VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam
Comprehensive Questions
(Frequently Tested) with
Verified Answers
VESCP - Answer: Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 - Answer: Stabilization
permanent or temporary soil stabilization shall be applied to denuded areas within seven days after final
grade is reached on any portion of the site; temporary soil stabilization shall be applied within seven
days to denuded areas that may not be at final grade but will remain dormant for longer than 14 days;
permanent stabilization shall be applied to areas that are to be left dormant for more than one year
Site NOT at Final Grade - Answer: - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
Site at Final Grade - Answer: - stabilize in 7 days (recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 - Answer: Stock Piles, Waste and Borrow Areas
,during construction, soil stock piles and borrow areas shall be stabilized or protected with sediment
trapping measures
mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface from raindrop impact and silt fence intercepts and
detains from disturbed areas
Minimum Standard 3 - Answer: Permanent Vegetation
permanent vegetation cover shall be established on denuded areas not otherwise permanently
stabilized (permanent vegetation shall not be considered established until a ground cover is achieved
that is uniform, mature enough to survive, and will inhibit erosion *there is no % associated with this*)
reduce erosion and decrease sediment yield from disturbed area
this is the standard used to verify that a site is ready for release of bonds or surety
Minimum Standard 4 - Answer: First-Step Measures
Sediment basins and traps, perimeter dikes, sediment barriers and other measures intended to trap
sediment shall be constructed as a first step in any land-disturbing activity and shall be made functional
before upslope land disturbance takes place
a certain amount of initial land disturbance may be required to provide access for equipment to install
the perimeter controls, but site clearing and grading should be kept to a minimum until the perimeter
controls are in place
intercepts and detains small amounts of sediment from disturbed areas during construction operation
to prevent sediment from leaving the site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and low-to-moderate
level channel flow
Perimeter Controls - Answer: assures that sediment does not leave the perimeter of the land-disturbing
area once site clearing, grading, and construction commences
, Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment basins, construction entrance, temporary diversions,
diversions
Minimum Standard 5 - Answer: Earthen Structure Stabilization
stabilization measures shall be applied to earthen structures such as dams, dikes, and diversions
immediately after installation
reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce damage from sediment and runoff to downstream or off-
site areas
Minimum Standard 6 - Answer: Traps and Basins
sediment traps and basins shall be designed and constructed based upon the total drainage area (not
just disturbed area) to be served by the trap or basin
Sediment Traps - Answer: minimum storage capacity shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area
and shall only control drainage areas less than 3 acres
*stone outlet = trap*
Sediment Basins - Answer: surface runoff from disturbed areas that is comprised of flow from drainage
areas greater than or equal to 3 acres shall be controlled by a basin; minimum storage capacity of a
sediment basin shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area; the outfall system shall, at a
minimum, maintain the structural integrity of the basin during a 25-year storm of 24-hour duration;
runoff coefficients used in runoff calculations shall correspond to a bare earth condition or those
conditions expected to exist while the sediment basin is utilized.
Sediment Trapping Devises - Answer: 1. place near the lowest drainage points of a project
2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
Comprehensive Questions
(Frequently Tested) with
Verified Answers
VESCP - Answer: Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 - Answer: Stabilization
permanent or temporary soil stabilization shall be applied to denuded areas within seven days after final
grade is reached on any portion of the site; temporary soil stabilization shall be applied within seven
days to denuded areas that may not be at final grade but will remain dormant for longer than 14 days;
permanent stabilization shall be applied to areas that are to be left dormant for more than one year
Site NOT at Final Grade - Answer: - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
Site at Final Grade - Answer: - stabilize in 7 days (recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 - Answer: Stock Piles, Waste and Borrow Areas
,during construction, soil stock piles and borrow areas shall be stabilized or protected with sediment
trapping measures
mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface from raindrop impact and silt fence intercepts and
detains from disturbed areas
Minimum Standard 3 - Answer: Permanent Vegetation
permanent vegetation cover shall be established on denuded areas not otherwise permanently
stabilized (permanent vegetation shall not be considered established until a ground cover is achieved
that is uniform, mature enough to survive, and will inhibit erosion *there is no % associated with this*)
reduce erosion and decrease sediment yield from disturbed area
this is the standard used to verify that a site is ready for release of bonds or surety
Minimum Standard 4 - Answer: First-Step Measures
Sediment basins and traps, perimeter dikes, sediment barriers and other measures intended to trap
sediment shall be constructed as a first step in any land-disturbing activity and shall be made functional
before upslope land disturbance takes place
a certain amount of initial land disturbance may be required to provide access for equipment to install
the perimeter controls, but site clearing and grading should be kept to a minimum until the perimeter
controls are in place
intercepts and detains small amounts of sediment from disturbed areas during construction operation
to prevent sediment from leaving the site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and low-to-moderate
level channel flow
Perimeter Controls - Answer: assures that sediment does not leave the perimeter of the land-disturbing
area once site clearing, grading, and construction commences
, Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment basins, construction entrance, temporary diversions,
diversions
Minimum Standard 5 - Answer: Earthen Structure Stabilization
stabilization measures shall be applied to earthen structures such as dams, dikes, and diversions
immediately after installation
reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce damage from sediment and runoff to downstream or off-
site areas
Minimum Standard 6 - Answer: Traps and Basins
sediment traps and basins shall be designed and constructed based upon the total drainage area (not
just disturbed area) to be served by the trap or basin
Sediment Traps - Answer: minimum storage capacity shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area
and shall only control drainage areas less than 3 acres
*stone outlet = trap*
Sediment Basins - Answer: surface runoff from disturbed areas that is comprised of flow from drainage
areas greater than or equal to 3 acres shall be controlled by a basin; minimum storage capacity of a
sediment basin shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area; the outfall system shall, at a
minimum, maintain the structural integrity of the basin during a 25-year storm of 24-hour duration;
runoff coefficients used in runoff calculations shall correspond to a bare earth condition or those
conditions expected to exist while the sediment basin is utilized.
Sediment Trapping Devises - Answer: 1. place near the lowest drainage points of a project
2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
