VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam Actual
Questions and Correct Answers
VESCP
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1
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
- stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
Site at Final Grade
- stabilize in 7 days (recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Questions and Correct Answers
VESCP
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1
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
- stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
Site at Final Grade
- stabilize in 7 days (recommended immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
