Certified Storm Water Operator Practice Exam

What does Permit-by-Rule provide for construction sites disturbing 1-5 acres?

1. Conditional storm water permit coverage

2. Automatic storm water permit coverage

3. Temporary storm water permit coverage

4. No coverage requirement

The correct answer is: Automatic storm water permit coverage

Permit-by-Rule is a provision that streamlines the permitting process for certain activities, particularly in wetland and stormwater management contexts. For construction sites that disturb between 1 and 5 acres, Permit-by-Rule provides automatic storm water permit coverage. This means that these sites are granted permit coverage without the need for a separate, formal application process. The goal is to ensure that stormwater runoff from these sites is managed effectively while reducing the regulatory burden on smaller construction activities. By providing automatic coverage, it ensures that construction projects can commence in a timely manner while still adhering to necessary environmental protections. This approach encourages compliance with state and federal stormwater regulations and helps to protect water quality in the surrounding areas. For sites exceeding this disturbance threshold, more comprehensive permitting would be required to ensure proper environmental assessments and controls are in place, reflecting a different regulatory approach for larger disturbances.