Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control
Inspector CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2025/2026 ACCURATE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED CORRECT SOLUTIONS WITH
RATIONALES || 100% GUARANTEED PASS
<LATEST VERSION>
1. Erosion Impact Area - ANSWER ✓ area of land NOT ASSOCIATED with a
current land- disturbing activity but contributing to sedimentation
2. How much more soil loss occurs from construction sites versus natural soil
erosion rates? Agricultural land? - ANSWER ✓ 1000 times more than the
average natural soil erosion rate.
20 times more than agricultural land.
3. What are 4 erosive forces? - ANSWER ✓ wind
water
ice
gravity
4. Name and define 5 stages of soil erosion. - ANSWER ✓ Raindrop- 90% of
total soil erosion
Sheet- the soils ability to infiltrate water is exceeded and it runs in sheet
flow (about 100 ft before concentrating), how sediment gets transported
Rill- when sheet flow begins to concentrate, velocity and turbulence
increase, but easily repaired
Gully-when rills converge, larger than rill and usually requires heavy
equipment to repair
Channel- large volume of water increases the gully, vertical sides are
observed or for an existing streambed when structural integrity is destroyed
,5. What are the factors of rainfall impact? - ANSWER ✓ Kinetic energy is
dependent on rainfall amount/intensity, raindrop diameter, and raindrop
velocity
6. What are two damaging effects of rainfall impact? - ANSWER ✓ Causes
soil compression which reduces infiltration
Mainly occurs in May-Sept which is when disturbance is most active
7. 4 factors influencing erosion - ANSWER ✓ climate
groundcover (influenced by humans)
soil properties
topography (influenced by humans)
8. T/F: Inspector is not required to provide notice - ANSWER ✓ True!
9. What is the process of enforcement? - ANSWER ✓ 1. Conduct an inspection
where deficiency occurs.
2. If doesn't get fixed, issue Notice to Comply. (this includes measures
needed to comply and time)
3. If still fail to fix then...revoke permit, enforcement action like penalties,
legal action, etc (must have authority to do so), or stop-work order
10.Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948) - 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
11.Virginia studies Sedimentation issue (1971) - 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.
12.Federal Clean Water Act (1972) - 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
13.Erosion and Sediment Control Law (1973) - 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
14.Virginia Stormwater Management Act (1989) - 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
15.Adoption of ESC Regulations (1990) - 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.
16.The Integration Bill (effective July 1, 2014) - 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
17.Goal of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) -
ANSWER ✓ -control erosion and sediment deposition from non-agricultural
land-disturbing activities
-prevent damage to downstream properties and natural resources from
construction sites
18.When can a stop work order be issued? - ANSWER ✓ -failure to do
corrective actions after NOC
, -work started without approved ESC plan or permits
-emergencies! imminent danger to waters
19.How is a stop-work order issued? (3 scenarios) - ANSWER ✓ 1. NOC
measures are not done by deadline, then issue SWO on all or part. 7 days, or
sooner if corrected.
2. no plan/permits, mail and post on site
3. emergency- no NOC required.
20.Once final grade is reached, how many days to seed? - ANSWER ✓ 7 days
for permanent vegetation
21.If dormant for more than 14 days, how many days to seed? - ANSWER ✓ 7
days for temp vegetation (permanent vegetation if dormant for >1 year)
22.What is the minimum storage capacity for a sediment trap? - ANSWER ✓
134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area
AND
Only for a max of 3 drainage acres
23.When is a sediment basin used? - ANSWER ✓ For areas more than 3 acres
of drainage area
24.What are the main goals of erosion program? - ANSWER ✓ -effective
control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non-agricultural runoff.
-prevent further unreasonable degradation of properties, stream channels,
waters, and other natural resources.
25.What is the rate of soil loss at a construction site compared to natural
means? - ANSWER ✓ They occur 1000x times faster. 20x faster than
agricultural lands.
