Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector Exam Prep With
Quality Solutions
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948) - Correct Answer Post-World War II industrial and urban
growth led to pollution of the country's river, streams, and lakes. This act was the first U.S. law to
address water pollution; it was also one of the earliest references to clean water as a resource and the
importance of protecting water quality through the managed reduction of pollutants flowing into
waterways
Virginia studies Sedimentation issue (1971) - Correct Answer fast-paced urban development in
Northern VA and Tidewater region led to the erosion of lands and sediment deposition in waters.
Governor's Council on the Environment created a task force to study sedimentation issues across the
state. The task force recommended a statewide program be developed.
Federal Clean Water Act (1972) - Correct Answer FWPCA became CWA. CWA established a basic
structure for regulating pollutant discharges into the waters of the U.S. and also consolidated the control
of water pollution policy under the newly created EPA and established the NPDES permit program to
limit pollutant discharges into streams, rivers, and bays
Erosion and Sediment Control Law (1973) - Correct Answer Virginia General Assembly passed this law to
require the statewide establishment of minimum standards, guidelines, and criteria for the effective
control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non-agricultural runoff, which must be met by any ESC
program. also required all counties and cities in VA to adopt a local erosion program by July 1, 1974
Virginia Stormwater Management Act (1989) - Correct Answer Virginia General Assembly passed this
law to address water pollution, stream channel erosion, depletion of groundwater resources, and more
frequent localized flooding that occurs as a result of intensive land development and other land use
conversions. VA cities, counties, and towns could establish SWM programs by ordinance, while state
projects were required to follow the SWM act
Adoption of ESC Regulations (1990) - Correct Answer In order to improve the program's structure and
consistency, the General Assembly required the Soil and Water Conservation Board to promote
regulations for the administration, implementation, and enforcement of the ESC law.
The Integration Bill (effective July 1, 2014) - Correct Answer Virginia's House Bill 1065 passed, making
significant changes to the ESC law and SWM act, in order to align with the two programs. Also required
, all counties, cities, and towns with regulated MS4 programs to adopt and administer a local stormwater
program - effectively creating a statewide SWM program that operates at the local level, much like what
was already the case for the erosion program
Goal of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) - Correct Answer -control erosion
and sediment deposition from non-agricultural land-disturbing activities
-prevent damage to downstream properties and natural resources from construction sites
Soil loss on construction sites - Correct Answer -can be 1000X the average of natural soil erosion rates
-can be 20X that from agricultural lands
Erosion defined - Correct Answer the removal and transportation of soil particles by erosive forces such
as water, wind, ice, gravity, and combos of forces
Five stages of erosion - Correct Answer 1. Raindrop
2. Sheet
3. Rill
4. Gully
5. Channel
Raindrop impact - Correct Answer the action of falling rain on disturbed or denuded soil is responsible
for 90% or more of total soil erosion
Four Factors Influencing Erosion - Correct Answer 1. Climate
2. Soil
3. GRouncover
4. Topography
Erodibility of soil - Correct Answer Direct correlation of erodibility to size of K factor (<0.23=low
erodibility and >0.37=high erodibility)
Quality Solutions
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948) - Correct Answer Post-World War II industrial and urban
growth led to pollution of the country's river, streams, and lakes. This act was the first U.S. law to
address water pollution; it was also one of the earliest references to clean water as a resource and the
importance of protecting water quality through the managed reduction of pollutants flowing into
waterways
Virginia studies Sedimentation issue (1971) - Correct Answer fast-paced urban development in
Northern VA and Tidewater region led to the erosion of lands and sediment deposition in waters.
Governor's Council on the Environment created a task force to study sedimentation issues across the
state. The task force recommended a statewide program be developed.
Federal Clean Water Act (1972) - Correct Answer FWPCA became CWA. CWA established a basic
structure for regulating pollutant discharges into the waters of the U.S. and also consolidated the control
of water pollution policy under the newly created EPA and established the NPDES permit program to
limit pollutant discharges into streams, rivers, and bays
Erosion and Sediment Control Law (1973) - Correct Answer Virginia General Assembly passed this law to
require the statewide establishment of minimum standards, guidelines, and criteria for the effective
control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non-agricultural runoff, which must be met by any ESC
program. also required all counties and cities in VA to adopt a local erosion program by July 1, 1974
Virginia Stormwater Management Act (1989) - Correct Answer Virginia General Assembly passed this
law to address water pollution, stream channel erosion, depletion of groundwater resources, and more
frequent localized flooding that occurs as a result of intensive land development and other land use
conversions. VA cities, counties, and towns could establish SWM programs by ordinance, while state
projects were required to follow the SWM act
Adoption of ESC Regulations (1990) - Correct Answer In order to improve the program's structure and
consistency, the General Assembly required the Soil and Water Conservation Board to promote
regulations for the administration, implementation, and enforcement of the ESC law.
The Integration Bill (effective July 1, 2014) - Correct Answer Virginia's House Bill 1065 passed, making
significant changes to the ESC law and SWM act, in order to align with the two programs. Also required
, all counties, cities, and towns with regulated MS4 programs to adopt and administer a local stormwater
program - effectively creating a statewide SWM program that operates at the local level, much like what
was already the case for the erosion program
Goal of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) - Correct Answer -control erosion
and sediment deposition from non-agricultural land-disturbing activities
-prevent damage to downstream properties and natural resources from construction sites
Soil loss on construction sites - Correct Answer -can be 1000X the average of natural soil erosion rates
-can be 20X that from agricultural lands
Erosion defined - Correct Answer the removal and transportation of soil particles by erosive forces such
as water, wind, ice, gravity, and combos of forces
Five stages of erosion - Correct Answer 1. Raindrop
2. Sheet
3. Rill
4. Gully
5. Channel
Raindrop impact - Correct Answer the action of falling rain on disturbed or denuded soil is responsible
for 90% or more of total soil erosion
Four Factors Influencing Erosion - Correct Answer 1. Climate
2. Soil
3. GRouncover
4. Topography
Erodibility of soil - Correct Answer Direct correlation of erodibility to size of K factor (<0.23=low
erodibility and >0.37=high erodibility)
