CISEC Exam 2025–2026 | 160 Verified
Questions with Detailed Answers and
Rationales | Latest Update | Graded A+
Who can file a civil action per the CWA? - ANSWER-Any citizen
Who can have a civil action filed against them? - ANSWER-Any person, the US, or other government
agency, or the EPA
When would a governor file a civil suit? - ANSWER-If there is a violation occurring in another state that is
causing an adverse effect on the public health/welfare of their state or for a violation of any water
quality requirement in their state
Explain Class I vs. Class II violations - ANSWER-Class I is negligent and Class II is knowingly
T/F: Contractors are authorized by the CGP to discharge pollutants - ANSWER-True
T/F: The CGP mandates that erosion due to runoff events must be prevented - ANSWER-True
T/F: The CGP mandates that qualified inspectors be knowledgeable about sediment and erosion control
and pollution prevention - ANSWER-True
T/F: The CGP states that inspections are to occur only during normal working hours - ANSWER-True
T/F: The CGP does not mandate inspectors of equipment storage and maintenance areas - ANSWER-
False
Which of the following are correct statements about the CWA?
1. Citizens can bring civil actions against alleged violators and/or the EPA
2. State Governors can bring civil action against the EPA
,3. Administrative penalties are updated annually
4. All of the above
5. Only no.1 and no.2 - ANSWER-4. All of the above
When are inspections required? - ANSWER-Only during normal business hours.
At least once every 7 calendar days OR once every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of a 0.25-inch
or greater storm event (or snow - N/A for me)
How long do inspection records need to be kept? - ANSWER-3 years after permit expires or terminates
Which of the following represents the definition of sediment?
a. The deposition of soil particles suspended in water or air
b. Eroded material suspended in water or air
c. Soil particles displaced by the action of wind or water - ANSWER-b. Eroded material suspended in
water or air
Which of the following does not represent rainfall or runoff erosion?
a. Splash
b. Sheet flow
c. Creep
d. Rill and gully - ANSWER-c. Creep
T/F: Clay is more erodible than silt - ANSWER-False
T/F: Saltation creates more wind-borne particles than suspension - ANSWER-True
T/F: Sediment is a major pollutant of our national rivers and streams and excessive amounts have a
direct impact on aquatic life - ANSWER-True
T/F: Sediment control BMPs remove all suspended particles found in runoff waters - ANSWER-False
,T/F: Inspectors should always tell contractors what type of BMPs to install on a project when
noncompliance problems are found - ANSWER-False
T/F: Good sediment control results in good erosion control - ANSWER-False
T/F: Storm drain inlet protection practices remove all sediment runoff waters and allow clean water to
flow into the drainage system - ANSWER-False
T/F: Saltation is a form of wind erosion - ANSWER-True
T/F: The most effective method for sediment control involves containing sediment-laden runoff waters
for sufficient time to allow heavier suspended particles to settle - ANSWER-True
T/F: It is not cost-effective to implement erosion control methods while construction activities are
occurring - ANSWER-False
T/F: Inspectors do not need to know much about hydrology - ANSWER-False
What is the motto of an inspector? - ANSWER-Observe, inspect, and report, but never mandate
What are the three types of wind erosion? - ANSWER-Surface creep, saltation, and suspension
Which type of erosion is described below?
The rolling and sliding movement of particles across a surface - ANSWER-Creep
What is saltation? - ANSWER-The hopping and bouncing movement of particles; particles are lifted into
the atmosphere but return to the ground and dislodge other particles
What is the breakdown of soil loss by wind erosion type? - ANSWER-Creep: 5-25%; Saltation: 50-80%;
Suspension: less than 10%
, Order these soils by most erodible to least erodible: silt, clay, sand - ANSWER-silt, sand, clay
What are the different types of water erosion? - ANSWER-Raindrop/splash, sheet, rill, gully, streambank
and channel
What are some other forms of erosion? - ANSWER-Shoreline, landslides, debris flows, geological
T/F: S&EC drawings approved by regulatory agencies cannot be updated or modified - ANSWER-False
T/F: The CGP mandates that designers of S&EC drawings be registered professionals - ANSWER-False
T/F: At any time, contractors can replace any BMP with mitigation measures of their own choosing -
ANSWER-True
T/F: Inspectors should always mandate to contractors what BMPs to install on construction sites -
ANSWER-False
Which of the following is NOT part of the CISEC Code of Ethics?
1. A CISEC shall not issue a false statement or false information at any time
2. A CISEC shall not write an inspection report that is detrimental to their employer or client
3. A CISEC shall not divulge any information given in confidence
4. A CISEC shall not falsely or maliciously attempt to damage the reputation of another - ANSWER-2
Which of the following is an acceptable gift according to the CISEC Code of Ethics?
