CPESC EXAM 2 2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
✔✔Nutrients, pesticides, bacteria, toxic substances, etc. transported with eroded
sediment
Uncontrolled construction site sediment loads exceed hundreds of tons per acre per
year - ✔✔Pollutant exports during construction
✔✔1. Destruction of spawning areas, food sources, habitat
2. Direct toxicity to wildlife
3. Lake degradation
4. Filling of channels
5. Commercial fishery impacts
6. Reduced water storage capacity - ✔✔Damages to streams caused by erosion
✔✔To restore and maintain the beneficial uses of out Nation's waters. - ✔✔Stormwater
Regulations purpose?
✔✔EPA - ✔✔Who has ultimate regulatory authority?
✔✔-Federal regulation
-Purpose -> restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of our
nations waters
-Goal -> eliminate pollutants to Nations water
-> restore Nations waters to their designated use - ✔✔Clean Water Act
✔✔Water Quality Certification required for any applicant for a federal permit to conduct
an activity which may result in the discharge of any pollutant
Certification granted by state - ✔✔CWA Section 401
✔✔NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System)
-agriculture, silviculture, and oil & gas exampt - ✔✔CWA Section 402
✔✔Regulated discharge of dredged or fill material into the waters of the US
Administered by Army Corp - ✔✔CWA Section 404
✔✔Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments - ✔✔CZARA
✔✔All waters (including tribs) and wetlands used for interstate or commerce -
✔✔Waters of the US
, ✔✔CWA section stating states must adopt water quality standards ---> define
designated uses and TMDLs - ✔✔CWA Section 303
✔✔Amount of a particular pollutant that a water can absorb on a daily basis without
violating WQ standards - ✔✔TMDL
✔✔Portion of TMDL is allocated to each source of pollutant within a particular
watershed - ✔✔Waste Load Allocation
✔✔-ES controls
-stabilize slopes
-manage dewater activities
-implement pollution prevention measures
-prohibit certain details
-utilize surface outlets for discharges from basins and impoundments - ✔✔Effluent
Limitations Guidelines (ELGs) Requirements
✔✔-Administrative Orders
-Civil Actions
-Criminal ProsecutionsMa - ✔✔Types of EPA Enforcements
✔✔$37,500 - ✔✔Max Civil Penalty
✔✔$250,000-$1,000,000 - ✔✔Criminal Penalty
✔✔-Industrial, Construction, or Multi-sector Activities
-Requires a SWPP and NOI - ✔✔General NPDES
✔✔-Specific activity at specific location
-Required NOI - ✔✔Individual NPDES
✔✔-Rainfall Characteristics
-Soil Erodibility
-Topography
-Vegetative Cover
-Season
-Climate - ✔✔Factors effecting erosion
✔✔-Site evaluation
-practice and plan development
-specification
-certification and notification
GRADED A+
✔✔Nutrients, pesticides, bacteria, toxic substances, etc. transported with eroded
sediment
Uncontrolled construction site sediment loads exceed hundreds of tons per acre per
year - ✔✔Pollutant exports during construction
✔✔1. Destruction of spawning areas, food sources, habitat
2. Direct toxicity to wildlife
3. Lake degradation
4. Filling of channels
5. Commercial fishery impacts
6. Reduced water storage capacity - ✔✔Damages to streams caused by erosion
✔✔To restore and maintain the beneficial uses of out Nation's waters. - ✔✔Stormwater
Regulations purpose?
✔✔EPA - ✔✔Who has ultimate regulatory authority?
✔✔-Federal regulation
-Purpose -> restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of our
nations waters
-Goal -> eliminate pollutants to Nations water
-> restore Nations waters to their designated use - ✔✔Clean Water Act
✔✔Water Quality Certification required for any applicant for a federal permit to conduct
an activity which may result in the discharge of any pollutant
Certification granted by state - ✔✔CWA Section 401
✔✔NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System)
-agriculture, silviculture, and oil & gas exampt - ✔✔CWA Section 402
✔✔Regulated discharge of dredged or fill material into the waters of the US
Administered by Army Corp - ✔✔CWA Section 404
✔✔Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments - ✔✔CZARA
✔✔All waters (including tribs) and wetlands used for interstate or commerce -
✔✔Waters of the US
, ✔✔CWA section stating states must adopt water quality standards ---> define
designated uses and TMDLs - ✔✔CWA Section 303
✔✔Amount of a particular pollutant that a water can absorb on a daily basis without
violating WQ standards - ✔✔TMDL
✔✔Portion of TMDL is allocated to each source of pollutant within a particular
watershed - ✔✔Waste Load Allocation
✔✔-ES controls
-stabilize slopes
-manage dewater activities
-implement pollution prevention measures
-prohibit certain details
-utilize surface outlets for discharges from basins and impoundments - ✔✔Effluent
Limitations Guidelines (ELGs) Requirements
✔✔-Administrative Orders
-Civil Actions
-Criminal ProsecutionsMa - ✔✔Types of EPA Enforcements
✔✔$37,500 - ✔✔Max Civil Penalty
✔✔$250,000-$1,000,000 - ✔✔Criminal Penalty
✔✔-Industrial, Construction, or Multi-sector Activities
-Requires a SWPP and NOI - ✔✔General NPDES
✔✔-Specific activity at specific location
-Required NOI - ✔✔Individual NPDES
✔✔-Rainfall Characteristics
-Soil Erodibility
-Topography
-Vegetative Cover
-Season
-Climate - ✔✔Factors effecting erosion
✔✔-Site evaluation
-practice and plan development
-specification
-certification and notification
