VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam
Questions and Answers 100%
PASS
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
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
,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
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
Questions and Answers 100%
PASS
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
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
,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
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
