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2026 Statistics
Key Facts: NM CID GF-9 Exam
75 Q
Official Combined Questions
PSI NM Contractor Bulletin 4/3/2026
75%
Passing Score Each Portion
PSI NM Contractor Bulletin 4/3/2026
USD 68.88
Specialty Exam Fee
PSI NM Contractor Bulletin 4/3/2026
NM CID GF-9 is GF Core (40 Q, free) plus a 35-question utility-lines specialty, 75% each, USD 68.88 (bulletin 4/3/2026).
Sample NM CID GF-9 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your NM CID GF-9 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Under the EPA Construction General Permit (CGP), when is NPDES construction-stormwater permit coverage generally required for a New Mexico utility-line project?
A.Only when the trench is deeper than 5 feet
B.When earth-disturbing construction will disturb one acre or more, or is part of a larger common plan that will disturb one acre or more
C.Only when the work is inside a municipal separate storm-sewer system (MS4)
D.Whenever any amount of soil is stockpiled overnight
Explanation: The Clean Water Act NPDES program, implemented through the EPA CGP, requires permit coverage for construction that disturbs one acre or more, including smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale that will ultimately disturb one acre or more. New Mexico is an EPA-permitted state for construction stormwater, so a qualifying GF-9 project must obtain CGP coverage and implement a SWPPP. Trench depth and MS4 location do not replace the one-acre / common-plan trigger.
2What is the primary purpose of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) on a GF-9 utility project?
A.To replace the need for OSHA competent-person trench inspections
B.To identify pollutant sources and the erosion, sediment, and good-housekeeping controls that will keep construction stormwater from discharging pollutants
C.To calculate hydrostatic-test pressure for new water mains
D.To serve as the as-built record of invert elevations
Explanation: A SWPPP is the site-specific plan required by the EPA CGP. It names the stormwater team, maps drainage and receiving waters, lists potential pollutants, and specifies BMPs such as silt fence, inlet protection, stabilized exits, and concrete washout. Inspectors and the contractor use it to implement and document controls until final stabilization. It does not substitute for OSHA excavation rules or pipe-test records.
3A 0.4-acre water-main extension is Phase 2 of a subdivision whose total planned disturbance is 6 acres. Which stormwater statement is correct?
A.No CGP coverage is needed because this phase is under one acre
B.CGP coverage is required because the work is part of a larger common plan that will disturb one acre or more
C.Only a city grading permit is ever required in New Mexico
D.Coverage is required only if the trench crosses a named river
Explanation: EPA treats a common plan of development or sale as a single construction activity. If the overall plan will disturb one acre or more, each operator whose work is part of that plan needs appropriate CGP coverage even when an individual phase is smaller than one acre. A 0.4-acre utility extension inside a 6-acre subdivision is the classic common-plan case. Crossing a named water does not create the acreage trigger, though it can add buffer and inspection duties.
4Who is the NPDES permitting authority for construction-stormwater CGP coverage on most New Mexico lands?
A.The New Mexico Environment Department issues the CGP as a fully delegated NPDES state
B.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with NMED providing Clean Water Act Section 401 certification and compliance support
C.The New Mexico Construction Industries Division
D.The New Mexico Department of Transportation for every utility trench, including private sites
Explanation: New Mexico is not a fully NPDES-authorized state for construction stormwater. Operators file an EPA CGP Notice of Intent, and NMED issues Section 401 certification conditions and commonly inspects sites. CID licenses contractors and inspects building/MEP work; it does not issue the federal stormwater permit. NMDOT specifications apply on Department right-of-way but do not replace EPA CGP coverage.
5Where should a silt fence generally be installed to trap sediment from a utility spoil pile?
A.Along the downslope perimeter so runoff must pass through the fabric before leaving the disturbed area
B.Across the crown of the spoil pile so wind can dry the soil faster
C.Only inside the trench, below the pipe springline
D.On the upstream side of the work only, to keep clean water from entering the site
Explanation: Silt fence is a perimeter sediment barrier. It is trenched in and installed on the downslope side of disturbance so sheet flow is filtered before it leaves the site. It is not a windbreak on top of a pile, not a pipe-bedding device, and not a substitute for upslope diversion when clean run-on must be kept off the site. Inspectors look for continuous fabric, backfilled toe-in, and no gaps at ends or grade changes.
6Why do SWPPPs require a stabilized construction entrance or exit on a tracked-up utility job?
A.To increase truck cycle time so compaction lifts stay thin
B.To knock soil off tires and tracks before vehicles leave the site and track sediment onto public streets
C.To replace the need for inlet protection at catch basins
D.To serve as the only permitted concrete-washout location
Explanation: A rock or equivalent stabilized exit is a good-housekeeping BMP. Vehicles leaving a muddy right-of-way otherwise track sediment onto pavement, where the next rain washes it into inlets and waters of the United States. The pad does not replace inlet protection, washout containment, or perimeter controls. Street sweeping is a backup when tracking still occurs.
