage?
- Grading Variance Report
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) (Correct answer)
- Environmental Impact Statement
- Floodplain Management Plan
Correct answer: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) must be prepared and implemented prior to land disturbance under NPDES permit requirements.
Question 3: A developer plans to disturb 3 separate parcels of 0.4 acres each within the same larger common plan of development. What is the correct permit approach?
- Each parcel is under 1 acre so no permit is needed
- Only the largest parcel requires a permit
- All parcels together exceed 1 acre and require permit coverage (Correct answer)
- A variance can be obtained to avoid permitting
Correct answer: All parcels together exceed 1 acre and require permit coverage
The 'common plan of development' provision aggregates disturbed acreage, requiring permit coverage when the total exceeds 1 acre.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the context of NPDES construction permits?
- To formally notify neighboring property owners of construction
- To request authorization to discharge stormwater under the general permit (Correct answer)
- To apply for a variance from local grading ordinances
- To notify the EPA of project completion
Correct answer: To request authorization to discharge stormwater under the general permit
An NOI is submitted to the permitting authority to obtain coverage under the NPDES Construction General Permit for stormwater discharges.
Question 5: Which party is primarily responsible for ensuring NPDES permit compliance on a construction site?
- The municipal stormwater authority
- The project engineer of record
- The owner/operator of the construction activity (Correct answer)
- The CPESC inspecting the site
Correct answer: The owner/operator of the construction activity
The owner or operator of the construction activity bears primary legal responsibility for NPDES permit compliance.
Question 6: When must a Notice of Termination (NOT) be filed for an NPDES construction permit?
- 30 days before construction ends
- When final stabilization has been achieved and all BMPs are removed (Correct answer)
- After the first significant rainfall following grading completion
- When 90% of the site has been stabilized
Correct answer: When final stabilization has been achieved and all BMPs are removed
An NOT is filed after the site reaches final stabilization, all temporary BMPs are removed, and there are no longer construction-related discharges.
Question 7: Which federal regulation forms the legal basis for the NPDES stormwater permitting program for construction activities?
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Clean Water Act Section 402 (Correct answer)
- Safe Drinking Water Act
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Correct answer: Clean Water Act Section 402
Clean Water Act Section 402 establishes the NPDES program, which regulates discharges including stormwater from construction sites.
CPESC Permit Requirements 2
Under the NPDES Construction General Permit, what is the typical acreage threshold that triggers permit coverage requirements?