VA DEQ Erosion & Sediment Control (ESC) Inspector Exam – Complete
Verified Questions and Answers (Virginia) – (2025-2026) Study &
Preparation Material
Introduction:
This document contains the complete, verified set of VA DEQ Erosion
and Sediment Control (ESC) Inspector Exam questions with accurate,
detailed, and corrected answers. It covers all required knowledge
areas, including ESC laws, regulations, minimum standards, BMPs,
enforcement procedures, inspection requirements, and program
administration. The material is structured to support exam
preparation and provides thorough explanations for each concept.
Exam Questions and Answers
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program --- correct precise
answer ---put in by the General Assembly to operate at the local
level; for programs to prevent the unreasonable degradation of
properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources
ESC Program Goal --- correct precise answer ---"effective control of
soil erosion, sediment deposition, and nonagricultural runoff...to
prevent the unreasonable degradation of property, stream channels,
waters, and other natural resources." (due to non-agricultural
activities)
protect downstream properties from
- sediment deposition
,- damage due to increases in volume, velocity and peak flow rates
or runoff
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (ESCL) --- correct
precise answer ---requires that State Water Control Board "shall
develop a program and promulgate regulations for the effective
control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non agricultural
runoff that must be met in any control program to prevent the
unreasonable degradation of properties, stream channels, waters,
and other natural resources
When compared to other land disturbing activities, why does
construction produce so much more sediment volume? --- correct
precise answer ---replanting isn't done until the end of
construction
Federal Water Pollution Control Act --- correct precise answer ---
1948
first major US law to address water pollution
Congress passed major amendments in 1972 - Clean Water Act
(consolidated control of water pollution policy under the
administrator of the newly created US EPA; established National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System [NPDES] Permit Program,
,which in VA is administered by the VA Pollutant Discharge
Elimination system [VPDES], to control water pollution by
regulating point sources that discharge pollutants)
Stormwater Discharges from Land Disturbing Activities --- correct
precise answer ---permitted under Construction General Permit
(GP) through NPDES
Statewide Regulatory Erosion and Sediment Control Program ---
correct precise answer ---began in 1960s (sedimentation problems
were becoming increasingly evident in areas undergoing fast-paced
urban development - Northern VA and Tidewater region)
1971 - Governor's Council on Environment (reported to State
Attorney Andrew P. Miller) created task force to study issue of
sedimentation across state -> verified statewide sedimentation
problems and recommended a statewide program be developed to
address erosion and sedimentation
1973 - VESCL adopted by General Assembly as addendum to Soil and
Water Conservation District Law requiring the Commission to
establish statewide criteria, standards, and guidelines for the
effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and
nonagricultural runoff from regulated land-disturbing activities
that must be met in any VESCP to prevent unreasonable
degradation of properties, stream channels, waters, and other
, natural resources; required all Counties and Cities in VA to adopt a
local ESC program by July 1, 1974
1990 - General Assembly passed amendment requiring Soil and
Water Conservation Commission to promulgate regulations for the
administration, implementation and enforcement of the VESCL
(effective May 1, 1990)
2012 - House Bill 1065 (integration bill) made some significant
changes to the VESCL and VA Stormwater Mangement Act; required
to align the VESCL with the SWMA nad that all counties, cities, and
towns with regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems
(MS4) programs adopt and administer local VA Stormwater
Management Program (VSMP) effectively creating statewide
stormwater management program that operates at the local level,
much like what has been the case for the VESCP
2013 - amendments to VESCL to reflect Soil and Water Conservation
Board and Department of Conservation and Recreation to State
Water Control Board and Department of Environmental Qual
Who has to be certified under the Local Erosion and Sediment
Control Programs? --- correct precise answer ---1. program
administrators
2. inspectors
Verified Questions and Answers (Virginia) – (2025-2026) Study &
Preparation Material
Introduction:
This document contains the complete, verified set of VA DEQ Erosion
and Sediment Control (ESC) Inspector Exam questions with accurate,
detailed, and corrected answers. It covers all required knowledge
areas, including ESC laws, regulations, minimum standards, BMPs,
enforcement procedures, inspection requirements, and program
administration. The material is structured to support exam
preparation and provides thorough explanations for each concept.
Exam Questions and Answers
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program --- correct precise
answer ---put in by the General Assembly to operate at the local
level; for programs to prevent the unreasonable degradation of
properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources
ESC Program Goal --- correct precise answer ---"effective control of
soil erosion, sediment deposition, and nonagricultural runoff...to
prevent the unreasonable degradation of property, stream channels,
waters, and other natural resources." (due to non-agricultural
activities)
protect downstream properties from
- sediment deposition
,- damage due to increases in volume, velocity and peak flow rates
or runoff
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (ESCL) --- correct
precise answer ---requires that State Water Control Board "shall
develop a program and promulgate regulations for the effective
control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non agricultural
runoff that must be met in any control program to prevent the
unreasonable degradation of properties, stream channels, waters,
and other natural resources
When compared to other land disturbing activities, why does
construction produce so much more sediment volume? --- correct
precise answer ---replanting isn't done until the end of
construction
Federal Water Pollution Control Act --- correct precise answer ---
1948
first major US law to address water pollution
Congress passed major amendments in 1972 - Clean Water Act
(consolidated control of water pollution policy under the
administrator of the newly created US EPA; established National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System [NPDES] Permit Program,
,which in VA is administered by the VA Pollutant Discharge
Elimination system [VPDES], to control water pollution by
regulating point sources that discharge pollutants)
Stormwater Discharges from Land Disturbing Activities --- correct
precise answer ---permitted under Construction General Permit
(GP) through NPDES
Statewide Regulatory Erosion and Sediment Control Program ---
correct precise answer ---began in 1960s (sedimentation problems
were becoming increasingly evident in areas undergoing fast-paced
urban development - Northern VA and Tidewater region)
1971 - Governor's Council on Environment (reported to State
Attorney Andrew P. Miller) created task force to study issue of
sedimentation across state -> verified statewide sedimentation
problems and recommended a statewide program be developed to
address erosion and sedimentation
1973 - VESCL adopted by General Assembly as addendum to Soil and
Water Conservation District Law requiring the Commission to
establish statewide criteria, standards, and guidelines for the
effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and
nonagricultural runoff from regulated land-disturbing activities
that must be met in any VESCP to prevent unreasonable
degradation of properties, stream channels, waters, and other
, natural resources; required all Counties and Cities in VA to adopt a
local ESC program by July 1, 1974
1990 - General Assembly passed amendment requiring Soil and
Water Conservation Commission to promulgate regulations for the
administration, implementation and enforcement of the VESCL
(effective May 1, 1990)
2012 - House Bill 1065 (integration bill) made some significant
changes to the VESCL and VA Stormwater Mangement Act; required
to align the VESCL with the SWMA nad that all counties, cities, and
towns with regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems
(MS4) programs adopt and administer local VA Stormwater
Management Program (VSMP) effectively creating statewide
stormwater management program that operates at the local level,
much like what has been the case for the VESCP
2013 - amendments to VESCL to reflect Soil and Water Conservation
Board and Department of Conservation and Recreation to State
Water Control Board and Department of Environmental Qual
Who has to be certified under the Local Erosion and Sediment
Control Programs? --- correct precise answer ---1. program
administrators
2. inspectors
