VA DEQ ESC INSPECTOR EXAM
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS A+
GRADE
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (ESCL)-correct-answer-requires
that State Water Control Board "shall develop a program and promulgate
regulations for the effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and
non agricultural runoff that must be met in any control program to prevent the
unreasonable degradation of properties, stream channels, waters, and other
natural resources
When compared to other land disturbing activities, why does construction
produce so much more sediment volume?-correct-answer-replanting isn't done
until the end of construction
Federal Water Pollution Control Act-correct-answer-1948
first major US law to address water pollution
Congress passed major amendments in 1972 - Clean Water Act (consolidated
control of water pollution policy under the administrator of the newly created
US EPA; established National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
[NPDES] Permit Program, which in VA is administered by the VA Pollutant
Discharge Elimination system [VPDES], to control water pollution by
regulating point sources that discharge pollutants)
,Stormwater Discharges from Land Disturbing Activities-correct-answer-
permitted under Construction General Permit (GP) through NPDES
Statewide Regulatory Erosion and Sediment Control Program-correct-answer-
began in 1960s (sedimentation problems were becoming increasingly evident in
areas undergoing fast-paced urban development - Northern VA and Tidewater
region)
1971 - Governor's Council on Environment (reported to State Attorney Andrew
P. Miller) created task force to study issue of sedimentation across state ->
verified statewide sedimentation problems and recommended a statewide
program be developed to address erosion and sedimentation
1973 - VESCL adopted by General Assembly as addendum to Soil and Water
Conservation District Law requiring the Commission to establish statewide
criteria, standards, and guidelines for the effective control of soil erosion,
sediment deposition, and nonagricultural runoff from regulated land-disturbing
activities that must be met in any VESCP to prevent unreasonable degradation
of properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources; required all
Counties and Cities in VA to adopt a local ESC program by July 1, 1974
1990 - General Assembly passed amendment requiring Soil and Water
Conservation Commission to promulgate regulations for the administration,
implementation and enforcement of the VESCL (effective May 1, 1990)
2012 - House Bill 1065 (integration bill) made some significant changes to the
VESCL and VA Stormwater Mangement Act; required to align the VESCL
,with the SWMA nad that all counties, cities, and towns with regulated
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) programs adopt and
administer local VA Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) effectively
creating statewide stormwater management program that operates at the local
level, much like what has been the case for the VESCP
2013 - amendments to VESCL to reflect Soil and Water Conservation Board
and Department of Conservation and Recreation to State Water Control Board
and Department of Environmental Qual
Who has to be certified under the Local Erosion and Sediment Control
Programs?- correct-answer-1. program administrators
2. inspectors
3. plan reviewers
VESCL requires personnel working in a VESCP to obtain and maintain a
certificate of competence in the area of erosion and sediment control
(9VAC25-850)
Combined Administrator-correct-answer-anyone who is responsible for
performing the combined duties of program adminstrator, plan reviewer and
project inspector of a VESCP authority
800 Hour Work Experience Form-correct-answer-individuals with at least 800
hours of on-the-job work experience as a stormwater management program
administrator, inspector, plan reviewer, or combined administrator may complete
the form on the DEQ website instead of completing the DEQ training courses
, *still must pass the exam
Provisional Certification-correct-answer-from the day you complete your first
required training courses and obtain a passing score on certification exam
allows individuals to continue working for an authority while they seek full
certification
*individuals can only be provisionally certified ONCE per classification (this is
a difference between erosion and sediment control vs stormwater management)
Your certificate is good for how long?-correct-answer-3 years
Can you re-certify in the last 12 months without losing the time of
your certification?-correct-answer-Yes, time will be added to your
certification
you need 18 contact hours in 3 years
Re-certification Options-correct-answer-1. retake certification exam
with PearsonVue before certificate expires
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS A+
GRADE
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (ESCL)-correct-answer-requires
that State Water Control Board "shall develop a program and promulgate
regulations for the effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and
non agricultural runoff that must be met in any control program to prevent the
unreasonable degradation of properties, stream channels, waters, and other
natural resources
When compared to other land disturbing activities, why does construction
produce so much more sediment volume?-correct-answer-replanting isn't done
until the end of construction
Federal Water Pollution Control Act-correct-answer-1948
first major US law to address water pollution
Congress passed major amendments in 1972 - Clean Water Act (consolidated
control of water pollution policy under the administrator of the newly created
US EPA; established National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
[NPDES] Permit Program, which in VA is administered by the VA Pollutant
Discharge Elimination system [VPDES], to control water pollution by
regulating point sources that discharge pollutants)
,Stormwater Discharges from Land Disturbing Activities-correct-answer-
permitted under Construction General Permit (GP) through NPDES
Statewide Regulatory Erosion and Sediment Control Program-correct-answer-
began in 1960s (sedimentation problems were becoming increasingly evident in
areas undergoing fast-paced urban development - Northern VA and Tidewater
region)
1971 - Governor's Council on Environment (reported to State Attorney Andrew
P. Miller) created task force to study issue of sedimentation across state ->
verified statewide sedimentation problems and recommended a statewide
program be developed to address erosion and sedimentation
1973 - VESCL adopted by General Assembly as addendum to Soil and Water
Conservation District Law requiring the Commission to establish statewide
criteria, standards, and guidelines for the effective control of soil erosion,
sediment deposition, and nonagricultural runoff from regulated land-disturbing
activities that must be met in any VESCP to prevent unreasonable degradation
of properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources; required all
Counties and Cities in VA to adopt a local ESC program by July 1, 1974
1990 - General Assembly passed amendment requiring Soil and Water
Conservation Commission to promulgate regulations for the administration,
implementation and enforcement of the VESCL (effective May 1, 1990)
2012 - House Bill 1065 (integration bill) made some significant changes to the
VESCL and VA Stormwater Mangement Act; required to align the VESCL
,with the SWMA nad that all counties, cities, and towns with regulated
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) programs adopt and
administer local VA Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) effectively
creating statewide stormwater management program that operates at the local
level, much like what has been the case for the VESCP
2013 - amendments to VESCL to reflect Soil and Water Conservation Board
and Department of Conservation and Recreation to State Water Control Board
and Department of Environmental Qual
Who has to be certified under the Local Erosion and Sediment Control
Programs?- correct-answer-1. program administrators
2. inspectors
3. plan reviewers
VESCL requires personnel working in a VESCP to obtain and maintain a
certificate of competence in the area of erosion and sediment control
(9VAC25-850)
Combined Administrator-correct-answer-anyone who is responsible for
performing the combined duties of program adminstrator, plan reviewer and
project inspector of a VESCP authority
800 Hour Work Experience Form-correct-answer-individuals with at least 800
hours of on-the-job work experience as a stormwater management program
administrator, inspector, plan reviewer, or combined administrator may complete
the form on the DEQ website instead of completing the DEQ training courses
, *still must pass the exam
Provisional Certification-correct-answer-from the day you complete your first
required training courses and obtain a passing score on certification exam
allows individuals to continue working for an authority while they seek full
certification
*individuals can only be provisionally certified ONCE per classification (this is
a difference between erosion and sediment control vs stormwater management)
Your certificate is good for how long?-correct-answer-3 years
Can you re-certify in the last 12 months without losing the time of
your certification?-correct-answer-Yes, time will be added to your
certification
you need 18 contact hours in 3 years
Re-certification Options-correct-answer-1. retake certification exam
with PearsonVue before certificate expires
