Virginia Landfill Operator License Exam
120-Question Practice Exam with Answers & Rationales
1. Which state agency has primary regulatory authority over solid waste
landfills in Virginia?
A. Virginia Department of Health
B. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
C. U.S. EPA Region 3
D. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Correct Answer: B. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Rationale: DEQ administers and enforces the Virginia Solid Waste Management
Regulations and issues solid waste facility permits.
2. The Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations are codified in which
section of the Virginia Administrative Code?
A. 9VAC20-81
B. 9VAC25-31
C. 9VAC5-40
D. 9VAC20-60
Correct Answer: A. 9VAC20-81
Rationale: 9VAC20-81 is the Solid Waste Management Regulations governing
permitting, design, and operation of landfills in Virginia.
3. Under Virginia regulations, an individual who directly supervises the daily
operation of a landfill must hold what credential?
A. A commercial driver's license
B. A certified landfill operator license
C. A professional engineer license
D. A hazardous waste generator ID
Correct Answer: B. A certified landfill operator license
Page 1
,Rationale: Virginia requires that solid waste facilities be operated under the direct
supervision of a DEQ-certified landfill operator.
4. How often must a certified landfill operator in Virginia renew their license?
A. Every year
B. Every 2 years
C. Every 3 years
D. Every 5 years
Correct Answer: C. Every 3 years
Rationale: Virginia operator certifications are renewed on a 3-year cycle, which
requires completion of continuing education hours.
5. What is the primary purpose of continuing education requirements for
certified operators?
A. To generate revenue for DEQ
B. To keep operators current on regulations, technology, and safe practices
C. To reduce the number of licensed operators
D. To satisfy federal OSHA mandates only
Correct Answer: B. To keep operators current on regulations, technology, and
safe practices
Rationale: Continuing education ensures operators stay current with evolving
regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
6. Which federal regulation forms the baseline design and operating standards
that Virginia's landfill regulations must be at least as stringent as?
A. RCRA Subtitle C
B. RCRA Subtitle D
C. CERCLA
D. Clean Water Act Section 404
Correct Answer: B. RCRA Subtitle D
Rationale: RCRA Subtitle D establishes the federal minimum criteria for municipal
solid waste landfills; states must be at least as protective.
7. A permit modification is generally required when a landfill operator wants to:
Page 2
, A. Change the daily cover soil source without altering design
B. Expand the permitted waste footprint
C. Replace a broken window in the scale house
D. Reschedule a routine equipment inspection
Correct Answer: B. Expand the permitted waste footprint
Rationale: Expanding the permitted disposal area is a significant change to facility
design/operation and requires a formal permit modification.
8. What document must a permitted landfill maintain on-site describing how the
facility will be operated?
A. A marketing brochure
B. An Operations Manual
C. A stockholder report
D. A weather log only
Correct Answer: B. An Operations Manual
Rationale: The Operations Manual, approved as part of the permit, details procedures
for waste acceptance, cover, monitoring, and emergency response.
9. Financial assurance requirements for landfills exist primarily to:
A. Pay operator salaries
B. Guarantee funds are available for closure, post-closure care, and corrective
action
C. Fund state park maintenance
D. Reduce landfill tipping fees
Correct Answer: B. Guarantee funds are available for closure, post-closure
care, and corrective action
Rationale: Financial assurance mechanisms ensure money is available to properly
close the facility and manage it for the required post-closure period even if the owner
becomes insolvent.
10. The post-closure care period for a municipal solid waste landfill is typically:
A. 1 year
B. 5 years
C. 10 years
Page 3
, D. 30 years
Correct Answer: D. 30 years
Rationale: Federal and Virginia regulations require a minimum 30-year post-closure
monitoring and maintenance period unless extended or reduced by the director based
on risk.
11. Which type of waste is generally prohibited from disposal at a municipal
solid waste landfill without special authorization?
A. Household trash
B. Bulky yard waste
C. Regulated hazardous waste
D. Construction debris
Correct Answer: C. Regulated hazardous waste
Rationale: RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste is banned from Subtitle D municipal
landfills unless the facility has specific authorization to manage it as conditionally
exempt or under a variance.
12. A 'sanitary landfill' is best defined as a disposal facility that:
A. Burns waste to reduce volume
B. Engineers waste placement, compaction, and daily cover to minimize
environmental and public health impacts
C. Stores waste temporarily before recycling
D. Only accepts liquid waste
Correct Answer: B. Engineers waste placement, compaction, and daily cover to
minimize environmental and public health impacts
Rationale: A sanitary landfill uses engineering controls, including compaction and
cover, to protect public health and the environment, distinguishing it from an open
dump.
13. An 'open dump' differs from a permitted sanitary landfill primarily because
it:
A. Has better liner systems
B. Lacks engineering controls such as liners, cover, and monitoring
C. Is only used for recycling
Page 4
120-Question Practice Exam with Answers & Rationales
1. Which state agency has primary regulatory authority over solid waste
landfills in Virginia?