26.What act was created in 1948 to provide the first major solution for water
pollution and recognized water as a resource? - ANSWER ✓ Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (FWPCA)
Inspector CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2025/2026 ACCURATE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED CORRECT SOLUTIONS WITH
RATIONALES || 100% GUARANTEED PASS
<LATEST VERSION>
1. Erosion Impact Area - ANSWER ✓ area of land NOT ASSOCIATED with a
current land- disturbing activity but contributing to sedimentation
2. How much more soil loss occurs from construction sites versus natural soil
erosion rates? Agricultural land? - ANSWER ✓ 1000 times more than the
average natural soil erosion rate.
20 times more than agricultural land.
3. What are 4 erosive forces? - ANSWER ✓ wind
water
ice
gravity
4. Name and define 5 stages of soil erosion. - ANSWER ✓ Raindrop- 90% of
total soil erosion
Sheet- the soils ability to infiltrate water is exceeded and it runs in sheet
flow (about 100 ft before concentrating), how sediment gets transported
Rill- when sheet flow begins to concentrate, velocity and turbulence
increase, but easily repaired
Gully-when rills converge, larger than rill and usually requires heavy
equipment to repair
Channel- large volume of water increases the gully, vertical sides are
observed or for an existing streambed when structural integrity is destroyed
,5. What are the factors of rainfall impact? - ANSWER ✓ Kinetic energy is
dependent on rainfall amount/intensity, raindrop diameter, and raindrop
velocity
6. What are two damaging effects of rainfall impact? - ANSWER ✓ Causes
soil compression which reduces infiltration
Mainly occurs in May-Sept which is when disturbance is most active
7. 4 factors influencing erosion - ANSWER ✓ climate
groundcover (influenced by humans)
soil properties
topography (influenced by humans)
8. T/F: Inspector is not required to provide notice - ANSWER ✓ True!
9. What is the process of enforcement? - ANSWER ✓ 1. Conduct an inspection
where deficiency occurs.
2. If doesn't get fixed, issue Notice to Comply. (this includes measures
needed to comply and time)
3. If still fail to fix then...revoke permit, enforcement action like penalties,
legal action, etc (must have authority to do so), or stop-work order
10.Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948) - 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
11.Virginia studies Sedimentation issue (1971) - 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.
12.Federal Clean Water Act (1972) - 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
13.Erosion and Sediment Control Law (1973) - 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
14.Virginia Stormwater Management Act (1989) - 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
15.Adoption of ESC Regulations (1990) - 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.
16.The Integration Bill (effective July 1, 2014) - 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
17.Goal of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) -
ANSWER ✓ -control erosion and sediment deposition from non-agricultural
land-disturbing activities
-prevent damage to downstream properties and natural resources from
construction sites
18.When can a stop work order be issued? - ANSWER ✓ -failure to do
corrective actions after NOC
, -work started without approved ESC plan or permits
-emergencies! imminent danger to waters
19.How is a stop-work order issued? (3 scenarios) - ANSWER ✓ 1. NOC
measures are not done by deadline, then issue SWO on all or part. 7 days, or
sooner if corrected.
2. no plan/permits, mail and post on site
3. emergency- no NOC required.
20.Once final grade is reached, how many days to seed? - ANSWER ✓ 7 days
for permanent vegetation
21.If dormant for more than 14 days, how many days to seed? - ANSWER ✓ 7
days for temp vegetation (permanent vegetation if dormant for >1 year)
22.What is the minimum storage capacity for a sediment trap? - ANSWER ✓
134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area
AND
Only for a max of 3 drainage acres
23.When is a sediment basin used? - ANSWER ✓ For areas more than 3 acres
of drainage area
24.What are the main goals of erosion program? - ANSWER ✓ -effective
control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non-agricultural runoff.
-prevent further unreasonable degradation of properties, stream channels,
waters, and other natural resources.
25.What is the rate of soil loss at a construction site compared to natural
means? - ANSWER ✓ They occur 1000x times faster. 20x faster than
agricultural lands.
26.What act was created in 1948 to provide the first major solution for water
pollution and recognized water as a resource? - ANSWER ✓ Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (FWPCA)
