SWM DEQ Exam Question and Answer
(2026/2027) | Comprehensive Review
| Detailed Rationales
• What are the three prongs to the VESMP, in order? -✓✓ 1. Erosion and
sediment control (during construction, aka C-BMPs)
2. Pollution prevention practices (also during construction)
3. Post construction BMPs
• Explain erosion and sediment controls, C-BMPs -✓✓ vegetative and structural
practices used during construction to reduce erosion by keeping soil in place and
preventing sediment from leaving
• Explain pollution prevention practices -✓✓ used during construction, to prevent
releases of pollutants and contamination of stormwater from materials and
wastes used on construction sites
• what is the goal of the stormwater program? -✓✓ Protect state water quantity
and qaulity from unmanaged stormwater before, during, and after construction
• What is a land disturbing activity -✓✓ man-made changes to the land surface
that changes its runoff characteristics, such as clearing, grading, or excavation
• What are the regulated LDAs under the VESMP? -✓✓ 1. greater than or equal to
1 acre; also for projects under 1 acre but 10k sq ft or more in an area of a locality
that is not a Chesapeake Bay preservation area
, 2. Part of a larger common plan of development or sale that is greater than or
equal to 1 acre
3. Greater than 2500 sq ft in Chesapeake Bay preservation areas
4. or more stringent area as required by local ordinance
• What is the construction general permit? -✓✓ authorizes discharges from
construction activities, required for LDAs greater than or equal to 1 acre, also
required for projects less than 1 acre but part of a common plan of development
or sale that is greater than or equal to 1 acre.
• What is a common plan of development or sale? -✓✓ a contiguous area where
separate and distinct construction activities may be taking place at different times
on different schedules.
• What are Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (CBPA) LDAs? -✓✓ Areas near the
bay that, if improperly developed, may result in substantial damage to the water
quality of the bay and its tributaries. Includes resource protection areas and
resource management areas. They range in size from 2500 sq ft to 1 acre.
• CBPA LDAs do NOT require what? -✓✓ CGP coverage because less than an acre,
pollution prevention plans, additional control measures for TMDLs, use of DEQs
online reporting system
• CBPA LDAs require what? -✓✓ Approved ESC plan, approved SWM plan, local
approval to start land disturbance, long-term maintenance agreements, and
construction record drawings
(2026/2027) | Comprehensive Review
| Detailed Rationales
• What are the three prongs to the VESMP, in order? -✓✓ 1. Erosion and
sediment control (during construction, aka C-BMPs)
2. Pollution prevention practices (also during construction)
3. Post construction BMPs
• Explain erosion and sediment controls, C-BMPs -✓✓ vegetative and structural
practices used during construction to reduce erosion by keeping soil in place and
preventing sediment from leaving
• Explain pollution prevention practices -✓✓ used during construction, to prevent
releases of pollutants and contamination of stormwater from materials and
wastes used on construction sites
• what is the goal of the stormwater program? -✓✓ Protect state water quantity
and qaulity from unmanaged stormwater before, during, and after construction
• What is a land disturbing activity -✓✓ man-made changes to the land surface
that changes its runoff characteristics, such as clearing, grading, or excavation
• What are the regulated LDAs under the VESMP? -✓✓ 1. greater than or equal to
1 acre; also for projects under 1 acre but 10k sq ft or more in an area of a locality
that is not a Chesapeake Bay preservation area
, 2. Part of a larger common plan of development or sale that is greater than or
equal to 1 acre
3. Greater than 2500 sq ft in Chesapeake Bay preservation areas
4. or more stringent area as required by local ordinance
• What is the construction general permit? -✓✓ authorizes discharges from
construction activities, required for LDAs greater than or equal to 1 acre, also
required for projects less than 1 acre but part of a common plan of development
or sale that is greater than or equal to 1 acre.
• What is a common plan of development or sale? -✓✓ a contiguous area where
separate and distinct construction activities may be taking place at different times
on different schedules.
• What are Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (CBPA) LDAs? -✓✓ Areas near the
bay that, if improperly developed, may result in substantial damage to the water
quality of the bay and its tributaries. Includes resource protection areas and
resource management areas. They range in size from 2500 sq ft to 1 acre.
• CBPA LDAs do NOT require what? -✓✓ CGP coverage because less than an acre,
pollution prevention plans, additional control measures for TMDLs, use of DEQs
online reporting system
• CBPA LDAs require what? -✓✓ Approved ESC plan, approved SWM plan, local
approval to start land disturbance, long-term maintenance agreements, and
construction record drawings