1. $50 cash for falsifying an inspection report
2. A gift certificate from a client in gratitude for help on a completed project
3. Free baseball tickets from your client for not reporting non-compliance problems
4. A bonus from your employer for not documenting deficiencies
5. None of the above - ANSWER-5. None of the above
Questions with Detailed Answers and
Rationales | Latest Update | Graded A+
Who can file a civil action per the CWA? - ANSWER-Any citizen
Who can have a civil action filed against them? - ANSWER-Any person, the US, or other government
agency, or the EPA
When would a governor file a civil suit? - ANSWER-If there is a violation occurring in another state that is
causing an adverse effect on the public health/welfare of their state or for a violation of any water
quality requirement in their state
Explain Class I vs. Class II violations - ANSWER-Class I is negligent and Class II is knowingly
T/F: Contractors are authorized by the CGP to discharge pollutants - ANSWER-True
T/F: The CGP mandates that erosion due to runoff events must be prevented - ANSWER-True
T/F: The CGP mandates that qualified inspectors be knowledgeable about sediment and erosion control
and pollution prevention - ANSWER-True
T/F: The CGP states that inspections are to occur only during normal working hours - ANSWER-True
T/F: The CGP does not mandate inspectors of equipment storage and maintenance areas - ANSWER-
False
Which of the following are correct statements about the CWA?
1. Citizens can bring civil actions against alleged violators and/or the EPA
2. State Governors can bring civil action against the EPA
,3. Administrative penalties are updated annually
4. All of the above
5. Only no.1 and no.2 - ANSWER-4. All of the above
When are inspections required? - ANSWER-Only during normal business hours.
At least once every 7 calendar days OR once every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of a 0.25-inch
or greater storm event (or snow - N/A for me)
How long do inspection records need to be kept? - ANSWER-3 years after permit expires or terminates
Which of the following represents the definition of sediment?
a. The deposition of soil particles suspended in water or air
b. Eroded material suspended in water or air
c. Soil particles displaced by the action of wind or water - ANSWER-b. Eroded material suspended in
water or air
Which of the following does not represent rainfall or runoff erosion?
a. Splash
b. Sheet flow
c. Creep
d. Rill and gully - ANSWER-c. Creep
T/F: Clay is more erodible than silt - ANSWER-False
T/F: Saltation creates more wind-borne particles than suspension - ANSWER-True
T/F: Sediment is a major pollutant of our national rivers and streams and excessive amounts have a
direct impact on aquatic life - ANSWER-True
T/F: Sediment control BMPs remove all suspended particles found in runoff waters - ANSWER-False
,T/F: Inspectors should always tell contractors what type of BMPs to install on a project when
noncompliance problems are found - ANSWER-False
T/F: Good sediment control results in good erosion control - ANSWER-False
T/F: Storm drain inlet protection practices remove all sediment runoff waters and allow clean water to
flow into the drainage system - ANSWER-False
T/F: Saltation is a form of wind erosion - ANSWER-True
T/F: The most effective method for sediment control involves containing sediment-laden runoff waters
for sufficient time to allow heavier suspended particles to settle - ANSWER-True
T/F: It is not cost-effective to implement erosion control methods while construction activities are
occurring - ANSWER-False
T/F: Inspectors do not need to know much about hydrology - ANSWER-False
What is the motto of an inspector? - ANSWER-Observe, inspect, and report, but never mandate
What are the three types of wind erosion? - ANSWER-Surface creep, saltation, and suspension
Which type of erosion is described below?
The rolling and sliding movement of particles across a surface - ANSWER-Creep
What is saltation? - ANSWER-The hopping and bouncing movement of particles; particles are lifted into
the atmosphere but return to the ground and dislodge other particles
What is the breakdown of soil loss by wind erosion type? - ANSWER-Creep: 5-25%; Saltation: 50-80%;
Suspension: less than 10%
, Order these soils by most erodible to least erodible: silt, clay, sand - ANSWER-silt, sand, clay
What are the different types of water erosion? - ANSWER-Raindrop/splash, sheet, rill, gully, streambank
and channel
What are some other forms of erosion? - ANSWER-Shoreline, landslides, debris flows, geological
T/F: S&EC drawings approved by regulatory agencies cannot be updated or modified - ANSWER-False
T/F: The CGP mandates that designers of S&EC drawings be registered professionals - ANSWER-False
T/F: At any time, contractors can replace any BMP with mitigation measures of their own choosing -
ANSWER-True
T/F: Inspectors should always mandate to contractors what BMPs to install on construction sites -
ANSWER-False
Which of the following is NOT part of the CISEC Code of Ethics?
1. A CISEC shall not issue a false statement or false information at any time
2. A CISEC shall not write an inspection report that is detrimental to their employer or client
3. A CISEC shall not divulge any information given in confidence
4. A CISEC shall not falsely or maliciously attempt to damage the reputation of another - ANSWER-2
Which of the following is an acceptable gift according to the CISEC Code of Ethics?
1. $50 cash for falsifying an inspection report
2. A gift certificate from a client in gratitude for help on a completed project
3. Free baseball tickets from your client for not reporting non-compliance problems
4. A bonus from your employer for not documenting deficiencies
5. None of the above - ANSWER-5. None of the above
