VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam Test Questions and
Answers Graded A+
VESCP - -Virginia Erosion and Sediment
Control Program
Minimum Standard 3 - -Permanent
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns Vegetation
(may)
- MUST BE APPROVED permanent vegetation cover shall be established
on denuded areas not otherwise permanently
stabilized (permanent vegetation shall not be
Minimum Standard 1 - -Stabilization considered established until a ground cover is
achieved that is uniform, mature enough to
permanent or temporary soil stabilization shall be survive, and will inhibit erosion *there is no %
applied to denuded areas within seven days after associated with this*)
final grade is reached on any portion of the site;
temporary soil stabilization shall be applied within reduce erosion and decrease sediment yield from
seven days to denuded areas that may not be at disturbed area
final grade but will remain dormant for longer
than 14 days; permanent stabilization shall be this is the standard used to verify that a site is
applied to areas that are to be left dormant for ready for release of bonds or surety
more than one year
Minimum Standard 4 - -First-Step
Site NOT at Final Grade - -- stabilize in 14 Measures
days
- temporarily seed Sediment basins and traps, perimeter dikes,
- mulch sediment barriers and other measures intended
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year to trap sediment shall be constructed as a first
step in any land-disturbing activity and shall be
made functional before upslope land disturbance
Site at Final Grade - -- stabilize in 7 days takes place
(recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch a certain amount of initial land disturbance may
- mulch/matting/straw 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
Minimum Standard 2 - -Stock Piles, Waste
and Borrow Areas
intercepts and detains small amounts of sediment
from disturbed areas during construction
during construction, soil stock piles and borrow
operation to prevent sediment from leaving the
areas shall be stabilized or protected with
site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and low-
sediment trapping measures
to-moderate level channel flow
mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface
from raindrop impact and silt fence intercepts
and detains from disturbed areas Perimeter Controls - -assures that
,VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam Test Questions and
Answers Graded A+
sediment does not leave the perimeter of the structural integrity of the basin during a 25-year
land-disturbing area once site clearing, grading, storm of 24-hour duration; runoff coefficients
and construction commences used in runoff calculations shall correspond to a
bare earth condition or those conditions expected
Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment to exist while the sediment basin is utilized.
basins, construction entrance, temporary
diversions, diversions
Sediment Trapping Devises - -1. place
near the lowest drainage points of a project
Minimum Standard 5 - -Earthen Structure
Stabilization 2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
stabilization measures shall be applied to 3. stabilize immediately [MS-5]
earthen structures such as dams, dikes, and
diversions immediately after installation 4. must include outlet protection for basins [MS-
11]
reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce
damage from sediment and runoff to downstream
or off-site areas Minimum Standard 7 - -Cut and Fill Slopes
roughening the surface of the slope decreases
Minimum Standard 6 - -Traps and Basins runoff, lowers the velocity runoff, increases water
retention, and leads to better seed germination
sediment traps and basins shall be designed and
constructed based upon the total drainage area slopes that are found to be eroding excessively
(not just disturbed area) to be served by the trap within on year of permanent stabilization shall be
or basin provided with additional slop stabilizing measures
until the problem is corrected
Sediment Traps - -minimum storage
capacity shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of Minimum Standard 8 - -Concentrated
drainage area and shall only control drainage Runoff
areas less than 3 acres
shall not flow down cut or fill slopes unless
*stone outlet = trap* contained within an adequate temporary or
permanent channel, flume or slope drain
structure
Sediment Basins - -surface runoff from
disturbed areas that is comprised of flow from outlets of these drains need outlet protection to
drainage areas greater than or equal to 3 acres prevent erosion from the concentrated flow
shall be controlled by a basin; minimum storage
capacity of a sediment basin shall be 134 cubic size of pipe depends on drainage area
yards per acre of drainage area; the outfall
system shall, at a minimum, maintain the temporarily conduct concentrated stormwater
, VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam Test Questions and
Answers Graded A+
runoff safely down the face of a cut or fill slope
without causing erosion on or below the slope
Minimum Standard 11 - -Outlet Protection
