🌊 NPDES LEVEL 1A PRACTICE TEST —
2025/2026
150+ Advanced Questions: BMPs, Soil Erosion, Sediment
Control, Permit Rules & Georgia Compliance
SECTION 1: NPDES PERMIT FUNDAMENTALS &
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK (Questions 1–30)
1. Under the Clean Water Act Section 402, what does the NPDES permit program
regulate?
A) Air emissions from construction sites
B) Discharges of pollutants from point sources into waters of the United States ✅
(correct answer)
C) Solid waste disposal at construction sites
D) Wetland fill activities under Section 404
Rationale: Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1342) established the NPDES permit
program — regulating point source discharges of pollutants (including stormwater) into
navigable waters (Waters of the U.S.).
2. In Georgia, which agency administers the NPDES Construction General Permit (CGP)?
A) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4
B) Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) ✅ (correct answer)
C) Georgia Department of Transportation
D) Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
Rationale: Georgia is an EPA-authorized state — the Georgia Environmental Protection
Division (EPD) under the Georgia Department of Natural Resources administers the NPDES
program through the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual.
,3. What is the minimum land disturbance acreage threshold requiring an NPDES
Construction General Permit in Georgia?
A) 0.5 acres
B) 1 acre ✅ (correct answer)
C) 2 acres
D) 5 acres
Rationale: Per Georgia EPD's NPDES CGP, land disturbance activities disturbing 1 or more
acres (or less than 1 acre if part of a larger common plan of development disturbing 1+ acres)
require coverage under the permit.
4. What is a "common plan of development" under NPDES regulations?
A) A municipal stormwater management plan
B) A contiguous area where multiple separate and distinct construction activities may be
taking place at different times on different schedules under one plan ✅ (correct answer)
C) A regional watershed protection plan
D) A shared BMP maintenance agreement between adjacent property owners
Rationale: A "common plan of development or sale" means the total area of a larger project
must be considered — even if individual phases disturb less than 1 acre, if the overall plan
disturbs 1+ acres, each phase needs permit coverage.
5. What federal regulation specifically requires construction site operators to implement
BMPs for stormwater control?
A) 40 CFR Part 122 ✅ (correct answer)
B) 40 CFR Part 401
C) 40 CFR Part 503
D) 40 CFR Part 260
Rationale: 40 CFR Part 122 contains NPDES permit regulations including construction
stormwater requirements. The EPA's 2017 Construction General Permit (CGP) issued under
this authority provides the federal framework.
6. What is a "Notice of Intent" (NOI) in the context of Georgia's NPDES Construction
General Permit?
A) A notification to adjacent property owners of upcoming construction
, B) A formal application filed with Georgia EPD to obtain coverage under the
Construction General Permit before land disturbance begins ✅ (correct answer)
C) A notice that a permit violation has occurred
D) A document filed after construction completion
Rationale: The NOI is the mechanism for obtaining permit coverage — operators must submit a
complete NOI (with SWPPP certification) to Georgia EPD before beginning land-disturbing
activities.
7. Under Georgia's NPDES CGP, how many days before land disturbance must the NOI be
submitted?
A) 3 days
B) 5 days
C) 7 days ✅ (correct answer)
D) 14 days
Rationale: Georgia EPD requires the NOI to be submitted at least 7 calendar days prior to
commencement of land-disturbing activities. Coverage is automatic if no denial is issued within
this period.
8. What is a "Notice of Termination" (NOT) and when must it be filed in Georgia?
A) A notice filed when a permit condition cannot be met
B) A document filed with Georgia EPD to terminate permit coverage when a site
achieves final stabilization or ownership transfers ✅ (correct answer)
C) A termination of a contractor's right to perform land-disturbing activities
D) A notice that construction has temporarily ceased
Rationale: The NOT terminates NPDES permit responsibility — it should be filed when: (1) final
stabilization is achieved, (2) another operator has assumed control, or (3) a new permit has
been issued for the site.
