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VA DEQ ESC INSPECTOR EXAM 2025
UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH
CORRECT SOLUTIONS.
VESCP - correct answer- Virginia Erosion and Sediment
Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 - correct 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 - correct answer- - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
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Site at Final Grade - correct answer- - stabilize in 7 days
(recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 - correct 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 - correct 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*)
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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 - correct 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 - correct answer- assures that sediment
does not leave the perimeter of the land-disturbing area once
site clearing, grading, and construction commences
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Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment basins,
construction entrance, temporary diversions, diversions
Minimum Standard 5 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct answer- minimum storage capacity
shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area and shall
only control drainage areas less than 3 acres
VA DEQ ESC INSPECTOR EXAM 2025
UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH
CORRECT SOLUTIONS.
VESCP - correct answer- Virginia Erosion and Sediment
Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 - correct 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 - correct answer- - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
,2 | Page
Site at Final Grade - correct answer- - stabilize in 7 days
(recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 - correct 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 - correct 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*)
,3 | Page
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 - correct 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 - correct answer- assures that sediment
does not leave the perimeter of the land-disturbing area once
site clearing, grading, and construction commences
, 4 | Page
Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment basins,
construction entrance, temporary diversions, diversions
Minimum Standard 5 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct answer- minimum storage capacity
shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage area and shall
only control drainage areas less than 3 acres
