NPDES LEVEL 1A PRACTICE TEST 2026 | 200+
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | BMPS, SOIL
EROSION, SEDIMENT CONTROL, PERMIT RULES &
GEORGIA STATE COMPLIANCE STUDY GUIDE
• This 200-question practice test covers every major topic tested on the NPDES
Level 1A exam — use it by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer,
then checking the bolded correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce
understanding.
• Features include bold questions, bold correct answers, lettered A–E options, and
EXPERT RATIONALE explanations designed to build both exam confidence and
real-world compliance knowledge.
NPDES LEVEL 1A PRACTICE TEST 2026
200+ Questions and Answers | BMPs, Soil Erosion, Sediment Control, Permit
Rules & Georgia State Compliance Study Guide
1. What does NPDES stand for?
A) National Pollution and Drainage Elimination System
B) National Permit for Discharge and Environmental Safety
C) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
D) Natural Pollutant Discharge and Erosion System
E) National Prevention of Discharge and Environmental Sedimentation
Correct Answer: C) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
EXPERT RATIONALE: NPDES stands for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System. It is a permit program established under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to
regulate the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States.
2. Which federal law established the NPDES permit program?
A) Safe Drinking Water Act
,B) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
C) National Environmental Policy Act
D) Comprehensive Environmental Response Act
E) Clean Water Act
Correct Answer: E) Clean Water Act EXPERT RATIONALE: The Clean Water
Act (CWA), enacted in 1972, established the NPDES permit program to control water
pollution by regulating the sources that discharge pollutants into navigable waters.
3. In Georgia, which agency administers the NPDES stormwater permit
program for construction activities?
A) Georgia Department of Transportation
B) Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
C) Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division
D) Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD)
E) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Correct Answer: D) Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD)
EXPERT RATIONALE: The Georgia EPD, under the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources, is the state agency authorized by the EPA to administer the NPDES
permit program for stormwater discharges from construction activities in Georgia.
4. What is the minimum acreage of land disturbance that requires an NPDES
permit in Georgia?
A) 5 acres
B) 10 acres
C) 2 acres
D) 0.5 acres
,E) 1 acre
Correct Answer: E) 1 acre EXPERT RATIONALE: In Georgia, any land-
disturbing activity that disturbs one acre or more (or less than one acre if part of a
larger common plan of development) requires coverage under the NPDES General
Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities.
5. What is the primary purpose of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
(SWPPP)?
A) To document the cost of construction activities
B) To outline employee training schedules
C) To list all subcontractors on a project
D) To satisfy local zoning requirements
E) To identify potential pollution sources and describe BMPs to prevent
stormwater pollution
Correct Answer: E) To identify potential pollution sources and describe
BMPs to prevent stormwater pollution EXPERT RATIONALE: A SWPPP is a
site-specific plan that identifies potential sources of stormwater pollution
associated with construction activity and describes the best management practices
(BMPs) that will be implemented to reduce or eliminate pollutants in stormwater
discharges.
6. What does BMP stand for in stormwater management?
A) Basic Maintenance Procedure
B) Best Management Practice
C) Biological Monitoring Process
D) Base Management Plan
E) Bulk Material Placement
, Correct Answer: B) Best Management Practice EXPERT RATIONALE: BMP
stands for Best Management Practice. These are structural or non-structural
practices designed to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to stormwater,
drainage systems, and receiving waters.
7. Which of the following is an example of a structural BMP?
A) Employee training
B) Spill prevention planning
C) Good housekeeping
D) Silt fence
E) Waste management plan
Correct Answer: D) Silt fence EXPERT RATIONALE: A silt fence is a
structural BMP — a physical barrier installed to intercept and slow runoff, allowing
sediment to settle out before the water leaves the site. Non-structural BMPs
include practices like training, good housekeeping, and planning.
8. A silt fence should be installed:
A) Along the top of slopes to prevent erosion
B) Parallel to the direction of water flow
C) At the top of the drainage area
D) Only on flat terrain
E) Along the contour of the slope to intercept sheet flow
Correct Answer: E) Along the contour of the slope to intercept sheet flow
EXPERT RATIONALE: Silt fences must be installed along the contour
(perpendicular to flow) to intercept sheet flow runoff and allow sediment to settle.