Minimum Standard 9 - -Water Seeps before newly constructed stormwater conveyance
channels or pipes are made operational,
whenever water seeps from a slope face, adequate outlet protection and any required
adequate drainage or other protection shall be temporary or permanent channel lining shall be
provided installed in both the conveyance channel and
receiving channel
cut and fill operations may expose shallow
aquifers or groundwater tables from which water prevent scour at stormwater outlets, protect outlet
may seep through the side of a slope structure, and minimize potential for downstream
erosion by reducing the velocity and energy of
concentrated stormwater flows
Minimum Standard 10 - -Inlet Protection
provides energy dissipation from the
all storm sewer inlets that are made operable concentrated discharge from a pipe or channel in
during construction shall be protected so that order to prevent erosion and provide a stable
sediment-laden water cannot enter the transition
conveyance system without first being filtered or
otherwise treated to remove sediment must construct at zero grade (so it slows down
water to slow/prevent erosion)
storm sewers are designed to efficiently transport
stormwater away from the site, so when
sediment enters the storm sewer system, two Minimum Standard 12 - -Watercourse
negative effects can occur: Construction
1. when velocity of flow is high, much of the
sediment will be quickly transported to the when work in a live watercourse is performed,
nearest receiving channel precautions shall be taken to minimize
2. when velocity of the flow is low, the sediment encroachment, control sediment transport, and
may be deposited in the pipes resulting in stabilize the work area to the greatest extent
clogging and potential flooding of a site during possible during construction
storm events
non-erodible material shall be used from the
prevents sediment from entering storm drainage construction of causeways and cofferdams
systems prior to permanent stabilization of the
disturbed area earthen fill may be used for these structures if
armored by non-erodible cover materials
Silt Fence Drop Inlet Protection vs. Block and use of non-erodible materials prevents damage
Gravel Drop Inlet Sediment Filter - -Block to the stream bed and sedimentation
and gravel drop inlet - will have to clean out
regularly but won't get damaged.
Answers Graded A+
VESCP - -Virginia Erosion and Sediment
Control Program
Minimum Standard 3 - -Permanent
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns Vegetation
(may)
- MUST BE APPROVED permanent vegetation cover shall be established
on denuded areas not otherwise permanently
stabilized (permanent vegetation shall not be
Minimum Standard 1 - -Stabilization considered established until a ground cover is
achieved that is uniform, mature enough to
permanent or temporary soil stabilization shall be survive, and will inhibit erosion *there is no %
applied to denuded areas within seven days after associated with this*)
final grade is reached on any portion of the site;
temporary soil stabilization shall be applied within reduce erosion and decrease sediment yield from
seven days to denuded areas that may not be at disturbed area
final grade but will remain dormant for longer
than 14 days; permanent stabilization shall be this is the standard used to verify that a site is
applied to areas that are to be left dormant for ready for release of bonds or surety
more than one year
Minimum Standard 4 - -First-Step
Site NOT at Final Grade - -- stabilize in 14 Measures
days
- temporarily seed Sediment basins and traps, perimeter dikes,
- mulch sediment barriers and other measures intended
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year to trap sediment shall be constructed as a first
step in any land-disturbing activity and shall be
made functional before upslope land disturbance
Site at Final Grade - -- stabilize in 7 days takes place
(recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch a certain amount of initial land disturbance may
- mulch/matting/straw 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
Minimum Standard 2 - -Stock Piles, Waste
and Borrow Areas
intercepts and detains small amounts of sediment
from disturbed areas during construction
during construction, soil stock piles and borrow
operation to prevent sediment from leaving the
areas shall be stabilized or protected with
site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and low-
sediment trapping measures
to-moderate level channel flow
mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface
from raindrop impact and silt fence intercepts
and detains from disturbed areas Perimeter Controls - -assures that
,VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam Test Questions and
Answers Graded A+
sediment does not leave the perimeter of the structural integrity of the basin during a 25-year
land-disturbing area once site clearing, grading, storm of 24-hour duration; runoff coefficients
and construction commences used in runoff calculations shall correspond to a
bare earth condition or those conditions expected
Examples: silt fences, sediment traps, sediment to exist while the sediment basin is utilized.
