Background - Training Course Agenda and Materials

Background
In accordance with VDOT Road and Bridge Specification §107.16 (a), land disturbing activity which occurs within the VDOT right-of-way must be supervised by a certified Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Contractor who is required to be on-site at all times during that land-disturbing activity. Until last year, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and VDOT sponsored a cooperative training for ESC Contractors. This training program was entitled DCR's Erosion and Sediment Control Contractor Certificate of Completion (DCR's Contractor Certificate) program. The former DCR Contractor Certificate program included a one-day training course followed by a 1-hour examination. From April 1999 through June 2001, VDOT contractors successfully obtained over 5,500 individual certifications through DCR's program. The DCR Contractor Certificate program is believed to have provided a key contribution to VDOT project environmental compliance level increases from 30% in 1999 to 93% in 2001. While VDOT's specification remains satisfied by individuals whom have received the former DCR Contractor Certification, DCR no longer administers this program.

Therefore, the new VDOT Erosion and Sediment Control Contractor Certification (ESCCC) Program was developed in order to continue these successes and improve upon and replace DCR's former program. VDOT officially announced the development of the ESCCC Program on January 1, 2002. VDOT's ESCCC Program has been underway since October 8, 2003 with over 1,000 contractor, maintenance personnel, and land-use permittees having attended to date (as of 10/1/04).

Training Course Agenda and Materials

1. Agenda - The course is expected to cover the following topics over an approximately 6 hour time period:
   • Introduction to the ESCCC Program
   • Virginia's Erosion and Sediment Control Law and other related State and Federal Laws
   • The Erosion Process
   • Virginia's Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations - The Minimum Standards
   • Structural Practices
   • Vegetative Practices
   • VDOT Contract Enforcement
2. Course Materials - The principle course materials will include an electronic audio/visual presentation and a corresponding participant course manual. The course materials will be derived from the following documents/publications:

• Current Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law and Regulations
• The Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, 1992
• Current VDOT Road and Bridge Specifications
• Current VDOT Road and Bridge Standards
• Current VDOT operating policies related to erosion and sediment control