©THESTAR 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 11:32AM. A+
CPSWQ Section 2: US Rules and Regulations
Exam Questions With Correct Answers 100%
Verified.
What are examples of priority pollutants? - Answer✔Nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals,
toxics, sediment, salts, detergents, hydro-carbons, and oxygen-adsorbing substances.
When was the Federal Water Pollution Control Act established? - Answer✔1948 (prior to CWA).
When was the Clean Water Act (CWA) established? - Answer✔1972 - established NPDES
permit.
When was the CWA amended? - Answer✔1987.
What did 1972 amendments focus on? - Answer✔Industrial process wastewater and municipal
sewage (did not focus on stormwater discharges at this point).
What is the "Section 401 - Water Quality Certification" for a project? - Answer✔Section 401 of
CWA requires that any applicant for a federal permit to conduct any activity that may result in
discharge of pollutant must obtain certification of those activities from state in which discharge
originates.
What does POTW stand for? - Answer✔Publicly Owned Treatment Works.
What does NURP stand for? - Answer✔National Urban Runoff Program.
What did NURP study discover? - Answer✔Stormwater contained same pollutants regulated
from process outfalls and POTWs. Studies occurred from 1978 - 1983. EPA began issuing NPDES
permits for stormwater discharges during mid-1980s.
What did 1987 CWA amendments establish? - Answer✔Section 402(p) focused on five
stormwater categories known as "Phase 1" facilities. Further permit requirements could not be
established until October 1, 1992.
What is criteria for Phase 1 NPDES facilities? - Answer✔-Facilities already covered by NPDES
1
, ©THESTAR 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 11:32AM. A+
-Industrial activity
-Large MS4s (>250k pop)
-Medium (100k > pop > 250k)
-Facilities determined by EPA administrator to contribute to water quality violations
What is the "stormwater application rule"? - Answer✔November 1990 - describes the types of
facilities subject to the NPDES stormwater permitting program and how they must obtain
permits.
What is the "stormwater implementation rule"? - Answer✔April 1992 - establishes minimum
requires for NPDES permit terms and conditions.
What are Phase II discharges? - Answer✔-"Light" industrial facilities
-Small construction sites (<5 acres)
-Small municipalities (<100l pop)
Which permits were issued in fall 1992? - Answer✔EPA General Industrial Permit and EPA
General Construction Permit
What did the "Interim Permitting Approach for Water Quality Based Effluent Limitations"
establish? - Answer✔Used BMPs in-lieu of numeric limitations to achieve water quality
standards.
What does Section 404 of CWA cover? - Answer✔"Dredge/Fill Permitting" - regulate discharge
of dredged or fill material into waters/wetlands. Administered by Secretary of the Army
through USACE.
What are Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA)? - Answer✔Section 6217
requires Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program Management Plan for every state under
coastal zone jurisdiction to address nonpoint source pollution.
What does EPA "Stormwater" definition not include? - Answer✔Does not include return flows
from irrigated agriculture or agricultural stormwater runoff.
What discharges are not regulated by NPDES? - Answer✔Discharges that do not discharge into
waters of the US or discharges through a combined sewer system.
When were Phase II discharges incorporated into NPDES permit? When were Phase II
regulations finalized? - Answer✔Incorporated in August 1995. Finalized in December 1999.
What types of operations were still exempt under Phase II when it was adopted in 1995? -
Answer✔Oil and gas operators, silviculture (forestry-related), and agricultural discharges.
2
CPSWQ Section 2: US Rules and Regulations
Exam Questions With Correct Answers 100%
Verified.
What are examples of priority pollutants? - Answer✔Nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals,
toxics, sediment, salts, detergents, hydro-carbons, and oxygen-adsorbing substances.
When was the Federal Water Pollution Control Act established? - Answer✔1948 (prior to CWA).
When was the Clean Water Act (CWA) established? - Answer✔1972 - established NPDES
permit.
When was the CWA amended? - Answer✔1987.
What did 1972 amendments focus on? - Answer✔Industrial process wastewater and municipal
sewage (did not focus on stormwater discharges at this point).
What is the "Section 401 - Water Quality Certification" for a project? - Answer✔Section 401 of
CWA requires that any applicant for a federal permit to conduct any activity that may result in
discharge of pollutant must obtain certification of those activities from state in which discharge
originates.
What does POTW stand for? - Answer✔Publicly Owned Treatment Works.
What does NURP stand for? - Answer✔National Urban Runoff Program.
What did NURP study discover? - Answer✔Stormwater contained same pollutants regulated
from process outfalls and POTWs. Studies occurred from 1978 - 1983. EPA began issuing NPDES
permits for stormwater discharges during mid-1980s.
What did 1987 CWA amendments establish? - Answer✔Section 402(p) focused on five
stormwater categories known as "Phase 1" facilities. Further permit requirements could not be
established until October 1, 1992.
What is criteria for Phase 1 NPDES facilities? - Answer✔-Facilities already covered by NPDES
1
, ©THESTAR 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 11:32AM. A+
-Industrial activity
-Large MS4s (>250k pop)
-Medium (100k > pop > 250k)
-Facilities determined by EPA administrator to contribute to water quality violations
What is the "stormwater application rule"? - Answer✔November 1990 - describes the types of
facilities subject to the NPDES stormwater permitting program and how they must obtain
permits.
What is the "stormwater implementation rule"? - Answer✔April 1992 - establishes minimum
requires for NPDES permit terms and conditions.
What are Phase II discharges? - Answer✔-"Light" industrial facilities
-Small construction sites (<5 acres)
-Small municipalities (<100l pop)
Which permits were issued in fall 1992? - Answer✔EPA General Industrial Permit and EPA
General Construction Permit
What did the "Interim Permitting Approach for Water Quality Based Effluent Limitations"
establish? - Answer✔Used BMPs in-lieu of numeric limitations to achieve water quality
standards.
What does Section 404 of CWA cover? - Answer✔"Dredge/Fill Permitting" - regulate discharge
of dredged or fill material into waters/wetlands. Administered by Secretary of the Army
through USACE.
What are Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA)? - Answer✔Section 6217
requires Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program Management Plan for every state under
coastal zone jurisdiction to address nonpoint source pollution.
What does EPA "Stormwater" definition not include? - Answer✔Does not include return flows
from irrigated agriculture or agricultural stormwater runoff.
What discharges are not regulated by NPDES? - Answer✔Discharges that do not discharge into
waters of the US or discharges through a combined sewer system.
When were Phase II discharges incorporated into NPDES permit? When were Phase II
regulations finalized? - Answer✔Incorporated in August 1995. Finalized in December 1999.
What types of operations were still exempt under Phase II when it was adopted in 1995? -
Answer✔Oil and gas operators, silviculture (forestry-related), and agricultural discharges.
2
