CEPSCI PRACTICE TEST ACTUAL REAL LATEST EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT AND VERIFIED ANSWERS [ALREADY GRADED A+]
|CERTIFIED EROSION PREVENTION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL INSPECTOR
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP|GUARANTEED SUCCESS |
|BRAND NEW VERSION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I: CLEAN WATER ACT & NPDES REGULATIONS .................. Q1 - Q20
SECTION II: PERMITTEES & NOI REQUIREMENTS ....................... Q21 - Q35
SECTION III: STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLANS (SWPPP) ....... Q36 - Q50
SECTION IV: EROSION PREVENTION BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs) . Q51 - Q70
SECTION V: SEDIMENT CONTROL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs) ... Q71 - Q90
SECTION VI: SITE INSPECTION & COMPLIANCE ........................ Q91 - Q110
SECTION VII: DEWATERING, STOCKPILES & SPECIAL SITUATIONS ......... Q111 - Q125
SECTION VIII: CONSTRUCTION SITE MANAGEMENT & STABILIZATION ....... Q126 - Q140
SECTION I: CLEAN WATER ACT & NPDES REGULATIONS
Q1. The Clean Water Act of 1972 is administered by which federal agency?
A. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
B. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
C. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
D. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Answer: B. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Rationale: The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 is administered by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CWA established the NPDES
program to regulate point source discharges into waters of the U.S.
The USDA oversees agricultural programs; USACE issues Section 404 permits;
USFWS manages wildlife resources.
Q2. What does NPDES stand for?
A. National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
B. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
C. National Pollutant Detection and Elimination System
1
, D. National Prevention of Discharge and Erosion System
Answer: B. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Rationale: NPDES stands for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System. It is the permit program created by the Clean Water Act to
regulate point source discharges of pollutants into waters of the U.S.
Q3. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the Clean Water Act?
A. To regulate drinking water quality standards
B. To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological
integrity of the nation's waters
C. To regulate all groundwater withdrawals
D. To eliminate all industrial discharges into surface waters
Answer: B. To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological
integrity of the nation's waters.
Rationale: The stated objective of the CWA is to "restore and maintain the
chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters."
The Safe Drinking Water Act regulates drinking water. The CWA does not
regulate groundwater withdrawals or aim to eliminate all discharges.
Q4. What are "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) under the Clean Water
Act?
A. Only navigable rivers and lakes
B. All surface waters, including wetlands, intermittent streams, and
tributaries
C. Only oceans and coastal waters
D. Only groundwater and aquifers
Answer: B. All surface waters, including wetlands, intermittent streams,
and tributaries.
2
, Rationale: WOTUS includes all surface waters, including navigable waters,
tributaries, wetlands adjacent to jurisdictional waters, and intermittent
or ephemeral streams (subject to current regulatory definition). The
definition is broad to protect the nation's water resources.
Q5. Which section of the Clean Water Act authorizes the NPDES permit program?
A. Section 303
B. Section 402
C. Section 404
D. Section 401
Answer: B. Section 402
Rationale: Section 402 of the Clean Water Act authorizes the NPDES permit
program. Section 404 regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material
into waters (wetlands permits). Section 401 deals with water quality
certification. Section 303 establishes water quality standards.
Q6. What is a "point source" discharge under the Clean Water Act?
A. Runoff from agricultural fields
B. Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance from which
pollutants are discharged
C. Groundwater seepage into a stream
D. Airborne pollutants deposited into water bodies
Answer: B. Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance from which
pollutants are discharged.
Rationale: A point source is a discernible, confined, and discrete
conveyance (e.g., pipe, ditch, channel, culvert) from which pollutants
are discharged. Non-point sources are diffuse (e.g., agricultural runoff).
CWA regulates point sources through NPDES permits.
3
, Q7. Which of the following discharges is EXEMPT from NPDES permit
requirements?
A. Discharge from a construction site of 2 acres
B. Discharge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant
C. Discharge from an industrial facility
D. Agricultural stormwater runoff from crop production
Answer: D. Agricultural stormwater runoff from crop production.
Rationale: Agricultural stormwater runoff from crop production and
irrigation return flows are exempt from NPDES permit requirements.
Construction sites, industrial facilities, and municipal treatment plants
are regulated point sources requiring permits.
Q8. The NPDES Construction General Permit (CGP) applies to construction
activities that disturb:
A. 1 acre or more of land
B. 5 acres or more of land
C. 10 acres or more of land
D. Any land regardless of size
Answer: A. 1 acre or more of land
Rationale: The NPDES Construction General Permit applies to construction
activities that disturb one (1) acre or more of land, or are part of a
larger common plan of development that disturbs one acre or more. Some
states may have lower thresholds.
Q9. What is the maximum civil penalty per violation of the Clean Water Act?
