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VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
VESCP Ans: — Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 Ans: — 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 Ans: — - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
Site at Final Grade Ans: — - stabilize in 7 days (recommended
immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 Ans: — Stock Piles, Waste and Borrow Areas
during construction, soil stock piles and borrow areas shall be
stabilized or protected with sediment trapping measures
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mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface from raindrop
impact and silt fence intercepts and detains from disturbed areas
Minimum Standard 3 Ans: — 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 Ans: — 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
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
leaving the site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and low-to-
moderate level channel flow
Perimeter Controls Ans: — 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 Ans: — 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 Ans: — 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 Ans: — 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 Ans: — surface runoff from disturbed areas that
is comprised of flow from drainage areas greater than or equal to
3 acres shall be controlled by a basin; minimum storage capacity
of a sediment basin shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage
area; the outfall system shall, at a minimum, maintain the
© 2025 All rights reserved
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structural integrity of the basin during a 25-year storm of 24-hour
duration; runoff coefficients used in runoff calculations shall
correspond to a bare earth condition or those conditions expected
to exist while the sediment basin is utilized.
Sediment Trapping Devises Ans: — 1. place near the lowest
drainage points of a project
2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
3. stabilize immediately [MS-5]
4. must include outlet protection for basins [MS-11]
Minimum Standard 7 Ans: — Cut and Fill Slopes
roughening the surface of the slope decreases runoff, lowers the
velocity runoff, increases water retention, and leads to better seed
germination
slopes that are found to be eroding excessively within on year of
permanent stabilization shall be provided with additional slop
stabilizing measures until the problem is corrected
Minimum Standard 8 Ans: — Concentrated Runoff
shall not flow down cut or fill slopes unless contained within an
adequate temporary or permanent channel, flume or slope drain
structure
outlets of these drains need outlet protection to prevent erosion
from the concentrated flow
© 2025 All rights reserved
VA DEQ ESC Inspector Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
VESCP Ans: — Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
- Administered by counties/cities (must), towns (may)
- MUST BE APPROVED
Minimum Standard 1 Ans: — 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 Ans: — - stabilize in 14 days
- temporarily seed
- mulch
- permanently stabilize if dormant > 1 year
Site at Final Grade Ans: — - stabilize in 7 days (recommended
immediately)
- permanently or temporarily seed and mulch
- mulch/matting/straw
Minimum Standard 2 Ans: — Stock Piles, Waste and Borrow Areas
during construction, soil stock piles and borrow areas shall be
stabilized or protected with sediment trapping measures
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
mulch prevents erosion by protecting the surface from raindrop
impact and silt fence intercepts and detains from disturbed areas
Minimum Standard 3 Ans: — 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 Ans: — 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
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
leaving the site and decrease velocity of sheet flows and low-to-
moderate level channel flow
Perimeter Controls Ans: — 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 Ans: — 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 Ans: — 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 Ans: — 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 Ans: — surface runoff from disturbed areas that
is comprised of flow from drainage areas greater than or equal to
3 acres shall be controlled by a basin; minimum storage capacity
of a sediment basin shall be 134 cubic yards per acre of drainage
area; the outfall system shall, at a minimum, maintain the
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
structural integrity of the basin during a 25-year storm of 24-hour
duration; runoff coefficients used in runoff calculations shall
correspond to a bare earth condition or those conditions expected
to exist while the sediment basin is utilized.
Sediment Trapping Devises Ans: — 1. place near the lowest
drainage points of a project
2. install as a first-step measure [MS-4]
3. stabilize immediately [MS-5]
4. must include outlet protection for basins [MS-11]
Minimum Standard 7 Ans: — Cut and Fill Slopes
roughening the surface of the slope decreases runoff, lowers the
velocity runoff, increases water retention, and leads to better seed
germination
slopes that are found to be eroding excessively within on year of
permanent stabilization shall be provided with additional slop
stabilizing measures until the problem is corrected
Minimum Standard 8 Ans: — Concentrated Runoff
shall not flow down cut or fill slopes unless contained within an
adequate temporary or permanent channel, flume or slope drain
structure
outlets of these drains need outlet protection to prevent erosion
from the concentrated flow
© 2025 All rights reserved
