VA DEQ ESC INSPECTOR EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
VESCP Acronym - ANS Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program; localities not
administering a VESMP and only ESC programs; operate under Part III of the VESM regulations
and ESC Law
VESMA - ANS Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act; 2016: combined SWM
requirements in SWM Act and ESC Law; effective 7/1/24
VESMP - ANS Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program; localities administering
both SWM and ESC programs; operate under VESMA and Part II of VESM Regulation
VA House Bill 1065 - ANS General assembly aligned the ESC and SWM programs and required
MS4 programs to adopt and administer a local stormwater program; effective 7/1/2014
Adoption of ESC Regulations - ANS General assembly required the Soil and Water
Conservation Board to promulgate regulations for the administration, implementation, and
enforcement of ESC law; 1990
Virginia Stormwater Management (SWM) Act - ANS General assembly passed the SWM act to
address erosion, groundwater depletion, and more frequent localized flooding due to intensive
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, land development; localities could establish SWM programs by ordinance, while state projects
were required to follow the SWM act; 1989
ESC Law - ANS General assembly passed the ESC law, requiring statewide establishment of
minimum standards, etc. for erosion/sediment deposition/non-agricultural runoff; all
counties/cities required to adopt a local erosion program by 7/1/74
CWA - ANS Clean Water Act; established NPDES; 1972
CGP Coverage Requirements - ANS required to develop a SWPPP consisting of an ESC plan,
stormwater management plan, and pollution prevention plan; plans must detail how both C-
and P-BMPS will be implemented
Inspector Recert Requirements - ANS Complete 18 hours of contact hours, enter it into CATS
and pay recert fee OR retake exam before expiration
Soil Erosion - ANS removal and transportation of soil particles by erosive forces, such as
water, wind, ice, gravity
Geologic Erosion - ANS natural landscape formation by wearing away mountains; filling
valleys; creating sandbars, islands, and coastal plains
Geologic Erosion accounts for ____% of total sediment production. Accelerated Erosion
accounts for ____% - ANS 30%, 70%
What are the five stages of soil erosion? - ANS 1. Raindrop impact
2. Sheet erosion
3. Rill erosion
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
VESCP Acronym - ANS Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program; localities not
administering a VESMP and only ESC programs; operate under Part III of the VESM regulations
and ESC Law
VESMA - ANS Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act; 2016: combined SWM
requirements in SWM Act and ESC Law; effective 7/1/24
VESMP - ANS Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program; localities administering
both SWM and ESC programs; operate under VESMA and Part II of VESM Regulation
VA House Bill 1065 - ANS General assembly aligned the ESC and SWM programs and required
MS4 programs to adopt and administer a local stormwater program; effective 7/1/2014
Adoption of ESC Regulations - ANS General assembly required the Soil and Water
Conservation Board to promulgate regulations for the administration, implementation, and
enforcement of ESC law; 1990
Virginia Stormwater Management (SWM) Act - ANS General assembly passed the SWM act to
address erosion, groundwater depletion, and more frequent localized flooding due to intensive
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, land development; localities could establish SWM programs by ordinance, while state projects
were required to follow the SWM act; 1989
ESC Law - ANS General assembly passed the ESC law, requiring statewide establishment of
minimum standards, etc. for erosion/sediment deposition/non-agricultural runoff; all
counties/cities required to adopt a local erosion program by 7/1/74
CWA - ANS Clean Water Act; established NPDES; 1972
CGP Coverage Requirements - ANS required to develop a SWPPP consisting of an ESC plan,
stormwater management plan, and pollution prevention plan; plans must detail how both C-
and P-BMPS will be implemented
Inspector Recert Requirements - ANS Complete 18 hours of contact hours, enter it into CATS
and pay recert fee OR retake exam before expiration
Soil Erosion - ANS removal and transportation of soil particles by erosive forces, such as
water, wind, ice, gravity
Geologic Erosion - ANS natural landscape formation by wearing away mountains; filling
valleys; creating sandbars, islands, and coastal plains
Geologic Erosion accounts for ____% of total sediment production. Accelerated Erosion
accounts for ____% - ANS 30%, 70%
What are the five stages of soil erosion? - ANS 1. Raindrop impact
2. Sheet erosion
3. Rill erosion
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
