CESSWI Part 1 – Comprehensive Exam Guide
for Certified Erosion, Sediment and Storm
Water Inspector (60 Questions and Answers).
DOMAIN I: REGULATIONS & NPDES PERMITS (Questions 1–12)
Q1. The federal law that prohibits the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters without a permit
is:
A. Clean Air Act (CAA)
B. Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 301
C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
D. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CWA Section 301 prohibits the discharge of any pollutant into navigable waters
without a permit. Section 402 establishes the NPDES permit program. CAA regulates air
emissions, RCRA regulates hazardous waste, and CERCLA (Superfund) addresses hazardous
waste site cleanup.
Q2. Under the NPDES program, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act authorizes which agency to
issue permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States?
A. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
B. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 404 of the CWA grants the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to issue
permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S., including wetlands.
EPA has veto authority over 404 permits and sets guidelines, but USACE is the primary
permitting authority.
,Q3. A construction project disturbing 0.75 acres of land is part of a larger common plan of
development that will ultimately disturb 5 acres total. Under the EPA Construction General
Permit (CGP), which statement is TRUE?
A. No NPDES permit is required because the individual phase disturbs less than 1 acre
B. An NPDES permit is required because the total common plan of development exceeds 1 acre
C. Only a state permit is required; federal CGP does not apply
D. An Individual Permit is required because the site is part of a phased development
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The CGP applies to construction activities that disturb 1 acre or more, OR smaller
sites that are part of a larger common plan of development that will ultimately disturb 1 acre or
more. The threshold is based on the total disturbed area of the common plan, not individual
phases.
Q4. Section 401 of the Clean Water Act requires states to certify that federal permits (such as
NPDES permits or Section 404 permits) will comply with:
A. Federal air quality standards
B. State water quality standards
C. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
D. Endangered Species Act requirements
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 401 requires states to certify that any federal permit or license for an activity
that may result in a discharge to waters of the U.S. will comply with applicable state water
quality standards. This is known as "Water Quality Certification."
Q5. A construction site disturbing 2 acres must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) before starting
construction. This permit requirement applies to:
A. All states (EPA CGP for non-authorized states; authorized states have their own GP)
B. Only EPA Region 10
C. Only sites with wetlands
D. Only sites with steep slopes (>15%)
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale: The CGP applies to construction sites ≥1 acre in all states. In states without an
authorized NPDES program, EPA issues the CGP directly. In authorized states (e.g., CA, TX, WA),
the state issues its own general permit with similar or more stringent requirements. All require
NOI submission before construction begins.
Q6. The 2023 Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA revised the definition of "Waters of the
United States" (WOTUS) by limiting federal jurisdiction to waters that have a:
A. Continuous surface connection to traditionally navigable waters
B. Chemical connection to interstate waters
C. Historical connection to tribal waters
D. Direct pipeline connection to municipal water supplies
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In Sackett v. EPA (2023), the Supreme Court held that the CWA's use of "waters"
refers only to relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water, and that
wetlands must have a continuous surface connection to such waters to be considered WOTUS.
This significantly narrowed the pre-2023 definition.
Q7. Under the EPA Construction General Permit, an inspector must have which of the following
qualifications?
A. A bachelor's degree in environmental science
B. Training in erosion and sediment control (e.g., CESSWI, CPESC, CISEC, or state certification)
C. At least 5 years of construction experience
D. EPA Region approval in writing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The CGP requires that inspectors be "qualified," meaning they have received training
in erosion and sediment control principles and practices. Acceptable certifications include
CESSWI, CPESC, CISEC, or equivalent state-level certifications. A degree or years of experience
alone does not satisfy the requirement without specific training.
Q8. The Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) applies to which of the following types of
activities?
, A. Construction activities disturbing less than 1 acre
B. Industrial activities in 20+ specific sectors
C. Municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s)
D. Agricultural runoff from farms
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The MSGP regulates stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity across
more than 20 sectors (e.g., manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, recycling facilities). It requires a
SWPPP, monitoring, annual reports, and corrective actions. Construction activities are covered
under the CGP, not the MSGP.
Q9. A construction site in an authorized state (e.g., California) has state permit requirements
that are MORE stringent than the federal EPA CGP. Which statement is correct?
A. The federal CGP supersedes state requirements
B. The site may follow either the federal or state permit, whichever is less stringent
C. The site must comply with the more stringent state permit requirements
D. The site only needs to comply with the federal CGP if the state permit is more stringent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under the CWA, authorized states may issue NPDES permits that are more stringent
than federal requirements. Operators must comply with the most stringent applicable
requirements. For example, California's Construction General Permit includes numeric effluent
limits for turbidity that exceed federal CGP requirements.
Q10. Which of the following is TRUE regarding the Notice of Termination (NOT) under the CGP?
A. The NOT must be submitted before construction begins
B. The NOT is submitted after final stabilization is achieved (70% vegetative cover or equivalent)
C. The NOT is only required for sites larger than 5 acres
D. The NOT replaces the requirement for a Notice of Intent (NOI)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Notice of Termination (NOT) is submitted after construction is complete and final
stabilization has been achieved, typically defined as 70% vegetative cover or equivalent
stabilization measures. The NOI is submitted BEFORE construction begins. Both are required for
permitted sites.
for Certified Erosion, Sediment and Storm
Water Inspector (60 Questions and Answers).
