1 | Page
VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam 2026\2027
Certified Questions & Solutions
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (ESCL)-correct-answer-requires that
State Water Control Board "shall develop a program and promulgate regulations
for the effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non agricultural
runoff that must be met in any control program to prevent the unreasonable
degradation of properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources
When compared to other land disturbing activities, why does construction
produce so much more sediment volume?-correct-answer-replanting isn't done
until the end of construction
Federal Water Pollution Control Act-correct-answer-1948
first major US law to address water pollution
Congress passed major amendments in 1972 - Clean Water Act (consolidated
control of water pollution policy under the administrator of the newly created US
EPA; established National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System [NPDES] Permit
Program, which in VA is administered by the VA Pollutant Discharge Elimination
system [VPDES], to control water pollution by regulating point sources that
discharge pollutants)
,2 | Page
Stormwater Discharges from Land Disturbing Activities-correct-answer-permitted
under Construction General Permit (GP) through NPDES
Statewide Regulatory Erosion and Sediment Control Program-
correctanswerbegan in 1960s (sedimentation problems were becoming
increasingly evident in areas undergoing fast-paced urban development -
Northern VA and Tidewater region)
1971 - Governor's Council on Environment (reported to State Attorney Andrew P.
Miller) created task force to study issue of sedimentation across state -> verified
statewide sedimentation problems and recommended a statewide program be
developed to address erosion and sedimentation
1973 - VESCL adopted by General Assembly as addendum to Soil and Water
Conservation District Law requiring the Commission to establish statewide
criteria, standards, and guidelines for the effective control of soil erosion,
sediment deposition, and nonagricultural runoff from regulated land-disturbing
activities that must be met in any VESCP to prevent unreasonable degradation of
properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources; required all
Counties and Cities in VA to adopt a local ESC program by July 1, 1974
1990 - General Assembly passed amendment requiring Soil and Water
Conservation Commission to promulgate regulations for the administration,
implementation and enforcement of the VESCL (effective May 1, 1990) 2012 -
House Bill 1065 (integration bill) made some significant changes to the
VESCL and VA Stormwater Mangement Act; required to align the VESCL with the
SWMA nad that all counties, cities, and towns with regulated Municipal Separate
,3 | Page
Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) programs adopt and administer local VA Stormwater
Management Program (VSMP) effectively creating statewide stormwater
management program that operates at the local level, much like what has been
the case for the VESCP
2013 - amendments to VESCL to reflect Soil and Water Conservation Board and
Department of Conservation and Recreation to State Water Control Board and
Department of Environmental Qual
Who has to be certified under the Local Erosion and Sediment Control
Programs?correct-answer-1. program administrators
2. inspectors
3. plan reviewers
VESCL requires personnel working in a VESCP to obtain and maintain a certificate
of competence in the area of erosion and sediment control (9VAC25-850)
Combined Administrator-correct-answer-anyone who is responsible for
performing the combined duties of program adminstrator, plan reviewer and
project inspector of a VESCP authority
800 Hour Work Experience Form-correct-answer-individuals with at least 800
hours of on-the-job work experience as a stormwater management program
administrator, inspector, plan reviewer, or combined administrator may complete
the form on the DEQ website instead of completing the DEQ training courses
, 4 | Page
*still must pass the exam
Provisional Certification-correct-answer-from the day you complete your first
required training courses and obtain a passing score on certification exam
allows individuals to continue working for an authority while they seek full
certification
*individuals can only be provisionally certified ONCE per classification (this is a
difference between erosion and sediment control vs stormwater management)
Your certificate is good for how long?-correct-answer-3 years
Can you re-certify in the last 12 months without losing the time of your
certification?-correct-answer-Yes, time will be added to your certification you
need 18 contact hours in 3 years
Re-certification Options-correct-answer-1. retake certification exam with
PearsonVue before certificate expires
VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam 2026\2027
Certified Questions & Solutions
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (ESCL)-correct-answer-requires that
State Water Control Board "shall develop a program and promulgate regulations
for the effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and non agricultural
runoff that must be met in any control program to prevent the unreasonable
degradation of properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources
When compared to other land disturbing activities, why does construction
produce so much more sediment volume?-correct-answer-replanting isn't done
until the end of construction
Federal Water Pollution Control Act-correct-answer-1948
first major US law to address water pollution
Congress passed major amendments in 1972 - Clean Water Act (consolidated
control of water pollution policy under the administrator of the newly created US
EPA; established National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System [NPDES] Permit
Program, which in VA is administered by the VA Pollutant Discharge Elimination
system [VPDES], to control water pollution by regulating point sources that
discharge pollutants)
,2 | Page
Stormwater Discharges from Land Disturbing Activities-correct-answer-permitted
under Construction General Permit (GP) through NPDES
Statewide Regulatory Erosion and Sediment Control Program-
correctanswerbegan in 1960s (sedimentation problems were becoming
increasingly evident in areas undergoing fast-paced urban development -
Northern VA and Tidewater region)
1971 - Governor's Council on Environment (reported to State Attorney Andrew P.
Miller) created task force to study issue of sedimentation across state -> verified
statewide sedimentation problems and recommended a statewide program be
developed to address erosion and sedimentation
1973 - VESCL adopted by General Assembly as addendum to Soil and Water
Conservation District Law requiring the Commission to establish statewide
criteria, standards, and guidelines for the effective control of soil erosion,
sediment deposition, and nonagricultural runoff from regulated land-disturbing
activities that must be met in any VESCP to prevent unreasonable degradation of
properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources; required all
Counties and Cities in VA to adopt a local ESC program by July 1, 1974
1990 - General Assembly passed amendment requiring Soil and Water
Conservation Commission to promulgate regulations for the administration,
implementation and enforcement of the VESCL (effective May 1, 1990) 2012 -
House Bill 1065 (integration bill) made some significant changes to the
VESCL and VA Stormwater Mangement Act; required to align the VESCL with the
SWMA nad that all counties, cities, and towns with regulated Municipal Separate
,3 | Page
Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) programs adopt and administer local VA Stormwater
Management Program (VSMP) effectively creating statewide stormwater
management program that operates at the local level, much like what has been
the case for the VESCP
2013 - amendments to VESCL to reflect Soil and Water Conservation Board and
Department of Conservation and Recreation to State Water Control Board and
Department of Environmental Qual
Who has to be certified under the Local Erosion and Sediment Control
Programs?correct-answer-1. program administrators
2. inspectors
3. plan reviewers
VESCL requires personnel working in a VESCP to obtain and maintain a certificate
of competence in the area of erosion and sediment control (9VAC25-850)
Combined Administrator-correct-answer-anyone who is responsible for
performing the combined duties of program adminstrator, plan reviewer and
project inspector of a VESCP authority
800 Hour Work Experience Form-correct-answer-individuals with at least 800
hours of on-the-job work experience as a stormwater management program
administrator, inspector, plan reviewer, or combined administrator may complete
the form on the DEQ website instead of completing the DEQ training courses
, 4 | Page
*still must pass the exam
Provisional Certification-correct-answer-from the day you complete your first
required training courses and obtain a passing score on certification exam
allows individuals to continue working for an authority while they seek full
certification
*individuals can only be provisionally certified ONCE per classification (this is a
difference between erosion and sediment control vs stormwater management)
Your certificate is good for how long?-correct-answer-3 years
Can you re-certify in the last 12 months without losing the time of your
certification?-correct-answer-Yes, time will be added to your certification you
need 18 contact hours in 3 years
Re-certification Options-correct-answer-1. retake certification exam with
PearsonVue before certificate expires
