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January 2015
In this Issue:
The NPS Training and Resource Center's Winter/Spring 2015 Training Schedule contains a robust slate of courses to provide training to various groups.
For contractors who are looking to obtain DEP certification in erosion control practices, eleven programs in Basic and Advanced Erosion and Sediment Control practices will be offered throughout the state. Most municipalities are now requiring contractors working in the shoreland zone to be certified if they are involved with soil disturbance activity so this has become pretty much a pre-requisite if you are doing excavation work in the state.
For contractors who install septic systems, four courses in septic system installation are slated. These will again be presented by Glenn Angell of the Department of Health and Human Services and David Rocque of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Participants in the course qualify to become certified in septic system installation by the Department of Health and Human Sercvices. Many municipal plumbing inspectors allow certified installers to forgo an inspection of a system installation, saving them time in the installation process.
Finally, the Center will be partnering with E.J. Prescott Inc. to present a conference on coastal erosion control. The conference will be held in Portland and will provide information on coastal shoreland erosion and its exacerbation due to sea level rise. The program will further showcase erosion control products and techniques to help in minimzing damage to coastal areas.
The following is the course schedule along with registration information, please register early as courses can fill up fast:
Basic and Advanced Erosion Control Practices
Fee: Varies per sponsor
Wiscasset, Landcrafters, January 22, 2015
To register, contact Brandon at 443-9789
Whitneyville, Hillgrove Community Center, January 28, 2015
To register, contact Nate Pennell at 255-4659
Kennebunk, West Fire Station, February 4, 2015
To register, contact Paul Demers at 985-2106 ext.1311
Ellsworth, City Hall, February 11, 2015
To register, contact Lori Roberts at 667-4910
Augusta, AGC Maine, February 19, 2015
To register, contact Sandy Metrano at 622-4741 or 232-5518
St. George, Town Office, February 25, 2015
To register, contact Terry Brackett at 372-6363
Saco, City Hall, March 4, 2015
To register, contact Joe Cooper at 284-6641 or jcooper@sacocomaine.org
Chesterville, Town Office March 24, 2015
To register, contact Rosetta Thompson at 778-4279
Augusta, AGC Maine, March 30, 2015
To register, contact Sandy Metrano at 622-4741 or 232-5518
Bridgton, LEA Headquaters, April 16, 2015
To register, contact Colin Holme at 647-8580
Augusta, AGC Maine, April 23, 2015
To register, contact Sandy Metrano at 622-4741 or 232-5518
Septic System Installation Courses
Fee: $60
To register for any of the courses below, please contact NEIWPCC/JETCC at 253-8020
Session #N1556 Portland, March 25, 2015, Portland Water District
Session #N1557 Augusta, April 1, 2015, Augusta Armory
Session #N1558 Newport, April 9, 2015, Community Center
Session #N1559 Lincoln, April 15, 2015, Town Office
Coastal Erosion Control Conference
Portland, April 8, 2015, Holiday Inn By the Bay
To register, contact E.J. Prescott at 582-1851
The Nonpoint Source Training and Resource Center’s 2014 Fall training season hosted over 310 individuals. Training was held for contractors, municipal code enforcement officers, public works employees, snow removal contractors, property managers and landscape and nurserymen.
Training in erosion control was again provided to contractors, code enforcement officers, public works employees and others throughout the state. A total of 8 courses in erosion control best management practices were held, with 181 people attending these programs.
For snow removal contractors and property managers, a program in salt management was held in Lewiston. The course provided the latest information on salt use for de-icing purposes with emphasis on salt minimization utilizing pavement temperature and pre-treatment techniques. A total of 12 individuals attended this program.
Maine's Landscape and Nurserymen were provided wih an opportunity to become LakeSmart Certified Landscapers through a program held in Portland in November. The Center partnered with the Maine Lake Society for a day-long course featuring LakeSmart principles with an emphasis on buffer design. A total of 32 participants attended the program.
Finally, as a result of discussions with the Associated General Contractors of Maine and The Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine, three classes on permitting were held throughout the state as continuing education programs for contractors certified in erosion and sediment control practices. The classes included presentations from the Department's Bureau of Land and Water Quality, Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management and the Bureau of Air Quality. Permitting and compliance requirements with regard to construction activity were covered by each Bureau to ensure participants' understanding. A total of 89 individuals attended these programs.
The Center would again like to thank the Nonpoint Source Training Center Advisory Committee members, instructors, sponsors, NEIWPCC/J.E.T.C.C. and other organizations who made the Fall 2014 training season so successful!
This is an easy and convenient way to obtain information on the proper application of salt in an effective, economical and environmentally sound manner. We encourage you to utilize this on-line resource to get the latest, most up-to-date information on this topic. The practices outlined in the webinar are designed to save you time and money and help to protect the state's water resources. The Center plans to offer additional on-line courses in the near future so check the Department web site for more information.
As of this writing we still have more than 400 individuals who have not received continuing education credit to maintain their certification in erosion and sediment control practices. This means that their certification has expired or will expire on December 31st, 2014. With the current statutory requirement for contractors needing to be certified in order to work in the shoreland zone, this may pose a problem for those attempting to obtain municipal shoreland zoning permits. Code Enforcement officers may not issue permits to individuals whose certification has expired. This could lead to project loss or delay.
If you are a certified individual we urge you to check your certificate or I.D. card to make sure your certification is up-to-date. If it has expired, please make an effort to get a continuing education class completed this winter. You can complete this on-line using a course available on the DEP Web site at: https://stateofmaine.adobeconnect.com/_a827390218/nps_cert2014/. After you successfully complete the online course, print and forward the certificate along with $55 payable to NEIWPCC/JETCC, P.O. Box 487, Scarborough, ME 04070.
Or you can order the course on CD-ROM by contacting NEIWPCC/JETCC at 253-8020. The cost for the CD-ROM is $60. If you prefer to go to a class, you can attend any erosion control related class offered by the Department or other entity. The important thing is that you get this done before the start of the construction season so that you won't run into any permitting problems. If you have any questions on re-certification, please contact the Center at 215-9237
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