9. What does "final stabilization" mean under Georgia's NPDES program?
A) Installation of all permanent structures on the site
B) All soil disturbance activities have ceased and a uniform perennial vegetative cover
with a density of 70% or more has been established, or equivalent permanent physical
erosion reduction methods have been employed ✅ (correct answer)
C) All temporary BMPs have been removed from the site
, D) The site has passed a final inspection by Georgia EPD
Rationale: Georgia EPD's CGP defines final stabilization as 70% vegetative cover density over
the entire site (excluding areas covered by permanent structures), or equivalent non-vegetative
stabilization.
10. What is the "Effluent Limitation Guideline" (ELG) for construction sites under federal
regulation?
A) A numeric turbidity limit of 25 NTU at the point of discharge
B) A requirement to use BMPs to minimize pollutant discharge — the technology-based
standard for construction stormwater ✅ (correct answer)
C) A pH range of 6.0–9.0 for all discharges
D) A sediment removal efficiency of 80%
Rationale: EPA's 2009 Effluent Limitation Guideline for construction sites requires use of
BMPs. The numeric turbidity limit (13 NTU) was vacated by courts — the current requirement is
technology-based BMP implementation.
11. Under Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Act (O.C.G.A. §12-7), who is responsible
for ensuring BMPs are implemented on a construction site?
A) The general contractor only
B) The owner of the land, the person conducting land-disturbing activities, and the prime
contractor — jointly and severally ✅ (correct answer)
C) Only the person who signed the NOI
D) The local governing authority
Rationale: Georgia's E&S Act establishes joint and several liability — the landowner, land
disturber, and prime contractor all share responsibility for E&S control compliance.
12. What is the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Act's primary purpose?
A) To regulate stormwater quantity from new development
B) To protect Georgia's land and water resources from the adverse effects of accelerated
soil erosion and sedimentation from land-disturbing activities ✅ (correct answer)
C) To establish minimum setbacks from water bodies for construction
D) To regulate wetland activities in Georgia
2025/2026
150+ Advanced Questions: BMPs, Soil Erosion, Sediment
Control, Permit Rules & Georgia Compliance
SECTION 1: NPDES PERMIT FUNDAMENTALS &
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK (Questions 1–30)
1. Under the Clean Water Act Section 402, what does the NPDES permit program
regulate?
A) Air emissions from construction sites
B) Discharges of pollutants from point sources into waters of the United States ✅
(correct answer)
C) Solid waste disposal at construction sites
D) Wetland fill activities under Section 404
Rationale: Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1342) established the NPDES permit
program — regulating point source discharges of pollutants (including stormwater) into
navigable waters (Waters of the U.S.).
2. In Georgia, which agency administers the NPDES Construction General Permit (CGP)?
A) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4
B) Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) ✅ (correct answer)
C) Georgia Department of Transportation
D) Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
Rationale: Georgia is an EPA-authorized state — the Georgia Environmental Protection
Division (EPD) under the Georgia Department of Natural Resources administers the NPDES
program through the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual.
,3. What is the minimum land disturbance acreage threshold requiring an NPDES
Construction General Permit in Georgia?
A) 0.5 acres
B) 1 acre ✅ (correct answer)
C) 2 acres
D) 5 acres
Rationale: Per Georgia EPD's NPDES CGP, land disturbance activities disturbing 1 or more
acres (or less than 1 acre if part of a larger common plan of development disturbing 1+ acres)
require coverage under the permit.
4. What is a "common plan of development" under NPDES regulations?
A) A municipal stormwater management plan
B) A contiguous area where multiple separate and distinct construction activities may be
taking place at different times on different schedules under one plan ✅ (correct answer)
C) A regional watershed protection plan
D) A shared BMP maintenance agreement between adjacent property owners
Rationale: A "common plan of development or sale" means the total area of a larger project
must be considered — even if individual phases disturb less than 1 acre, if the overall plan
disturbs 1+ acres, each phase needs permit coverage.
