CESSWI - Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector Inspection Procedures and Duties Questions and Answers

Question 1

An inspector is performing a routine weekly site inspection. According to the EPA's 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP), which of the following items is essential to document in the inspection report?

Accepted Answer

The visual quality of any discharges, including color, odor, and oily sheen.

Answer

Part 4.7 of the EPA's 2022 CGP explicitly requires that inspection reports document the visual quality of any stormwater discharges, noting characteristics like color, odor, floating or suspended solids, foam, and oily sheen. While other details are part of good site management, the visual assessment of discharges is a specific permit requirement for the report.

Question 2

During a pre-construction meeting, what is a CESSWI's primary duty regarding the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)?

Accepted Answer

To ensure key site personnel understand their specific roles and responsibilities for implementing and maintaining BMPs.

Answer

A key role of the inspector during a pre-construction meeting is to facilitate clear communication and understanding of the SWPPP's requirements. This includes clarifying the responsibilities for BMP installation, maintenance, inspections, and documentation among the contractors and site personnel to ensure the plan is implemented effectively from day one.

Question 3

A CESSWI finds a failed silt fence during an inspection on a Tuesday morning. The failure has resulted in a sediment deposit onto a public road. According to the EPA CGP, when must corrective action be documented?

Accepted Answer

Within 24 hours of discovering the failure, and a summary of modifications within 7 days.

Answer

The EPA CGP Part 5.4 requires a two-part documentation timeline for corrective actions. Within 24 hours of discovery, the inspector must document the specific condition. Then, within 7 calendar days of discovery, a summary of the corrective actions taken or to be taken, including a schedule, must be documented.

Question 4

Which of the following situations would trigger a mandatory amendment to the site's SWPPP?

Accepted Answer

The project manager decides to re-route a primary haul road and create a new 2-acre staging area.

Answer

SWPPPs are considered living documents and must be amended whenever there are changes in design, construction, operation, or maintenance that have a significant effect on the potential for the discharge of pollutants. Re-routing a haul road and adding a large new staging area fundamentally changes the site's drainage, potential pollutant sources, and necessary controls, thus requiring a SWPPP amendment.

Question 5

As an inspector, you are reviewing your duties for an active construction site. The site is required to conduct inspections once every 7 calendar days and within 24 hours of a storm event of 0.25 inches or greater. If a 0.5-inch storm ends at 8:00 AM on a Friday, and the last routine inspection was on Monday, what is the latest the post-storm inspection must be completed?

Accepted Answer

By 8:00 AM on Saturday.

Answer

Most construction general permits require post-storm inspections to be conducted within a specific timeframe after the storm event concludes. A common requirement is within 24 hours of the end of a qualifying storm. Therefore, if the storm ends at 8:00 AM on Friday, the inspection must be completed by 8:00 AM on Saturday.

(CESSWI) Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector Practice Test

(CESSWI) Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector Practice Test

CESSWI - Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector Inspection Procedures and Duties Questions and Answers