NEWEST CERTIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL STORM
WATER COMPLIANCE PROFESSIONAL (CESCP)
CERTIFICATION EXAM OFFERED BY THE
NATIONAL REGISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROFESSIONALS | COMPLETE EXAM Q&A
WITH RATIONALES
1. Which federal law created the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program?
A) Clean Air Act
B) Safe Drinking Water Act
C) Clean Water Act (CWA)
D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The Clean Water Act of 1972 established
the NPDES program to regulate point source
pollutant discharges into waters of the United States .
2. Under the Clean Water Act, "Waters of the United
States" (WOTUS) most directly includes which of the
following?
A) All groundwater beneath a private residence
B) Only navigable rivers and lakes
,C) Tributaries and adjacent wetlands that affect
downstream waters
D) Oceanic waters beyond the territorial sea
Correct answer: C
Rationale: EPA defines WOTUS to cover tributaries,
adjacent wetlands, and other waters that contribute
to the integrity of navigable waters .
3. What is the primary purpose of the NPDES permit
program?
A) To regulate air emissions from industrial facilities
B) To control water pollution by regulating point
sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the
United States
C) To manage hazardous waste disposal
D) To protect drinking water sources only
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The NPDES permit program controls water
pollution by regulating point sources that discharge
pollutants into U.S. waters .
4. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of
a permittee under an NPDES permit?
,A) Conducting independent water quality studies for
non-regulated streams
B) Submitting annual Discharge Monitoring Reports
(DMRs)
C) Filing a petition to amend the Clean Water Act
D) Issuing permits to subcontractors
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Permittees must submit DMRs to
document compliance with effluent limits and
monitoring requirements .
5. The "1-acre rule" for construction stormwater
permits determines that a project must obtain a
permit when:
A) The total disturbed area exceeds one acre
B) The project is located within a floodplain
C) The site contains any impervious surface
D) The contractor employs more than ten workers
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Construction activities that disturb one
acre or more of land generally require coverage
under the Construction General Permit .
, 6. A Notice of Intent (NOI) is required to be submitted
to EPA:
A) Within 30 days after construction is completed
B) Prior to the start of any land-disturbing activity
C) Only if the project will use a BMP that is not EPA-
approved
D) After the first rain event on the site
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The NOI notifies EPA of the project's intent
to be covered by the CGP before any land
disturbance begins .
7. Which of the following is considered a structural
BMP for erosion control on construction sites?
A) Good housekeeping
B) Employee training
C) Silt fence
D) Scheduling work to avoid rain events
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Silt fences are physical barriers
(structural controls) designed to intercept and filter
sediment-laden runoff .
WATER COMPLIANCE PROFESSIONAL (CESCP)
CERTIFICATION EXAM OFFERED BY THE
NATIONAL REGISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROFESSIONALS | COMPLETE EXAM Q&A
WITH RATIONALES
1. Which federal law created the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program?
A) Clean Air Act
B) Safe Drinking Water Act
C) Clean Water Act (CWA)
D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The Clean Water Act of 1972 established
the NPDES program to regulate point source
pollutant discharges into waters of the United States .
2. Under the Clean Water Act, "Waters of the United
States" (WOTUS) most directly includes which of the
following?
A) All groundwater beneath a private residence
B) Only navigable rivers and lakes
,C) Tributaries and adjacent wetlands that affect
downstream waters
D) Oceanic waters beyond the territorial sea
Correct answer: C
Rationale: EPA defines WOTUS to cover tributaries,
adjacent wetlands, and other waters that contribute
to the integrity of navigable waters .
3. What is the primary purpose of the NPDES permit
program?
A) To regulate air emissions from industrial facilities
B) To control water pollution by regulating point
sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the
United States
C) To manage hazardous waste disposal
D) To protect drinking water sources only
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The NPDES permit program controls water
pollution by regulating point sources that discharge
pollutants into U.S. waters .
4. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of
a permittee under an NPDES permit?
,A) Conducting independent water quality studies for
non-regulated streams
B) Submitting annual Discharge Monitoring Reports
(DMRs)
C) Filing a petition to amend the Clean Water Act
D) Issuing permits to subcontractors
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Permittees must submit DMRs to
document compliance with effluent limits and
monitoring requirements .
5. The "1-acre rule" for construction stormwater
permits determines that a project must obtain a
permit when:
A) The total disturbed area exceeds one acre
B) The project is located within a floodplain
C) The site contains any impervious surface
D) The contractor employs more than ten workers
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Construction activities that disturb one
acre or more of land generally require coverage
under the Construction General Permit .
, 6. A Notice of Intent (NOI) is required to be submitted
to EPA:
A) Within 30 days after construction is completed
B) Prior to the start of any land-disturbing activity
C) Only if the project will use a BMP that is not EPA-
approved
D) After the first rain event on the site
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The NOI notifies EPA of the project's intent
to be covered by the CGP before any land
disturbance begins .
7. Which of the following is considered a structural
BMP for erosion control on construction sites?
A) Good housekeeping
B) Employee training
C) Silt fence
D) Scheduling work to avoid rain events
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Silt fences are physical barriers
(structural controls) designed to intercept and filter
sediment-laden runoff .