A. Virginia Department of Health
B. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
C. U.S. EPA Region 3
D. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Correct Answer: B. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Rationale: DEQ administers and enforces the Virginia Solid Waste Management
Regulations and issues solid waste facility permits.
2. The Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations are codified in which
section of the Virginia Administrative Code?
A. 9VAC20-81
B. 9VAC25-31
C. 9VAC5-40
D. 9VAC20-60
Correct Answer: A. 9VAC20-81
Rationale: 9VAC20-81 is the Solid Waste Management Regulations governing
permitting, design, and operation of landfills in Virginia.
3. Under Virginia regulations, an individual who directly supervises the daily
operation of a landfill must hold what credential?
A. A commercial driver's license
B. A certified landfill operator license
C. A professional engineer license
D. A hazardous waste generator ID
Correct Answer: B. A certified landfill operator license
Page 1
,Rationale: Virginia requires that solid waste facilities be operated under the direct
supervision of a DEQ-certified landfill operator.
4. How often must a certified landfill operator in Virginia renew their license?
A. Every year
B. Every 2 years
C. Every 3 years
D. Every 5 years
Correct Answer: C. Every 3 years
Rationale: Virginia operator certifications are renewed on a 3-year cycle, which
requires completion of continuing education hours.
5. What is the primary purpose of continuing education requirements for
certified operators?
A. To generate revenue for DEQ
B. To keep operators current on regulations, technology, and safe practices
C. To reduce the number of licensed operators
D. To satisfy federal OSHA mandates only
Correct Answer: B. To keep operators current on regulations, technology, and
safe practices
Rationale: Continuing education ensures operators stay current with evolving
regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
6. Which federal regulation forms the baseline design and operating standards
that Virginia's landfill regulations must be at least as stringent as?
A. RCRA Subtitle C
B. RCRA Subtitle D
C. CERCLA
D. Clean Water Act Section 404
Correct Answer: B. RCRA Subtitle D
Rationale: RCRA Subtitle D establishes the federal minimum criteria for municipal
solid waste landfills; states must be at least as protective.
7. A permit modification is generally required when a landfill operator wants to:
Page 2
, A. Change the daily cover soil source without altering design
B. Expand the permitted waste footprint
C. Replace a broken window in the scale house
D. Reschedule a routine equipment inspection
Correct Answer: B. Expand the permitted waste footprint
Rationale: Expanding the permitted disposal area is a significant change to facility
design/operation and requires a formal permit modification.
8. What document must a permitted landfill maintain on-site describing how the
facility will be operated?
A. A marketing brochure
B. An Operations Manual
C. A stockholder report
D. A weather log only
Correct Answer: B. An Operations Manual
Rationale: The Operations Manual, approved as part of the permit, details procedures
for waste acceptance, cover, monitoring, and emergency response.
9. Financial assurance requirements for landfills exist primarily to:
A. Pay operator salaries
B. Guarantee funds are available for closure, post-closure care, and corrective
action
C. Fund state park maintenance
D. Reduce landfill tipping fees
Correct Answer: B. Guarantee funds are available for closure, post-closure
care, and corrective action
Rationale: Financial assurance mechanisms ensure money is available to properly
close the facility and manage it for the required post-closure period even if the owner
becomes insolvent.
10. The post-closure care period for a municipal solid waste landfill is typically:
A. 1 year
B. 5 years
C. 10 years
Page 3
, D. 30 years
Correct Answer: D. 30 years
Rationale: Federal and Virginia regulations require a minimum 30-year post-closure
monitoring and maintenance period unless extended or reduced by the director based
on risk.
11. Which type of waste is generally prohibited from disposal at a municipal
solid waste landfill without special authorization?
A. Household trash
B. Bulky yard waste
C. Regulated hazardous waste
D. Construction debris
Correct Answer: C. Regulated hazardous waste
Rationale: RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste is banned from Subtitle D municipal
landfills unless the facility has specific authorization to manage it as conditionally
exempt or under a variance.
12. A 'sanitary landfill' is best defined as a disposal facility that:
A. Burns waste to reduce volume
B. Engineers waste placement, compaction, and daily cover to minimize
environmental and public health impacts
C. Stores waste temporarily before recycling
D. Only accepts liquid waste
Correct Answer: B. Engineers waste placement, compaction, and daily cover to
minimize environmental and public health impacts
Rationale: A sanitary landfill uses engineering controls, including compaction and
cover, to protect public health and the environment, distinguishing it from an open
dump.
13. An 'open dump' differs from a permitted sanitary landfill primarily because
it:
A. Has better liner systems
B. Lacks engineering controls such as liners, cover, and monitoring
C. Is only used for recycling
Page 4
