CPSWQ Section 2: US Rules and
Regulations Complete Questions And
Answers | Latest
What are examples of priority pollutants? CORRECT ANSWERS Nutrients, pathogens,
heavy metals, toxics, sediment, salts, detergents, hydro-carbons, and oxygen-adsorbing
substances.
When was the Federal Water Pollution Control Act established? CORRECT ANSWERS
1948 (prior to CWA).
When was the Clean Water Act (CWA) established? CORRECT ANSWERS 1972 -
established NPDES permit.
When was the CWA amended? CORRECT ANSWERS 1987.
What did 1972 amendments focus on? CORRECT ANSWERS Industrial process
wastewater and municipal sewage (did not focus on stormwater discharges at this
point).
What is the "Section 401 - Water Quality Certification" for a project? CORRECT
ANSWERS Section 401 of CWA requires that any applicant for a federal permit to
conduct any activity that may result in discharge of pollutant must obtain certification of
those activities from state in which discharge originates.
What does POTW stand for? CORRECT ANSWERS Publicly Owned Treatment Works.
What does NURP stand for? CORRECT ANSWERS National Urban Runoff Program.
What did NURP study discover? CORRECT ANSWERS Stormwater contained same
pollutants regulated from process outfalls and POTWs. Studies occurred from 1978 -
1983. EPA began issuing NPDES permits for stormwater discharges during mid-1980s.
What did 1987 CWA amendments establish? CORRECT ANSWERS Section 402(p)
focused on five stormwater categories known as "Phase 1" facilities. Further permit
requirements could not be established until October 1, 1992.
What is criteria for Phase 1 NPDES facilities? CORRECT ANSWERS -Facilities already
covered by NPDES
-Industrial activity
-Large MS4s (>250k pop)
-Medium (100k > pop > 250k)
-Facilities determined by EPA administrator to contribute to water quality violations
, What is the "stormwater application rule"? CORRECT ANSWERS November 1990 -
describes the types of facilities subject to the NPDES stormwater permitting program
and how they must obtain permits.
What is the "stormwater implementation rule"? CORRECT ANSWERS April 1992 -
establishes minimum requires for NPDES permit terms and conditions.
What are Phase II discharges? CORRECT ANSWERS -"Light" industrial facilities
-Small construction sites (<5 acres)
-Small municipalities (<100l pop)
Which permits were issued in fall 1992? CORRECT ANSWERS EPA General Industrial
Permit and EPA General Construction Permit
What did the "Interim Permitting Approach for Water Quality Based Effluent Limitations"
establish? CORRECT ANSWERS Used BMPs in-lieu of numeric limitations to achieve
water quality standards.
What does Section 404 of CWA cover? CORRECT ANSWERS "Dredge/Fill Permitting"
- regulate discharge of dredged or fill material into waters/wetlands. Administered by
Secretary of the Army through USACE.
What are Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA)? CORRECT
ANSWERS Section 6217 requires Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program
Management Plan for every state under coastal zone jurisdiction to address nonpoint
source pollution.
What does EPA "Stormwater" definition not include? CORRECT ANSWERS Does not
include return flows from irrigated agriculture or agricultural stormwater runoff.
What discharges are not regulated by NPDES? CORRECT ANSWERS Discharges that
do not discharge into waters of the US or discharges through a combined sewer
system.
When were Phase II discharges incorporated into NPDES permit? When were Phase II
regulations finalized? CORRECT ANSWERS Incorporated in August 1995. Finalized in
December 1999.
What types of operations were still exempt under Phase II when it was adopted in
1995? CORRECT ANSWERS Oil and gas operators, silviculture (forestry-related), and
agricultural discharges.
What are 3 main requirements of Phase II construction permit sites? CORRECT
ANSWERS -Submit NOI (operator and site info)
-Develop and implement SWPPP
Regulations Complete Questions And
Answers | Latest
What are examples of priority pollutants? CORRECT ANSWERS Nutrients, pathogens,
heavy metals, toxics, sediment, salts, detergents, hydro-carbons, and oxygen-adsorbing
substances.
When was the Federal Water Pollution Control Act established? CORRECT ANSWERS
1948 (prior to CWA).
When was the Clean Water Act (CWA) established? CORRECT ANSWERS 1972 -
established NPDES permit.
When was the CWA amended? CORRECT ANSWERS 1987.
What did 1972 amendments focus on? CORRECT ANSWERS Industrial process
wastewater and municipal sewage (did not focus on stormwater discharges at this
point).
What is the "Section 401 - Water Quality Certification" for a project? CORRECT
ANSWERS Section 401 of CWA requires that any applicant for a federal permit to
conduct any activity that may result in discharge of pollutant must obtain certification of
those activities from state in which discharge originates.
What does POTW stand for? CORRECT ANSWERS Publicly Owned Treatment Works.
What does NURP stand for? CORRECT ANSWERS National Urban Runoff Program.
What did NURP study discover? CORRECT ANSWERS Stormwater contained same
pollutants regulated from process outfalls and POTWs. Studies occurred from 1978 -
1983. EPA began issuing NPDES permits for stormwater discharges during mid-1980s.
What did 1987 CWA amendments establish? CORRECT ANSWERS Section 402(p)
focused on five stormwater categories known as "Phase 1" facilities. Further permit
requirements could not be established until October 1, 1992.
What is criteria for Phase 1 NPDES facilities? CORRECT ANSWERS -Facilities already
covered by NPDES
-Industrial activity
-Large MS4s (>250k pop)
-Medium (100k > pop > 250k)
-Facilities determined by EPA administrator to contribute to water quality violations
, What is the "stormwater application rule"? CORRECT ANSWERS November 1990 -
describes the types of facilities subject to the NPDES stormwater permitting program
and how they must obtain permits.
What is the "stormwater implementation rule"? CORRECT ANSWERS April 1992 -
establishes minimum requires for NPDES permit terms and conditions.
What are Phase II discharges? CORRECT ANSWERS -"Light" industrial facilities
-Small construction sites (<5 acres)
-Small municipalities (<100l pop)
Which permits were issued in fall 1992? CORRECT ANSWERS EPA General Industrial
Permit and EPA General Construction Permit
What did the "Interim Permitting Approach for Water Quality Based Effluent Limitations"
establish? CORRECT ANSWERS Used BMPs in-lieu of numeric limitations to achieve
water quality standards.
What does Section 404 of CWA cover? CORRECT ANSWERS "Dredge/Fill Permitting"
- regulate discharge of dredged or fill material into waters/wetlands. Administered by
Secretary of the Army through USACE.
What are Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA)? CORRECT
ANSWERS Section 6217 requires Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program
Management Plan for every state under coastal zone jurisdiction to address nonpoint
source pollution.
What does EPA "Stormwater" definition not include? CORRECT ANSWERS Does not
include return flows from irrigated agriculture or agricultural stormwater runoff.
What discharges are not regulated by NPDES? CORRECT ANSWERS Discharges that
do not discharge into waters of the US or discharges through a combined sewer
system.
When were Phase II discharges incorporated into NPDES permit? When were Phase II
regulations finalized? CORRECT ANSWERS Incorporated in August 1995. Finalized in
December 1999.
What types of operations were still exempt under Phase II when it was adopted in
1995? CORRECT ANSWERS Oil and gas operators, silviculture (forestry-related), and
agricultural discharges.
What are 3 main requirements of Phase II construction permit sites? CORRECT
ANSWERS -Submit NOI (operator and site info)
-Develop and implement SWPPP
