CPSWQ Exam Complete Questions And
Answers | Verified
Cornerstone Fundamental Principles CORRECT ANSWERS Integrity
Objectivity
Confidentiality
Competence
Professionalism
When was Phase II established and when did permits begin? CORRECT ANSWERS
Established in 1999 and permits began in 2003.
6 Minimum control measures and what are they for? CORRECT ANSWERS SWMPs
(Stormwater management programs)
-Public Outreach
-Public involvement and participation
-Illicit Discharge Detection and elimination
-Construction stormwater runoff control
-Post Construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment
-Pollution prevention and good housekeeping
What is the Federal Water Pollution Control act and when was it first established?
CORRECT ANSWERS Framework for CWA established in 1948. It was amended in
1972 to become the CWA.
Purpose of NPDES CORRECT ANSWERS to control discharges of pollutants from
point sources
What is POTW? CORRECT ANSWERS POTW (Publicly owned treatment works)
What is NURP and what did it discover? CORRECT ANSWERS National Urban Runoff
Program (1978-1983) characterized stormwater from residential, commercial, and light
industrial areas. It discovered common pollutants of concern in theses areas.
Section 402 CORRECT ANSWERS 5 categories that produce significant stormwater
pollution
1. Facilities already covered under an NPDES permit
2. Facilities with industrial activity
3. Large MS4 Systems (>250k pop)
4. Medium MS4 systems (100k<pop<250k)
5. Facilities EPA already determines as contributors to poor water quality
Section 404 CORRECT ANSWERS Outlines Dredge/Fill permitting
, CZARA CORRECT ANSWERS Coastal Sone Act Reauthorization Amendments - Every
state with coastal zone jurisdiction must develop a non-point pollution control plan to
address pollution not from point sources.
Stormwater Discharges definition CORRECT ANSWERS Any discernible confined, and
discrete conveyance, including but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel,
conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding
operation, landfill leachate collection system, vessel or other floating craft from which
pollutants are or may be discharged.
Waters of the US (6 items) CORRECT ANSWERS -Waters that are, have been, or
could be used for commerce and waters subject to ebb and flow
-Interstate waters and wetlands
-Intrastate bodies of water
-Tributaries to the waters of the US
-Territorial Sea
Wetlands adjacent to any Waters of the US
What are not considered waters of the US? CORRECT ANSWERS Waste treatment
systems such as treatment ponds or lagoons designed to meet requirements of the
CWA.
What construction activities are subject to NPDES permitting? CORRECT ANSWERS
Disturbing >5 acres (Phase I) or between 1 and 5 acres (Phase II). Or if construction
uses heavy equipment and disturbs land and is considered to have serious impacts on
surrounding water quality.
Who is responsible for applying for the permit? CORRECT ANSWERS Operator of the
construction site. (Note: owner may apply if operator not identified, but once identified
must become copermittees or sole permittees)
Phase II CORRECT ANSWERS -covers commercial, retail, light industrial and
institutional facilities
-construction under 5 acres
-municipal MS4 systems with fewer than 100k population.
What is exempt from Phase II? CORRECT ANSWERS -Oil and Gas Operators
-Silviculture
-Agriculture (for crop production only)
Requirements of Phase II? CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Submittal of NOI
2. Development of SWPPP with appropriate BMPs.
3. Submittal of NOT when site is present.
When can waivers of issued for Phase II construction? CORRECT ANSWERS -Low
predicted rainfall (rainfall erosivity factor is less than 5, from RUSLE), OR
Answers | Verified
Cornerstone Fundamental Principles CORRECT ANSWERS Integrity
Objectivity
Confidentiality
Competence
Professionalism
When was Phase II established and when did permits begin? CORRECT ANSWERS
Established in 1999 and permits began in 2003.
6 Minimum control measures and what are they for? CORRECT ANSWERS SWMPs
(Stormwater management programs)
-Public Outreach
-Public involvement and participation
-Illicit Discharge Detection and elimination
-Construction stormwater runoff control
-Post Construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment
-Pollution prevention and good housekeeping
What is the Federal Water Pollution Control act and when was it first established?
CORRECT ANSWERS Framework for CWA established in 1948. It was amended in
1972 to become the CWA.
Purpose of NPDES CORRECT ANSWERS to control discharges of pollutants from
point sources
What is POTW? CORRECT ANSWERS POTW (Publicly owned treatment works)
What is NURP and what did it discover? CORRECT ANSWERS National Urban Runoff
Program (1978-1983) characterized stormwater from residential, commercial, and light
industrial areas. It discovered common pollutants of concern in theses areas.
Section 402 CORRECT ANSWERS 5 categories that produce significant stormwater
pollution
1. Facilities already covered under an NPDES permit
2. Facilities with industrial activity
3. Large MS4 Systems (>250k pop)
4. Medium MS4 systems (100k<pop<250k)
5. Facilities EPA already determines as contributors to poor water quality
Section 404 CORRECT ANSWERS Outlines Dredge/Fill permitting
, CZARA CORRECT ANSWERS Coastal Sone Act Reauthorization Amendments - Every
state with coastal zone jurisdiction must develop a non-point pollution control plan to
address pollution not from point sources.
Stormwater Discharges definition CORRECT ANSWERS Any discernible confined, and
discrete conveyance, including but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel,
conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding
operation, landfill leachate collection system, vessel or other floating craft from which
pollutants are or may be discharged.
Waters of the US (6 items) CORRECT ANSWERS -Waters that are, have been, or
could be used for commerce and waters subject to ebb and flow
-Interstate waters and wetlands
-Intrastate bodies of water
-Tributaries to the waters of the US
-Territorial Sea
Wetlands adjacent to any Waters of the US
What are not considered waters of the US? CORRECT ANSWERS Waste treatment
systems such as treatment ponds or lagoons designed to meet requirements of the
CWA.
What construction activities are subject to NPDES permitting? CORRECT ANSWERS
Disturbing >5 acres (Phase I) or between 1 and 5 acres (Phase II). Or if construction
uses heavy equipment and disturbs land and is considered to have serious impacts on
surrounding water quality.
Who is responsible for applying for the permit? CORRECT ANSWERS Operator of the
construction site. (Note: owner may apply if operator not identified, but once identified
must become copermittees or sole permittees)
Phase II CORRECT ANSWERS -covers commercial, retail, light industrial and
institutional facilities
-construction under 5 acres
-municipal MS4 systems with fewer than 100k population.
What is exempt from Phase II? CORRECT ANSWERS -Oil and Gas Operators
-Silviculture
-Agriculture (for crop production only)
Requirements of Phase II? CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Submittal of NOI
2. Development of SWPPP with appropriate BMPs.
3. Submittal of NOT when site is present.
When can waivers of issued for Phase II construction? CORRECT ANSWERS -Low
predicted rainfall (rainfall erosivity factor is less than 5, from RUSLE), OR
