VA DEQ SWM INSPECTOR EXAM COMPLETE PRACTICE
QUESTION BANK 250 QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
TOPIC 1 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 50 QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1
The Virginia Stormwater Management Program is authorized by which
legislation
A Clean Water Act
B Virginia Stormwater Management Act (CORRECT)
C EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
D Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act
Explanation The VSMP is authorized by the Virginia Stormwater Management Act
which establishes the legal framework for stormwater control in Virginia
QUESTION 2
The VSMP Program Regulations are found in which section of the Virginia
Administrative Code
A 9VAC25-151
B 9VAC25-31
C 9VAC25-870 (CORRECT)
D 9VAC25-875
Explanation The VSMP regulations are codified at 9VAC25-870 which contains all
stormwater management requirements for land disturbing activities
QUESTION 3
What federal permit authorizes the VSMP program
A Section 404 Permit
B VPDES Construction General Permit (CORRECT)
C Section 401 Certification
,D NPDES General Permit
Explanation The Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Construction
General Permit is the federal delegation permit that authorizes Virginia to
administer the stormwater program
QUESTION 4
The primary purpose of the VSMP Regulation is to
A Require permits for all construction
B Regulate industrial wastewater
C Eliminate all stormwater runoff
D Protect water quality from land disturbing activities (CORRECT)
Explanation The main goal of the VSMP Regulation is to control runoff from
construction sites and developed areas to prevent water quality degradation
QUESTION 5
Which entity has primary enforcement authority for VSMP compliance
A Local planning commissions
B Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (CORRECT)
C Army Corps of Engineers
D EPA
Explanation DEQ has primary enforcement authority for VSMP compliance
including issuing violations and stop work orders
QUESTION 6
The VSMP Regulation applies to land disturbing activities of what minimum size
A 2500 square feet
B 5 acres
C 1 acre (CORRECT)
D 1000 square feet
Explanation The VSMP Regulation applies to land disturbing activities of one acre
or more unless in a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area where 2500 square feet
triggers requirements
QUESTION 7
Which of the following is NOT a component of the VSMP regulatory framework
,A VSMP Regulation
B Clean Water Act (CORRECT)
C VPDES Construction General Permit
D Virginia Stormwater Management Act
Explanation The Clean Water Act is federal law that enables the NPDES program
but is not a component of Virginia specific VSMP framework
QUESTION 8
Local VSMP authorities are responsible for
A Regulating industrial discharges
B Issuing VPDES permits
C Administering VSMP programs for land disturbance under one acre (CORRECT)
D Enforcing federal Clean Water Act
Explanation Local authorities administer VSMP programs for land disturbing
activities under one acre while DEQ handles larger sites
QUESTION 9
The VSMP Regulation requires that any land disturbing activity of one acre or
more must
A Complete all construction within 30 days
B Hire a professional engineer
C Obtain a VSMP permit prior to commencing disturbance (CORRECT)
D Submit a bond equal to project value
Explanation A VSMP permit must be obtained before any land disturbing activity
of one acre or more begins
QUESTION 10
Virginia is authorized to administer the stormwater program under which
federal law
A Safe Drinking Water Act
B Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
C Clean Water Act Section 402 (CORRECT)
D Toxic Substances Control Act
, Explanation Section 402 of the Clean Water Act authorizes EPA to delegate NPDES
permitting authority to states including Virginia
QUESTION 11
The VSMP permittee is ultimately responsible for
A Only the erosion control measures
B Compliance with all VSMP requirements (CORRECT)
C Only the general contractor
D Only the stormwater management facilities
Explanation The permittee holds ultimate responsibility for all VSMP compliance
requirements regardless of who performs the work
QUESTION 12
Which activity is exempt from VSMP permitting
A Road construction on five acres
B Residential subdivision over one acre
C Commercial development on two acres
D Single family home on three acres (CORRECT)
Explanation Single family homes on three acres or less are exempt from VSMP
permitting provided they are not part of a larger common plan of development
QUESTION 13
The VPDES Construction General Permit is issued for how many years
A Ten years
B One year
C Five years (CORRECT)
D Three years
Explanation The VPDES Construction General Permit is issued for a five year term
before renewal
QUESTION 14
VSMP authorities must inspect permitted sites at minimum
A Once per month
B Periodically as determined by the authority (CORRECT)