basins, construction entrance, temporary
diversions, diversions
Sediment Trapping Devises - -1. place
near the lowest drainage points of a project
Minimum Standard 5 - -Earthen Structure
Stabilization 2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
stabilization measures shall be applied to 3. stabilize immediately [MS-5]
earthen structures such as dams, dikes, and
diversions immediately after installation 4. must include outlet protection for basins [MS-
11]
reduce erosion and sedimentation and reduce
damage from sediment and runoff to downstream
or off-site areas Minimum Standard 7 - -Cut and Fill Slopes
roughening the surface of the slope decreases
Minimum Standard 6 - -Traps and Basins runoff, lowers the velocity runoff, increases water
retention, and leads to better seed germination
sediment traps and basins shall be designed and
constructed based upon the total drainage area slopes that are found to be eroding excessively
(not just disturbed area) to be served by the trap within on year of permanent stabilization shall be
or basin provided with additional slop stabilizing measures
until the problem is corrected
Sediment Traps - -minimum storage
capacity shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of Minimum Standard 8 - -Concentrated
drainage area and shall only control drainage Runoff
areas less than 3 acres
shall not flow down cut or fill slopes unless
*stone outlet = trap* contained within an adequate temporary or
permanent channel, flume or slope drain
structure
Sediment Basins - -surface runoff from
disturbed areas that is comprised of flow from outlets of these drains need outlet protection to
drainage areas greater than or equal to 3 acres prevent erosion from the concentrated flow
shall be controlled by a basin; minimum storage
capacity of a sediment basin shall be 134 cubic size of pipe depends on drainage area
yards per acre of drainage area; the outfall
system shall, at a minimum, maintain the temporarily conduct concentrated stormwater
, VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam Test Questions and
Answers Graded A+
runoff safely down the face of a cut or fill slope
without causing erosion on or below the slope
Minimum Standard 11 - -Outlet Protection
Minimum Standard 9 - -Water Seeps before newly constructed stormwater conveyance
channels or pipes are made operational,
whenever water seeps from a slope face, adequate outlet protection and any required
adequate drainage or other protection shall be temporary or permanent channel lining shall be
provided installed in both the conveyance channel and
receiving channel
cut and fill operations may expose shallow
aquifers or groundwater tables from which water prevent scour at stormwater outlets, protect outlet
may seep through the side of a slope structure, and minimize potential for downstream
erosion by reducing the velocity and energy of
concentrated stormwater flows
Minimum Standard 10 - -Inlet Protection
provides energy dissipation from the
all storm sewer inlets that are made operable concentrated discharge from a pipe or channel in
during construction shall be protected so that order to prevent erosion and provide a stable
sediment-laden water cannot enter the transition
conveyance system without first being filtered or
otherwise treated to remove sediment must construct at zero grade (so it slows down
water to slow/prevent erosion)
storm sewers are designed to efficiently transport
stormwater away from the site, so when
sediment enters the storm sewer system, two Minimum Standard 12 - -Watercourse
negative effects can occur: Construction
1. when velocity of flow is high, much of the
sediment will be quickly transported to the when work in a live watercourse is performed,
nearest receiving channel precautions shall be taken to minimize
2. when velocity of the flow is low, the sediment encroachment, control sediment transport, and
may be deposited in the pipes resulting in stabilize the work area to the greatest extent
clogging and potential flooding of a site during possible during construction
storm events
non-erodible material shall be used from the
prevents sediment from entering storm drainage construction of causeways and cofferdams
systems prior to permanent stabilization of the
disturbed area earthen fill may be used for these structures if
armored by non-erodible cover materials
Silt Fence Drop Inlet Protection vs. Block and use of non-erodible materials prevents damage
Gravel Drop Inlet Sediment Filter - -Block to the stream bed and sedimentation
and gravel drop inlet - will have to clean out
regularly but won't get damaged.