DOMAIN I: REGULATIONS & NPDES PERMITS (Questions 1–12)
Q1. The federal law that prohibits the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters without a permit
is:
A. Clean Air Act (CAA)
B. Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 301
C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
D. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CWA Section 301 prohibits the discharge of any pollutant into navigable waters
without a permit. Section 402 establishes the NPDES permit program. CAA regulates air
emissions, RCRA regulates hazardous waste, and CERCLA (Superfund) addresses hazardous
waste site cleanup.
Q2. Under the NPDES program, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act authorizes which agency to
issue permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States?
A. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
B. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 404 of the CWA grants the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to issue
permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S., including wetlands.
EPA has veto authority over 404 permits and sets guidelines, but USACE is the primary
permitting authority.
,Q3. A construction project disturbing 0.75 acres of land is part of a larger common plan of
development that will ultimately disturb 5 acres total. Under the EPA Construction General
Permit (CGP), which statement is TRUE?
A. No NPDES permit is required because the individual phase disturbs less than 1 acre
B. An NPDES permit is required because the total common plan of development exceeds 1 acre
C. Only a state permit is required; federal CGP does not apply
D. An Individual Permit is required because the site is part of a phased development
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The CGP applies to construction activities that disturb 1 acre or more, OR smaller
sites that are part of a larger common plan of development that will ultimately disturb 1 acre or
more. The threshold is based on the total disturbed area of the common plan, not individual
phases.
Q4. Section 401 of the Clean Water Act requires states to certify that federal permits (such as
NPDES permits or Section 404 permits) will comply with:
A. Federal air quality standards
B. State water quality standards
C. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
D. Endangered Species Act requirements
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 401 requires states to certify that any federal permit or license for an activity
that may result in a discharge to waters of the U.S. will comply with applicable state water
quality standards. This is known as "Water Quality Certification."
Q5. A construction site disturbing 2 acres must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) before starting
construction. This permit requirement applies to:
A. All states (EPA CGP for non-authorized states; authorized states have their own GP)
B. Only EPA Region 10
C. Only sites with wetlands
D. Only sites with steep slopes (>15%)
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale: The CGP applies to construction sites ≥1 acre in all states. In states without an
authorized NPDES program, EPA issues the CGP directly. In authorized states (e.g., CA, TX, WA),
the state issues its own general permit with similar or more stringent requirements. All require
NOI submission before construction begins.
Q6. The 2023 Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA revised the definition of "Waters of the
United States" (WOTUS) by limiting federal jurisdiction to waters that have a:
A. Continuous surface connection to traditionally navigable waters
B. Chemical connection to interstate waters
C. Historical connection to tribal waters
D. Direct pipeline connection to municipal water supplies
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In Sackett v. EPA (2023), the Supreme Court held that the CWA's use of "waters"
refers only to relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water, and that
wetlands must have a continuous surface connection to such waters to be considered WOTUS.
This significantly narrowed the pre-2023 definition.
Q7. Under the EPA Construction General Permit, an inspector must have which of the following
qualifications?
A. A bachelor's degree in environmental science
B. Training in erosion and sediment control (e.g., CESSWI, CPESC, CISEC, or state certification)
C. At least 5 years of construction experience
D. EPA Region approval in writing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The CGP requires that inspectors be "qualified," meaning they have received training
in erosion and sediment control principles and practices. Acceptable certifications include
CESSWI, CPESC, CISEC, or equivalent state-level certifications. A degree or years of experience
alone does not satisfy the requirement without specific training.
Q8. The Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) applies to which of the following types of
activities?
, A. Construction activities disturbing less than 1 acre
B. Industrial activities in 20+ specific sectors
C. Municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s)
D. Agricultural runoff from farms
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The MSGP regulates stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity across
more than 20 sectors (e.g., manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, recycling facilities). It requires a
SWPPP, monitoring, annual reports, and corrective actions. Construction activities are covered
under the CGP, not the MSGP.
Q9. A construction site in an authorized state (e.g., California) has state permit requirements
that are MORE stringent than the federal EPA CGP. Which statement is correct?
A. The federal CGP supersedes state requirements
B. The site may follow either the federal or state permit, whichever is less stringent
C. The site must comply with the more stringent state permit requirements
D. The site only needs to comply with the federal CGP if the state permit is more stringent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under the CWA, authorized states may issue NPDES permits that are more stringent
than federal requirements. Operators must comply with the most stringent applicable
requirements. For example, California's Construction General Permit includes numeric effluent
limits for turbidity that exceed federal CGP requirements.
Q10. Which of the following is TRUE regarding the Notice of Termination (NOT) under the CGP?
A. The NOT must be submitted before construction begins
B. The NOT is submitted after final stabilization is achieved (70% vegetative cover or equivalent)
C. The NOT is only required for sites larger than 5 acres
D. The NOT replaces the requirement for a Notice of Intent (NOI)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Notice of Termination (NOT) is submitted after construction is complete and final
stabilization has been achieved, typically defined as 70% vegetative cover or equivalent
stabilization measures. The NOI is submitted BEFORE construction begins. Both are required for
permitted sites.
