Written by Rebecca Forman
The Erosion and Stormwater Management Certification Program has wrapped up their 21st training season. The program provides certification and training to a wide audience on numerous erosion prevention and sediment control topics.
This year we offered:
31 sections of in-person classes
11 different online course titles in the construction, industrial, and municipal stormwater fields
We trained 3,202 attendees this year
We have trained 50,157 attendees since the program’s inception
In February, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed an audit of our curriculum. While most projects in the state of Minnesota require training under the state’s stormwater permit, projects on tribal land are permitted by the EPA and require training that complies with the federal permit. The EPA audit resulted in our program being listed as one of only eight training providers in the nation that meets the federal-level training requirement.
Our May 11th Regulatory Enforcement Certification class featured speakers from the Washington Conservation District and the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District. The Regulatory Enforcement class is unique in that it in addition to classroom presentations/exercises it also contains a field inspection component. Another unique aspect of the course is its audience: while most of our courses are designed for the regulated party, this course is designed for the regulators. Specifically, the course is designed for people who are responsible for inspecting construction sites for compliance with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. Attendees from MS4s throughout the state spent the day discussing concerns, exchanging ideas, and “calibrating” opinions about compliance issues.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issued a new Construction Stormwater General Permit on August 1, 2023. While there are very few substantial changes between the 2018 and 2023 permits, it is important that all permittees understand new permit requirements. The program features course material in all construction stormwater courses including a description of the changes as well as tips and guidance for how to comply with the new requirements.
The Erosion and Stormwater Management Program staff are John A. Chapman, Program Director and Research Associate Professor; Rebecca Forman, Assistant Teaching Professor; and Ania Sundgaard, Executive Assistant.