ARE EROSION & SEDIMENT CONTROL LAWs
REALLY NECESSARY?
 Is the US EP or Georgia EPD necessary anymore? Seems like the fish are alive and well in the Chattahoochee! What about that pesky local regulator....does he/she really make a difference, or should we just get rid of the police all together? Is keeping the dirt and mud out of the creeks when it rains just "a nice thing to do"? Does properly installing mulch or a sediment barrier really help keep the sediment out of our reservoirs or is it just a "necessary evil" for staying out of trouble in the case someone complains about the inconvenience of getting mud on their cars? Are erosion and sediment control laws really needed to keep mud from filling up our reservoirs for long term storage of drinking water for our children and grandchildren?
In a paper written by Cheryl Wasserman, entitled "Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement of Environmental Policies" in 1984, she writes:
Compliance is the ultimate goal of any enforcement program, it is essentially a  state of being, a state in which environmental requirements are achieved and maintained.
Enforcement is defined as the application of a set of legal tools, both informal and formal, designed to impose legal sanction (e.g. penalty) to ensure a defined set of requirements is complied with. An issue that is continually debated is whether compliance can be achieved without enforcement. The answer, based on the U.S. experience and theory, is that enforcement is a necessary means of achieving community compliance. Although enforcement may not be needed to achieve compliance in minor individual cases, in most situations some level of enforcement is needed to create and maintain a complying majority. Previous studies have suggested the view that there will always be 5% of individuals who will violate  no matter what, 20% who will comply no matter what, and 75% who will comply only if the violators are punished and/or the requirements are perceived as nonarbitrary. This, in concept, is the philosophical underpinning of the U.S. enforcement program.
"Thank you!" to the superintendants that try to comply and thank you also to the enforcement inspectors that are willing to confront noncompliance so sediment stays on site and out of our watersheds.
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CLEAN WATER ACT ENFORCEMENT
Missouri Department of Transportation Construction Stormwater Violations
Release Date: 04/08/2015
 On April 8, 2015 The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has agreed to implement a statewide compliance program and to pay a $750,000 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at two road construction sites. The sites are Highway 54 in Osage Beach, and on Highway 67 between Coldwater and Silva. EPA Region 7 inspected the sites and documented serious erosion control issues at both sites. Inspectors identified violations at the sites including:
1) Failing to install or implement adequate stormwater control measures
2) Neglecting to repair those that were installed,
3) Failing to develop a sufficient pollution prevention plan and update the plan as appropriate, and
4) Unsatisfactory record-keeping and self-inspections.
The inspections arose from complaints received from Osage Beach residents with concerns that construction at the site resulted in the deposit of mud and sediment on nearby properties, and that water turbidity and associated sedimentation could harm aquatic life. MORE
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RECERTIFICATION
IN CLASSROOM or ONLINE
"FOR THE OUTDOORSMAN IN ALL OF US!"
We are ON TOP of the New Regulations
Click Here for
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GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE
 SB 101 by Sen. Ben Watson successfully restores the legal mandate for a25-foot wide salt marsh vegetated buffer on adjacent coastal marshlands.
HB 397 by Rep. David Knight was passed which takes away the requirement that the Commission be composed of Supervisors that are selected by the Governor. The agency will no longer be independent, but will be attached to the Dept. of Agriculture, a regulatory agency, although the Commission is non-regulatory by design. Approval of the Green Book is being taken from the Commission and handed over to the Georiga Department of Transportation and its contractors.
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THE USEPA MARCHES AHEAD
WITH RE-DEFINING WATERS OF THE US!
 The new rule redefining which waters are jurisdictional under federal Clean Water Act standards, proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), has left the agencies and moved to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is the last stage in the federal rulemaking process where the final rule is run through interagency review one last time before allowing the rule to be published as final in the Federal Register.
Has the USEPA allowed the regulated community to be a significant voice in their venture to redefine Waters of the United States (WOTUS)? Has the regulated community shown interest and been reasonable in the US EPAs process to redefine WOTUS? Will congress shut them down?
Click on the following links to.......
-Learn what the Associated General Contractors of America think abut the new WOTUS definition.
-Learn what the Southeast Stormwater Association
thinks about it.
-Learn what SBA.GOV thinks about it.
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MS4 CECI Classroom & Stream Monitoring Course is now 2-days
 Get the MOST RECENT stormwater information "Straight from the horses mouth"! We have federal and state stormwater regulators communicate the most recent information in our NPDES Training Institute courses!
Dubbed by stormwater professionals and government officials in the business for over 2 decades, as "the most effective stormwater training course they've ever attended", the MS4 Compliance and Enforcement Certified Inspector (MS4 CECI) credential is highly sought after by federal, state and municipalities as well as consultants from all over the United States? You're in for a treat when you attend this course!
"Great training! I feel like I know what to do now with my inspections."
"I liked the interaction with the instructors, updated information and all the new resources given out."
"The instructor took the time to make sure we understood our material. I feel like he really cares about what he's training!"
"Excellent Course! Video's and Interaction with Instructor!"
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and a MS4 CECI photo ID card when you pass the test.
Call us at 678-469-5120 and speak with Rita, or sign up at ms4training.com.
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The 6th Edition GREEN BOOK
(still good for the rest of 2015, for now)
CLICK HERE FOR A BRIEF VIDEO SUMMARIZING THE CHANGES IN THE NEW GREEN BOOK!
MANUAL FOR EROSION & SEDIMENT CONTROL
NOTE: While the Surface Skimmer is ONLY identified in the NEW 6th EDITION GREEN BOOK, it is the only Best Management Practice (BMP) that can be implemented in a design by a Level II Design Professional while using the 5th Edition Green Book as the primary source of (BMPs).
www.gaswcc.georgia.gov
If you are a certified Level II Design Professional or Plan Preparer in Georgia, please review the following information to ensure that you are meeting the requirements of the Erosion and Sedimentation Act of 1975 and are aware of news regarding the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia.
For calendar year 2015, both the 5th and 6th editions of the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control can be used as in 2014.
There is no recognized approved products list for the 6th edition of the Manual. The only approved products list recognized is the GA DOT Qualified Products List (QPL) recognized in the 5th edition, unless the product was a part of the 2013 (5th Edition) of the Manual.
Products not listed on a DOT QPL List must follow NPDES Alternative Practice standards for use on Land Disturbing Activity sites unless the product was a part of the 2013 (5th Edition) of the Manual. No new products or practices will be reviewed by the GSWCC State Board during this time period.
In the 5th edition of the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia, sediment barriers are labeled Type A, Type B, or Type C. In the 6th edition of the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia, sediment barriers are labeled Sensitive or Non-sensitive.
For calendar year 2015, it is allowable to use Type C products in sensitive areas and to use Type A and Type B products in non-sensitive areas.
CLICK HERE to download the 6th Edition Green Book.
CLICK HERE to purchase the bound 6th Edition Green Book.
CLICK HERE to download the old 5th Edition Green Book.
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WE GUARANTEE OUR TRAINING and DO NOT CHARGE YOU FOR A RETEST IF YOU RETURN!
Do you want to read feedback from our past students? Read reviews from our "Raving Fans"
We are here to Help YOU!  We can set you up so you can perform your own inspections and water sampling, or we can do them for you. Contact us anytime at 678-469-5120 or info@npdestraining.com |
Respecting our neighbors downstream