A. $10,000 per day
B. $25,000 per day
C. $50,000 per day
4
WITH CORRECT AND VERIFIED ANSWERS [ALREADY GRADED A+]
|CERTIFIED EROSION PREVENTION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL INSPECTOR
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP|GUARANTEED SUCCESS |
|BRAND NEW VERSION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I: CLEAN WATER ACT & NPDES REGULATIONS .................. Q1 - Q20
SECTION II: PERMITTEES & NOI REQUIREMENTS ....................... Q21 - Q35
SECTION III: STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLANS (SWPPP) ....... Q36 - Q50
SECTION IV: EROSION PREVENTION BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs) . Q51 - Q70
SECTION V: SEDIMENT CONTROL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs) ... Q71 - Q90
SECTION VI: SITE INSPECTION & COMPLIANCE ........................ Q91 - Q110
SECTION VII: DEWATERING, STOCKPILES & SPECIAL SITUATIONS ......... Q111 - Q125
SECTION VIII: CONSTRUCTION SITE MANAGEMENT & STABILIZATION ....... Q126 - Q140
SECTION I: CLEAN WATER ACT & NPDES REGULATIONS
Q1. The Clean Water Act of 1972 is administered by which federal agency?
A. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
B. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
C. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
D. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Answer: B. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Rationale: The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 is administered by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CWA established the NPDES
program to regulate point source discharges into waters of the U.S.
The USDA oversees agricultural programs; USACE issues Section 404 permits;
USFWS manages wildlife resources.
Q2. What does NPDES stand for?
A. National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
B. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
C. National Pollutant Detection and Elimination System
1
, D. National Prevention of Discharge and Erosion System
Answer: B. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Rationale: NPDES stands for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System. It is the permit program created by the Clean Water Act to
regulate point source discharges of pollutants into waters of the U.S.
Q3. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the Clean Water Act?
A. To regulate drinking water quality standards
B. To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological
integrity of the nation's waters
C. To regulate all groundwater withdrawals
D. To eliminate all industrial discharges into surface waters
Answer: B. To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological
integrity of the nation's waters.
Rationale: The stated objective of the CWA is to "restore and maintain the
chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters."
The Safe Drinking Water Act regulates drinking water. The CWA does not
regulate groundwater withdrawals or aim to eliminate all discharges.
Q4. What are "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) under the Clean Water
Act?
A. Only navigable rivers and lakes
B. All surface waters, including wetlands, intermittent streams, and
tributaries
C. Only oceans and coastal waters
D. Only groundwater and aquifers
Answer: B. All surface waters, including wetlands, intermittent streams,
and tributaries.
2
, Rationale: WOTUS includes all surface waters, including navigable waters,
tributaries, wetlands adjacent to jurisdictional waters, and intermittent
or ephemeral streams (subject to current regulatory definition). The
definition is broad to protect the nation's water resources.
Q5. Which section of the Clean Water Act authorizes the NPDES permit program?
A. Section 303
B. Section 402
C. Section 404
D. Section 401
Answer: B. Section 402
Rationale: Section 402 of the Clean Water Act authorizes the NPDES permit
program. Section 404 regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material
into waters (wetlands permits). Section 401 deals with water quality
certification. Section 303 establishes water quality standards.
Q6. What is a "point source" discharge under the Clean Water Act?
A. Runoff from agricultural fields
B. Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance from which
pollutants are discharged
C. Groundwater seepage into a stream
D. Airborne pollutants deposited into water bodies
Answer: B. Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance from which
pollutants are discharged.
Rationale: A point source is a discernible, confined, and discrete
conveyance (e.g., pipe, ditch, channel, culvert) from which pollutants
are discharged. Non-point sources are diffuse (e.g., agricultural runoff).
CWA regulates point sources through NPDES permits.
3
, Q7. Which of the following discharges is EXEMPT from NPDES permit
requirements?
A. Discharge from a construction site of 2 acres
B. Discharge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant
C. Discharge from an industrial facility
D. Agricultural stormwater runoff from crop production
Answer: D. Agricultural stormwater runoff from crop production.
Rationale: Agricultural stormwater runoff from crop production and
irrigation return flows are exempt from NPDES permit requirements.
Construction sites, industrial facilities, and municipal treatment plants
are regulated point sources requiring permits.
Q8. The NPDES Construction General Permit (CGP) applies to construction
activities that disturb:
A. 1 acre or more of land
B. 5 acres or more of land
C. 10 acres or more of land
D. Any land regardless of size
Answer: A. 1 acre or more of land
Rationale: The NPDES Construction General Permit applies to construction
activities that disturb one (1) acre or more of land, or are part of a
larger common plan of development that disturbs one acre or more. Some
states may have lower thresholds.
Q9. What is the maximum civil penalty per violation of the Clean Water Act?
A. $10,000 per day
B. $25,000 per day
C. $50,000 per day
4