5. What federal regulation specifically requires construction site operators to implement
BMPs for stormwater control?
A) 40 CFR Part 122 ✅ (correct answer)
B) 40 CFR Part 401
C) 40 CFR Part 503
D) 40 CFR Part 260
Rationale: 40 CFR Part 122 contains NPDES permit regulations including construction
stormwater requirements. The EPA's 2017 Construction General Permit (CGP) issued under
this authority provides the federal framework.
6. What is a "Notice of Intent" (NOI) in the context of Georgia's NPDES Construction
General Permit?
A) A notification to adjacent property owners of upcoming construction
, B) A formal application filed with Georgia EPD to obtain coverage under the
Construction General Permit before land disturbance begins ✅ (correct answer)
C) A notice that a permit violation has occurred
D) A document filed after construction completion
Rationale: The NOI is the mechanism for obtaining permit coverage — operators must submit a
complete NOI (with SWPPP certification) to Georgia EPD before beginning land-disturbing
activities.
7. Under Georgia's NPDES CGP, how many days before land disturbance must the NOI be
submitted?
A) 3 days
B) 5 days
C) 7 days ✅ (correct answer)
D) 14 days
Rationale: Georgia EPD requires the NOI to be submitted at least 7 calendar days prior to
commencement of land-disturbing activities. Coverage is automatic if no denial is issued within
this period.
8. What is a "Notice of Termination" (NOT) and when must it be filed in Georgia?
A) A notice filed when a permit condition cannot be met
B) A document filed with Georgia EPD to terminate permit coverage when a site
achieves final stabilization or ownership transfers ✅ (correct answer)
C) A termination of a contractor's right to perform land-disturbing activities
D) A notice that construction has temporarily ceased
Rationale: The NOT terminates NPDES permit responsibility — it should be filed when: (1) final
stabilization is achieved, (2) another operator has assumed control, or (3) a new permit has
been issued for the site.
9. What does "final stabilization" mean under Georgia's NPDES program?
A) Installation of all permanent structures on the site
B) All soil disturbance activities have ceased and a uniform perennial vegetative cover
with a density of 70% or more has been established, or equivalent permanent physical
erosion reduction methods have been employed ✅ (correct answer)
C) All temporary BMPs have been removed from the site
, D) The site has passed a final inspection by Georgia EPD
Rationale: Georgia EPD's CGP defines final stabilization as 70% vegetative cover density over
the entire site (excluding areas covered by permanent structures), or equivalent non-vegetative
stabilization.
10. What is the "Effluent Limitation Guideline" (ELG) for construction sites under federal
regulation?
A) A numeric turbidity limit of 25 NTU at the point of discharge
B) A requirement to use BMPs to minimize pollutant discharge — the technology-based
standard for construction stormwater ✅ (correct answer)
C) A pH range of 6.0–9.0 for all discharges
D) A sediment removal efficiency of 80%
Rationale: EPA's 2009 Effluent Limitation Guideline for construction sites requires use of
BMPs. The numeric turbidity limit (13 NTU) was vacated by courts — the current requirement is
technology-based BMP implementation.
11. Under Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Act (O.C.G.A. §12-7), who is responsible
for ensuring BMPs are implemented on a construction site?
A) The general contractor only
B) The owner of the land, the person conducting land-disturbing activities, and the prime
contractor — jointly and severally ✅ (correct answer)
C) Only the person who signed the NOI
D) The local governing authority
Rationale: Georgia's E&S Act establishes joint and several liability — the landowner, land
disturber, and prime contractor all share responsibility for E&S control compliance.
12. What is the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Act's primary purpose?
A) To regulate stormwater quantity from new development
B) To protect Georgia's land and water resources from the adverse effects of accelerated
soil erosion and sedimentation from land-disturbing activities ✅ (correct answer)
C) To establish minimum setbacks from water bodies for construction
D) To regulate wetland activities in Georgia
