EstatePass
Business & FinanceRegulationseasy15% of exam part

Under NPDES regulations, construction sites disturbing how much area require a stormwater permit?

Correct Answer

B) 1.0 acre or more

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requires stormwater permits for construction activities that disturb 1.0 acre or more of land. This helps protect water quality from construction runoff.

Answer Options
A
0.5 acres or more
B
1.0 acre or more
C
1.5 acres or more
D
2.0 acres or more

Why This Is the Correct Answer

Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations, construction activities that disturb 1.0 acre or more of land require a stormwater permit. This federal requirement is part of the Clean Water Act and applies to all construction sites meeting this threshold. The 1.0 acre minimum was established to capture most significant construction projects while exempting smaller residential and minor commercial projects. This regulation helps prevent sediment and pollutants from construction runoff from entering waterways.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Option A: 0.5 acres or more

0.5 acres is below the federal NPDES threshold, though some local jurisdictions may have stricter requirements at this level

Option C: 1.5 acres or more

1.5 acres exceeds the actual threshold, meaning projects between 1.0-1.5 acres would incorrectly be exempt from permit requirements

Option D: 2.0 acres or more

2.0 acres is too high and would exempt many medium-sized construction projects that should require stormwater permits

Memory Technique

Think 'ONE acre = ONE permit' - the round number 1.0 makes it easy to remember the NPDES threshold

Reference Hint

Look up Environmental Regulations chapter or Water Quality/Stormwater Management sections in your contractor reference manual

More Business & Finance Questions

People Also Study

Practice More Contractor Exam Questions

Access all practice questions with progress tracking and adaptive difficulty to pass your Florida General Contractor exam.

Start Practicing