CESSWI EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Problems associated with construction related erosion - ANSWER-problems for down
slope property owners
nuisance problems on streets
clog streams and storm drains
increased turbidity downstream
cover sensitive habitat with sediment
Identify instream damages of sediment - ANSWER-destruction of spawning areas, food
sources, habitat
direct toxicity to wildlife
lake degradation
filling of navigation channels
impacts to commercial fisheries
reduction of water storage capacities
Suspended material - ANSWER-sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability,
fisheries and habitat
Name Off stream damages - ANSWER-Increased flood hazards
increased water treatment costs
decreased capacity in conveyance facilities
higher infrastructure maintenance costs
What has increased the amount of impervious surface in our watersheds? - ANSWER-
Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - ANSWER-nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - ANSWER-Federal Water Pollution Control Act enacted to
restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the
US
administered by USEPA
,Section 401 - ANSWER-water quality certification
requires applicant, including any construction or operation of a facility, to obtain
certification to discharge ANY pollutant.
administered by the State
Section 402 - ANSWER-NPDES Regs
NPDES - ANSWER-National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Erosion - ANSWER-process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles
detached and transported
Sediment - ANSWER-eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - ANSWER-deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - ANSWER-splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - ANSWER-raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface
sediments
sheet erosion - ANSWER-caused by rain splash detaching soil particles lifting them up
and removing them by shallow "sheets" of water flowing down the sloped soil surface
Rill Erosion - ANSWER-as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil
surface
Gully Erosion - ANSWER-Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows
from several rills come together and form a large channels
Channel Erosion - ANSWER-may become unstable due to increased flows or changes
in upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - ANSWER-generally considered due to the influences of climate on the
surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion - ANSWER-natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - ANSWER-Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
, poor stewardship
MS4 - ANSWER-Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - ANSWER-Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
Phase I
(1987 - 1992) - ANSWER-already covered by NPDES permit
facilities that engage in industrial activity
Large municipal storm systems (>250,000)
Medium municipal storms systems (100 - 250 K)
facilities that EPA said were significant contributors
Storm Water Implementation Rule - ANSWER-enacted April 1992, identified minimum
requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
Section 404 - ANSWER-regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the US
administered by USACE
CZARA - ANSWER-Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) of 1990
requires coastal zone states to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs
section 6217 nonpoint source in coastal areas
stormwater - ANSWER-stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and
drainage
NPDES stormwater regulation say - ANSWER-stormwater must be in any discernable,
confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel,
tunnel, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated feeding operation....
waters of the US - ANSWER-waters used for interstate or foreign commerce
all interstate waters including wetlands
all other waters, the use ofr degeration of which would affect interstate or foreign
commerce
impoundments of waters
territorial sea
wetlands adjacent to waters above
Phase II - ANSWER-December 1999, require construction sites disturbing equal to or
greater than 1 acre and less than 5 to control pollutants in stormwater runoff.
SWMP - ANSWER-Stormwater Management Plan
6 minimum measures of SWMP - ANSWER-Public Education and Outreach
CORRECT ANSWERS
Problems associated with construction related erosion - ANSWER-problems for down
slope property owners
nuisance problems on streets
clog streams and storm drains
increased turbidity downstream
cover sensitive habitat with sediment
Identify instream damages of sediment - ANSWER-destruction of spawning areas, food
sources, habitat
direct toxicity to wildlife
lake degradation
filling of navigation channels
impacts to commercial fisheries
reduction of water storage capacities
Suspended material - ANSWER-sediment can affect light penetration, channel stability,
fisheries and habitat
Name Off stream damages - ANSWER-Increased flood hazards
increased water treatment costs
decreased capacity in conveyance facilities
higher infrastructure maintenance costs
What has increased the amount of impervious surface in our watersheds? - ANSWER-
Urbanization and development
priority pollutants include - ANSWER-nutrients
pathogens
heavy metals
toxics
sediment
salts
detergents
hydro carbons
Clean Water Act (CWA) - ANSWER-Federal Water Pollution Control Act enacted to
restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the
US
administered by USEPA
,Section 401 - ANSWER-water quality certification
requires applicant, including any construction or operation of a facility, to obtain
certification to discharge ANY pollutant.
administered by the State
Section 402 - ANSWER-NPDES Regs
NPDES - ANSWER-National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Erosion - ANSWER-process in which, by the actions of wind and/or water, soil particles
detached and transported
Sediment - ANSWER-eroded material suspended in wind or water
Sedimentation - ANSWER-deposition of eroded material
Types of Erosion - ANSWER-splash
sheet
rill
gully
channel
Splash erosion - ANSWER-raindrop impact energy is enough to dislodge surface
sediments
sheet erosion - ANSWER-caused by rain splash detaching soil particles lifting them up
and removing them by shallow "sheets" of water flowing down the sloped soil surface
Rill Erosion - ANSWER-as flow concentrates, small channels begin to form in the soil
surface
Gully Erosion - ANSWER-Formed when runoff cuts rills deeper and wider or when flows
from several rills come together and form a large channels
Channel Erosion - ANSWER-may become unstable due to increased flows or changes
in upstream sediment load
Natural erosion - ANSWER-generally considered due to the influences of climate on the
surface of the earth
Accelerated erosion - ANSWER-natural erosion plus human activities
What problems can accelerated erosion cause? - ANSWER-Unrestricted development
removal of surface cover
increased imperviousness
, poor stewardship
MS4 - ANSWER-Municipal Separate Storm Sewers Systems
NURP - ANSWER-Nationwide Urban Runoff Program
1987-1983
led to EPA regulating stormwater
Phase I
(1987 - 1992) - ANSWER-already covered by NPDES permit
facilities that engage in industrial activity
Large municipal storm systems (>250,000)
Medium municipal storms systems (100 - 250 K)
facilities that EPA said were significant contributors
Storm Water Implementation Rule - ANSWER-enacted April 1992, identified minimum
requirements for NPDES stormwater permits
Section 404 - ANSWER-regulates dredge / fill permitting into waters of the US
administered by USACE
CZARA - ANSWER-Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) of 1990
requires coastal zone states to develop Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs
section 6217 nonpoint source in coastal areas
stormwater - ANSWER-stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and
drainage
NPDES stormwater regulation say - ANSWER-stormwater must be in any discernable,
confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel,
tunnel, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated feeding operation....
waters of the US - ANSWER-waters used for interstate or foreign commerce
all interstate waters including wetlands
all other waters, the use ofr degeration of which would affect interstate or foreign
commerce
impoundments of waters
territorial sea
wetlands adjacent to waters above
Phase II - ANSWER-December 1999, require construction sites disturbing equal to or
greater than 1 acre and less than 5 to control pollutants in stormwater runoff.
SWMP - ANSWER-Stormwater Management Plan
6 minimum measures of SWMP - ANSWER-Public Education and Outreach