Installing along the slope or parallel to flow renders the fence ineffective.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | BMPS, SOIL
EROSION, SEDIMENT CONTROL, PERMIT RULES &
GEORGIA STATE COMPLIANCE STUDY GUIDE
• This 200-question practice test covers every major topic tested on the NPDES
Level 1A exam — use it by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer,
then checking the bolded correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce
understanding.
• Features include bold questions, bold correct answers, lettered A–E options, and
EXPERT RATIONALE explanations designed to build both exam confidence and
real-world compliance knowledge.
NPDES LEVEL 1A PRACTICE TEST 2026
200+ Questions and Answers | BMPs, Soil Erosion, Sediment Control, Permit
Rules & Georgia State Compliance Study Guide
1. What does NPDES stand for?
A) National Pollution and Drainage Elimination System
B) National Permit for Discharge and Environmental Safety
C) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
D) Natural Pollutant Discharge and Erosion System
E) National Prevention of Discharge and Environmental Sedimentation
Correct Answer: C) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
EXPERT RATIONALE: NPDES stands for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System. It is a permit program established under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to
regulate the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States.
2. Which federal law established the NPDES permit program?
A) Safe Drinking Water Act
,B) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
C) National Environmental Policy Act
D) Comprehensive Environmental Response Act
E) Clean Water Act
Correct Answer: E) Clean Water Act EXPERT RATIONALE: The Clean Water
Act (CWA), enacted in 1972, established the NPDES permit program to control water
pollution by regulating the sources that discharge pollutants into navigable waters.
3. In Georgia, which agency administers the NPDES stormwater permit
program for construction activities?
A) Georgia Department of Transportation
B) Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
C) Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division
D) Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD)
E) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Correct Answer: D) Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD)
EXPERT RATIONALE: The Georgia EPD, under the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources, is the state agency authorized by the EPA to administer the NPDES
permit program for stormwater discharges from construction activities in Georgia.
4. What is the minimum acreage of land disturbance that requires an NPDES
permit in Georgia?
A) 5 acres
B) 10 acres
C) 2 acres
D) 0.5 acres
,E) 1 acre
Correct Answer: E) 1 acre EXPERT RATIONALE: In Georgia, any land-
disturbing activity that disturbs one acre or more (or less than one acre if part of a
larger common plan of development) requires coverage under the NPDES General
Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities.
5. What is the primary purpose of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
(SWPPP)?
A) To document the cost of construction activities
B) To outline employee training schedules
C) To list all subcontractors on a project
D) To satisfy local zoning requirements
E) To identify potential pollution sources and describe BMPs to prevent
stormwater pollution
Correct Answer: E) To identify potential pollution sources and describe
BMPs to prevent stormwater pollution EXPERT RATIONALE: A SWPPP is a
site-specific plan that identifies potential sources of stormwater pollution
associated with construction activity and describes the best management practices
(BMPs) that will be implemented to reduce or eliminate pollutants in stormwater
discharges.
6. What does BMP stand for in stormwater management?
A) Basic Maintenance Procedure
B) Best Management Practice
C) Biological Monitoring Process
D) Base Management Plan
E) Bulk Material Placement
, Correct Answer: B) Best Management Practice EXPERT RATIONALE: BMP
stands for Best Management Practice. These are structural or non-structural
practices designed to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to stormwater,
drainage systems, and receiving waters.
7. Which of the following is an example of a structural BMP?
A) Employee training
B) Spill prevention planning
C) Good housekeeping
D) Silt fence
E) Waste management plan
Correct Answer: D) Silt fence EXPERT RATIONALE: A silt fence is a
structural BMP — a physical barrier installed to intercept and slow runoff, allowing
sediment to settle out before the water leaves the site. Non-structural BMPs
include practices like training, good housekeeping, and planning.
8. A silt fence should be installed:
A) Along the top of slopes to prevent erosion
B) Parallel to the direction of water flow
C) At the top of the drainage area
D) Only on flat terrain
E) Along the contour of the slope to intercept sheet flow
Correct Answer: E) Along the contour of the slope to intercept sheet flow
EXPERT RATIONALE: Silt fences must be installed along the contour
(perpendicular to flow) to intercept sheet flow runoff and allow sediment to settle.
Installing along the slope or parallel to flow renders the fence ineffective.
