VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam
Questions and Ansẉers
2026\2027 update
Section 1: Regulatory Authority & Law
1. Which Virginia state agency is responsible for the statewide
implementation and oversight of the Erosion and Sediment Control
Law?
A) Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
B) Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
C) Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
D) Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board (VSWCB)
AnswerB (DCR is the lead agency for ESC; DEQ enforces the
VSMP/Stormwater permit side, but DCR writes the ESC regulations).
2. The Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law is primarily found
in which section of the Code of Virginia?
A) § 62.1-44.15:51 et seq.
B) § 15.2-2200 et seq.
C) § 10.1-600 et seq.
D) § 33.2-100 et seq.
AnswerA
3. Who is responsible for ensuring that an approved ESC plan is
properly implemented and maintained on a construction site?
,A) The ESC Inspector
B) The Plan Preparer
C) The Owner or Operator
D) The Local Building Official
AnswerC (The owner/operator holds the ultimate responsibility).
4. A land-disturbing activity of less than 10,000 square feet
generally requires an ESC plan, UNLESS it occurs in which of the
following areas?
A) An agricultural district
B) A Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA)
C) An industrial zoned parcel
D) A floodplain
AnswerB (In a CBPA, the threshold drops to 2,500 square feet).
5. Which of the following is considered an "exempt" land-disturbing
activity under Virginia ESC law?
A) Clearing a 5-acre lot for a residential subdivision
B) Agricultural operations (farming) on existing fields
C) Grading for a new commercial parking lot
D) Installation of a new underground utility line
AnswerB (Agricultural operations are exempt, though they may fall
under separate agricultural BMP programs).
6. What is a VSMP?
A) Virginia Soil Management Plan
,B) Virginia Stormwater Management Program
C) Virginia Sediment Monitoring Protocol
D) Virginia Surface Mining Permit
AnswerB (VSMP stands for Virginia Stormwater Management
Program, which incorporates ESC for delegated localities).
7. If a locality does not have an adopted, DEQ-approved VSMP
program, who enforces the ESC regulations?
A) The County Board of Supervisors
B) The Virginia State Police
C) DCR (via the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board)
D) The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
AnswerC
8. Under Virginia law, an ESC plan must be submitted to the plan-
approving authority a minimum of how many days before the start
of land-disturbing activity?
A) 7 days
B) 14 days
C) 30 days
D) 45 days
AnswerB (Though practically, it takes much longer to get approved,
the regulation requires a minimum of 14 days for review).
9. Which of the following projects requires a single, comprehensive
ESC plan rather than separate plans for individual lots?
A) A residential subdivision of 50 lots
, B) A single-family home on an existing platted lot
C) A commercial building on an individual parcel
D) A minor road widening project
AnswerA (Subdivisions require a comprehensive plan to address
overall stormwater and sediment routing before individual lot plans
are made).
10. A developer wants to phase a 100-acre construction project.
Under what conditions can phased ESC plans be approved?
A) Whenever the developer requests it to save money
B) Only if each phase is independently adequate to prevent off-site
sediment damage
C) Only if the total disturbed area at any one time is less than 1 acre
D) Phasing is not allowed under VA ESC regulations
AnswerB
Section 2: ESC Plans & Plan Components
11. Which licensed professional is authorized to prepare and sign an
ESC plan in Virginia?
A) A Professional Engineer (PE)
B) A Land Surveyor (LS)
C) A Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)
D) All of the above are authorized
AnswerD (VA law allows PEs, LSs, CPESCs, and Landscape Architects
to prepare plans).
Questions and Ansẉers
2026\2027 update
Section 1: Regulatory Authority & Law
1. Which Virginia state agency is responsible for the statewide
implementation and oversight of the Erosion and Sediment Control
Law?
A) Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
B) Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
C) Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
D) Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board (VSWCB)
AnswerB (DCR is the lead agency for ESC; DEQ enforces the
VSMP/Stormwater permit side, but DCR writes the ESC regulations).
2. The Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law is primarily found
in which section of the Code of Virginia?
A) § 62.1-44.15:51 et seq.
B) § 15.2-2200 et seq.
C) § 10.1-600 et seq.
D) § 33.2-100 et seq.
AnswerA
3. Who is responsible for ensuring that an approved ESC plan is
properly implemented and maintained on a construction site?
,A) The ESC Inspector
B) The Plan Preparer
C) The Owner or Operator
D) The Local Building Official
AnswerC (The owner/operator holds the ultimate responsibility).
4. A land-disturbing activity of less than 10,000 square feet
generally requires an ESC plan, UNLESS it occurs in which of the
following areas?
A) An agricultural district
B) A Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA)
C) An industrial zoned parcel
D) A floodplain
AnswerB (In a CBPA, the threshold drops to 2,500 square feet).
5. Which of the following is considered an "exempt" land-disturbing
activity under Virginia ESC law?
A) Clearing a 5-acre lot for a residential subdivision
B) Agricultural operations (farming) on existing fields
C) Grading for a new commercial parking lot
D) Installation of a new underground utility line
AnswerB (Agricultural operations are exempt, though they may fall
under separate agricultural BMP programs).
6. What is a VSMP?
A) Virginia Soil Management Plan
,B) Virginia Stormwater Management Program
C) Virginia Sediment Monitoring Protocol
D) Virginia Surface Mining Permit
AnswerB (VSMP stands for Virginia Stormwater Management
Program, which incorporates ESC for delegated localities).
7. If a locality does not have an adopted, DEQ-approved VSMP
program, who enforces the ESC regulations?
A) The County Board of Supervisors
B) The Virginia State Police
C) DCR (via the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board)
D) The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
AnswerC
8. Under Virginia law, an ESC plan must be submitted to the plan-
approving authority a minimum of how many days before the start
of land-disturbing activity?
A) 7 days
B) 14 days
C) 30 days
D) 45 days
AnswerB (Though practically, it takes much longer to get approved,
the regulation requires a minimum of 14 days for review).
9. Which of the following projects requires a single, comprehensive
ESC plan rather than separate plans for individual lots?
A) A residential subdivision of 50 lots
, B) A single-family home on an existing platted lot
C) A commercial building on an individual parcel
D) A minor road widening project
AnswerA (Subdivisions require a comprehensive plan to address
overall stormwater and sediment routing before individual lot plans
are made).
10. A developer wants to phase a 100-acre construction project.
Under what conditions can phased ESC plans be approved?
A) Whenever the developer requests it to save money
B) Only if each phase is independently adequate to prevent off-site
sediment damage
C) Only if the total disturbed area at any one time is less than 1 acre
D) Phasing is not allowed under VA ESC regulations
AnswerB
Section 2: ESC Plans & Plan Components
11. Which licensed professional is authorized to prepare and sign an
ESC plan in Virginia?
A) A Professional Engineer (PE)
B) A Land Surveyor (LS)
C) A Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)
D) All of the above are authorized
AnswerD (VA law allows PEs, LSs, CPESCs, and Landscape Architects
to prepare plans).