7How should concrete-truck washout from manhole bases or thrust blocks be handled on a permitted construction site?
A.Wash residue may be discharged to the nearest storm inlet if diluted with clean water
B.Washout must be contained in a designated leak-proof area so process water and solids do not reach storm drains or waters
C.Washout is exempt from the SWPPP if the pour is smaller than one cubic yard
D.Wash water may be spread on native desert soil because New Mexico is arid
Explanation: Concrete wash water is highly alkaline process water. The EPA CGP requires operators to provide an effective means of containing washout so it does not discharge to storm sewers or waters of the United States. Volume of the pour and New Mexico’s arid climate do not create an exemption. Hardened solids are disposed of as solid waste after the water evaporates or is properly managed.
8For a routine EPA CGP site that is not discharging to a sensitive water, which inspection schedule is an allowed option?
A.Once a month, unless a stop-work order is issued
B.At least once every 7 calendar days, or at least once every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of a storm of 0.25 inch or greater
C.Only after final paving is complete
D.Only when NMED happens to visit the site
Explanation: EPA CGP Part 4 lets most sites choose weekly inspections or a 14-day schedule that also requires an inspection within 24 hours of a 0.25-inch storm (and of snowmelt discharges). Sites that discharge to sensitive waters have a more frequent combined schedule. Inspections must continue until permit termination after final stabilization. Waiting for paving or for an agency visit is not compliance.
9When may a contractor generally file a Notice of Termination and drop temporary stormwater controls on a CGP site?
A.As soon as the last pipe joint is assembled
B.After the site meets the permit’s final-stabilization criteria (or another listed termination condition) and temporary BMPs are no longer needed
C.The day the hydrostatic test passes, even if the trench is still bare dirt
D.Whenever the crew demobilizes for more than 48 hours
Explanation: CGP coverage continues until a listed termination condition is met, most often final stabilization of disturbed soils (vegetation, pavement, or equivalent permanent cover at the permit’s percentage/criteria, with extra flexibility in arid and semi-arid areas). Utility testing or a short demobilization does not end the permit if soils remain exposed. Temporary BMPs stay until they are no longer needed and the site will not discharge sediment.
10What is the purpose of inlet protection at a curb inlet downstream of an open utility trench?
A.To increase gutter capacity during a design storm
B.To keep sediment-laden runoff from dropping into the storm-drain system before it can be treated or removed
C.To serve as the trench’s only cave-in protective system
D.To mark the NM 811 tolerance zone
Explanation: Inlet protection (filter bags, wattles, block-and-gravel, or manufactured inserts) intercepts sediment at the last point before runoff enters the storm-drain network. It is a temporary sediment BMP, not a hydraulic upgrade, not a trench shield, and not a One Call mark. Inlets must still drain enough to avoid flooding travel lanes, so devices are maintained and cleaned after storms.
About the NM CID GF-9 Exam
The New Mexico CID GF-9 classification covers utility lines and requires the shared GF Core plus the GF-9 specialty. GF Core is 40 questions in 100 minutes with no charge. GF-9 is 35 questions in 90 minutes for USD 68.88. Each portion requires 75% (bulletin updated 4/3/2026). Specialty references include NMDOT 2019 specifications, AWWA M23 PVC pipe, Hot-Mix Asphalt Paving Handbook, DIPRA ductile-iron pipe, ASCE urban stormwater, and Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods. This English-language MCQ bank is a study aid, not an official PSI form.
Assessment
GF Core plus GF-9 specialty, retained as one classification identity.
Time Limit
190 minutes (100 + 90)
Passing Score
75% on GF Core (30 of 40) and 75% on GF-9 (27 of 35)
Exam Fee
USD 68.88 (GF Core has no charge) (PSI Services LLC (for New Mexico Construction Industries Division))
NM CID GF-9 Exam Content Outline
53%
GF Core
Stormwater, OSHA, project management, surveying, NM One Call, building code/inspections (40 official items)
47%
GF-9 Specialty
Pipe/miscellaneous structures, earthwork, surface repair, project management (35 official items)
How to Pass the NM CID GF-9 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 75% on GF Core (30 of 40) and 75% on GF-9 (27 of 35)
- Assessment: GF Core plus GF-9 specialty, retained as one classification identity.
- Time limit: 190 minutes (100 + 90)
- Exam fee: USD 68.88 (GF Core has no charge)
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
NM CID GF-9 Study Tips from Top Performers
1Pipe and miscellaneous structures are 15 of 35 specialty items. Study DIPRA and AWWA M23 with NM One Call.
2This bank is an English-language MCQ study aid, not an official PSI form
Frequently Asked Questions
How many specialty questions are on GF-9?
The official GF-9 specialty has 35 questions (27 points to pass) in 90 minutes, plus the 40-question GF Core.