TRAINING HELD TO PROTECT FLORIDA’S WATER

Florida DEP Banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 12, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

TRAINING HELD TO PROTECT FLORIDA’S WATER

~ DEP hosts free Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector's Class ~

CALLAWAY – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is hosting a free Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector's Class Sept. 16 and 17. The goal of the program is to protect Florida’s waters by encouraging the proper design, construction and maintenance of erosion and sediment controls during construction. It also educates participants on the proper long-term operation and maintenance of stormwater systems after construction is completed. The class is primarily to provide training to private and public employees in various construction-related fields; however, permit reviewers, public works personnel and engineers can also benefit from this program.

WHAT:      Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector's Class

WHEN:      Tuesday, Sept. 16 and Wednesday, Sept. 17

                  8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE:    City of Callaway, Callaway Arts and Conference Center

                  500 Callaway Park Way

                  Callaway, FL 32404

“The sediment and erosion control program is an important public education tool that helps reduce nonpoint source pollution,” said Tom Frick, director of the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration. “Encouraging construction personnel to implement these practices reduces the amount of polluted runoff reaching Florida’s waters.”

This is a two-day indoor class following curriculum provided in the Florida Stormwater, Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector’s Manual. Attendees keep the course manuals and are encouraged to review them regularly as an important reference tool. Florida licensed general contractors and Florida licensed professional engineers can each earn 8 hours of professional development hours.

Near the end of the course, a Train the Trainer workshop will be offered to interested parties who pass the regular proctored exam with a grade of at least 80 percent. Train the Trainer workshops are offered by DEP throughout the year in order to enable new instructors to lead the inspectors’ training program. The workshop covers the guidelines that instructors are required to follow in order to teach the class and also allows future instructors time to work on their teaching skills and speaking abilities.

Implementation of the training program began in late 1997. To date, there are more than 31,000 certified inspectors throughout the state of Florida. The department-approved instructors voluntarily teach the inspector training class throughout the year.

Registration for classes can be found here