VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam Questions &
Answers | Latest Version Already Graded A+
Update 2025|2026.
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
1|Page
,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
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
2|Page
,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
3|Page
, 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
2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
3. stabilize immediately [MS-5]
4. must include outlet protection for basins [MS-11]
Minimum Standard 7 - ANSWER: Cut and Fill Slopes
roughening the surface of the slope decreases runoff, lowers the
velocity runoff, increases water retention, and leads to better seed
germination
4|Page
Answers | Latest Version Already Graded A+
Update 2025|2026.
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
1|Page
,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
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
2|Page
,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
3|Page
, 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
2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
3. stabilize immediately [MS-5]
4. must include outlet protection for basins [MS-11]
Minimum Standard 7 - ANSWER: Cut and Fill Slopes
roughening the surface of the slope decreases runoff, lowers the
velocity runoff, increases water retention, and leads to better seed
germination
4|Page