C Once per week
QUESTION BANK 250 QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
TOPIC 1 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 50 QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1
The Virginia Stormwater Management Program is authorized by which
legislation
A Clean Water Act
B Virginia Stormwater Management Act (CORRECT)
C EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
D Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act
Explanation The VSMP is authorized by the Virginia Stormwater Management Act
which establishes the legal framework for stormwater control in Virginia
QUESTION 2
The VSMP Program Regulations are found in which section of the Virginia
Administrative Code
A 9VAC25-151
B 9VAC25-31
C 9VAC25-870 (CORRECT)
D 9VAC25-875
Explanation The VSMP regulations are codified at 9VAC25-870 which contains all
stormwater management requirements for land disturbing activities
QUESTION 3
What federal permit authorizes the VSMP program
A Section 404 Permit
B VPDES Construction General Permit (CORRECT)
C Section 401 Certification
,D NPDES General Permit
Explanation The Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Construction
General Permit is the federal delegation permit that authorizes Virginia to
administer the stormwater program
QUESTION 4
The primary purpose of the VSMP Regulation is to
A Require permits for all construction
B Regulate industrial wastewater
C Eliminate all stormwater runoff
D Protect water quality from land disturbing activities (CORRECT)
Explanation The main goal of the VSMP Regulation is to control runoff from
construction sites and developed areas to prevent water quality degradation
QUESTION 5
Which entity has primary enforcement authority for VSMP compliance
A Local planning commissions
B Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (CORRECT)
C Army Corps of Engineers
D EPA
Explanation DEQ has primary enforcement authority for VSMP compliance
including issuing violations and stop work orders
QUESTION 6
The VSMP Regulation applies to land disturbing activities of what minimum size
A 2500 square feet
B 5 acres
C 1 acre (CORRECT)
D 1000 square feet
Explanation The VSMP Regulation applies to land disturbing activities of one acre
or more unless in a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area where 2500 square feet
triggers requirements
QUESTION 7
Which of the following is NOT a component of the VSMP regulatory framework
,A VSMP Regulation
B Clean Water Act (CORRECT)
C VPDES Construction General Permit
D Virginia Stormwater Management Act
Explanation The Clean Water Act is federal law that enables the NPDES program
but is not a component of Virginia specific VSMP framework
QUESTION 8
Local VSMP authorities are responsible for
A Regulating industrial discharges
B Issuing VPDES permits
C Administering VSMP programs for land disturbance under one acre (CORRECT)
D Enforcing federal Clean Water Act
Explanation Local authorities administer VSMP programs for land disturbing
activities under one acre while DEQ handles larger sites
QUESTION 9
The VSMP Regulation requires that any land disturbing activity of one acre or
more must
A Complete all construction within 30 days
B Hire a professional engineer
C Obtain a VSMP permit prior to commencing disturbance (CORRECT)
D Submit a bond equal to project value
Explanation A VSMP permit must be obtained before any land disturbing activity
of one acre or more begins
QUESTION 10
Virginia is authorized to administer the stormwater program under which
federal law
A Safe Drinking Water Act
B Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
C Clean Water Act Section 402 (CORRECT)
D Toxic Substances Control Act
, Explanation Section 402 of the Clean Water Act authorizes EPA to delegate NPDES
permitting authority to states including Virginia
QUESTION 11
The VSMP permittee is ultimately responsible for
A Only the erosion control measures
B Compliance with all VSMP requirements (CORRECT)
C Only the general contractor
D Only the stormwater management facilities
Explanation The permittee holds ultimate responsibility for all VSMP compliance
requirements regardless of who performs the work
QUESTION 12
Which activity is exempt from VSMP permitting
A Road construction on five acres
B Residential subdivision over one acre
C Commercial development on two acres
D Single family home on three acres (CORRECT)
Explanation Single family homes on three acres or less are exempt from VSMP
permitting provided they are not part of a larger common plan of development
QUESTION 13
The VPDES Construction General Permit is issued for how many years
A Ten years
B One year
C Five years (CORRECT)
D Three years
Explanation The VPDES Construction General Permit is issued for a five year term
before renewal
QUESTION 14
VSMP authorities must inspect permitted sites at minimum
A Once per month
B Periodically as determined by the authority (CORRECT)
C Once per week
