VA DEQ ESC INSPECTOR EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
VESCP - ANS Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 - ANS Stabilization
permanent or temporary soil stabilization shall be applied to denuded areas within seven days
after final grade is reached on any portion of the site; temporary soil stabilization shall be
applied within seven days to denuded areas that may not be at final grade but will remain
dormant for longer than 14 days; permanent stabilization shall be applied to areas that are to
be left dormant for more than one year
Site NOT at Final Grade - ANS - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Site at Final Grade - ANS - stabilize in 7 days (recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 - ANS Stock Piles, Waste and Borrow Areas
during construction, soil stock piles and borrow areas shall be stabilized or protected with
sediment trapping measures
mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface from raindrop impact and silt fence intercepts
and detains from disturbed areas
Minimum Standard 3 - ANS Permanent Vegetation
permanent vegetation cover shall be established on denuded areas not otherwise permanently
stabilized (permanent vegetation shall not be considered established until a ground cover is
achieved that is uniform, mature enough to survive, and will inhibit erosion *there is no %
associated with this*)
reduce erosion and decrease sediment yield from disturbed area
this is the standard used to verify that a site is ready for release of bonds or surety
Minimum Standard 4 - ANS First-Step Measures
Sediment basins and traps, perimeter dikes, sediment barriers and other measures intended to
trap sediment shall be constructed as a first step in any land-disturbing activity and shall be
made functional before upslope land disturbance takes place
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,a certain amount of initial land disturbance may be required to provide access for equipment to
install the perimeter controls, but site clearing and grading should be kept to a minimum until
the perimeter controls are in place
intercepts and detains small amounts of sediment from disturbed areas during construction
operation to prevent sediment from leaving the site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and
low-to-moderate level channel flow
Perimeter Controls - ANS assures that sediment does not leave the perimeter of the land-
disturbing area once site clearing, grading, and construction commences
Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment basins, construction entrance, temporary
diversions, diversions
Minimum Standard 5 - ANS Earthen Structure Stabilization
stabilization measures shall be applied to earthen structures such as dams, dikes, and diversions
immediately after installation
reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce damage from sediment and runoff to
downstream or off-site areas
Minimum Standard 6 - ANS Traps and Basins
sediment traps and basins shall be designed and constructed based upon the total drainage
area (not just disturbed area) to be served by the trap or basin
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Sediment Traps - ANS minimum storage capacity shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage
area and shall only control drainage areas less than 3 acres
*stone outlet = trap*
Sediment Basins - ANS surface runoff from disturbed areas that is comprised of flow from
drainage areas greater than or equal to 3 acres shall be controlled by a basin; minimum storage
capacity of a sediment basin shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area; the outfall
system shall, at a minimum, maintain the structural integrity of the basin during a 25-year storm
of 24-hour duration; runoff coefficients used in runoff calculations shall correspond to a bare
earth condition or those conditions expected to exist while the sediment basin is utilized.
Sediment Trapping Devises - ANS 1. place near the lowest drainage points of a project
2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
3. stabilize immediately [MS-5]
4. must include outlet protection for basins [MS-11]
Minimum Standard 7 - ANS Cut and Fill Slopes
roughening the surface of the slope decreases runoff, lowers the velocity runoff, increases water
retention, and leads to better seed germination
slopes that are found to be eroding excessively within on year of permanent stabilization shall
be provided with additional slop stabilizing measures until the problem is corrected
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
VESCP - ANS Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 - ANS Stabilization
permanent or temporary soil stabilization shall be applied to denuded areas within seven days
after final grade is reached on any portion of the site; temporary soil stabilization shall be
applied within seven days to denuded areas that may not be at final grade but will remain
dormant for longer than 14 days; permanent stabilization shall be applied to areas that are to
be left dormant for more than one year
Site NOT at Final Grade - ANS - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Site at Final Grade - ANS - stabilize in 7 days (recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 - ANS Stock Piles, Waste and Borrow Areas
during construction, soil stock piles and borrow areas shall be stabilized or protected with
sediment trapping measures
mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface from raindrop impact and silt fence intercepts
and detains from disturbed areas
Minimum Standard 3 - ANS Permanent Vegetation
permanent vegetation cover shall be established on denuded areas not otherwise permanently
stabilized (permanent vegetation shall not be considered established until a ground cover is
achieved that is uniform, mature enough to survive, and will inhibit erosion *there is no %
associated with this*)
reduce erosion and decrease sediment yield from disturbed area
this is the standard used to verify that a site is ready for release of bonds or surety
Minimum Standard 4 - ANS First-Step Measures
Sediment basins and traps, perimeter dikes, sediment barriers and other measures intended to
trap sediment shall be constructed as a first step in any land-disturbing activity and shall be
made functional before upslope land disturbance takes place
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,a certain amount of initial land disturbance may be required to provide access for equipment to
install the perimeter controls, but site clearing and grading should be kept to a minimum until
the perimeter controls are in place
intercepts and detains small amounts of sediment from disturbed areas during construction
operation to prevent sediment from leaving the site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and
low-to-moderate level channel flow
Perimeter Controls - ANS assures that sediment does not leave the perimeter of the land-
disturbing area once site clearing, grading, and construction commences
Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment basins, construction entrance, temporary
diversions, diversions
Minimum Standard 5 - ANS Earthen Structure Stabilization
stabilization measures shall be applied to earthen structures such as dams, dikes, and diversions
immediately after installation
reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce damage from sediment and runoff to
downstream or off-site areas
Minimum Standard 6 - ANS Traps and Basins
sediment traps and basins shall be designed and constructed based upon the total drainage
area (not just disturbed area) to be served by the trap or basin
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Sediment Traps - ANS minimum storage capacity shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage
area and shall only control drainage areas less than 3 acres
*stone outlet = trap*
Sediment Basins - ANS surface runoff from disturbed areas that is comprised of flow from
drainage areas greater than or equal to 3 acres shall be controlled by a basin; minimum storage
capacity of a sediment basin shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area; the outfall
system shall, at a minimum, maintain the structural integrity of the basin during a 25-year storm
of 24-hour duration; runoff coefficients used in runoff calculations shall correspond to a bare
earth condition or those conditions expected to exist while the sediment basin is utilized.
Sediment Trapping Devises - ANS 1. place near the lowest drainage points of a project
2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
3. stabilize immediately [MS-5]
4. must include outlet protection for basins [MS-11]
Minimum Standard 7 - ANS Cut and Fill Slopes
roughening the surface of the slope decreases runoff, lowers the velocity runoff, increases water
retention, and leads to better seed germination
slopes that are found to be eroding excessively within on year of permanent stabilization shall
be provided with additional slop stabilizing measures until the problem is corrected
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
