Module 1

Federal Construction General Permit

This online course module covers the history of the Clean Water Act and NPDES Program; what is covered under the Construction General Permit; who should obtain the Construction General Permit; how to obtain coverage under the Construction General Permit; the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP); site inspections; termination of the permit coverage; and standard permit conditions.

• NPDES Construction General Permit History

• General Permit Definitions

  • Notice of Intent (NOI)

  • Permit Authorization or Coverage

  • Notice of Termination (NOT)

• General Permit Coverage

  • Allowable Discharges

  • Limitations

• Who Obtains Coverage under the General Permit

  • Owner

  • Operator

• Authorization of General Permit Coverage

• Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

  • Content

  • Inspections and Maintenance

  • Best Management Practices (BMPs)

  • Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

  • Releases and Spills

• Termination of General Permit Coverage

• Standard Permit Conditions

• Appendices

Module 2

Basics of Erosion and Sediment Control

This online course module covers erosion and how it occurs; impacts of erosion on the environment and the economy; the erosion and sedimentation process; the factors that effect erosion; and the ten basic principles of erosion and sediment control.

• What is Erosion

  • Accelerated Erosion

  • Environmental and Economic Impacts of Erosion

  • Types of Water Erosion

  • Wind Erosion

  • Factors of Erosion

    • Climate

    • Soil Characteristics

    • Topography

    • Vegetative Cover

    • Sedimentation process

• Best Management Practices

  • Erosion Controls

  • Sediment Controls

• Basic Design Principles of Erosion Control

Module 3

Erosion Control

This computer based course module covers information on vegetation establishment; topsoil and fertilizers; mulch and compost; rolled erosion control devices; and surface roughening.

• Erosion

• Control Overview

  • Vegetation

  • Growing Grass

  • Types of Grass Growth

  • Cool vs. Warm Season

  • Nurse Crops

• Soil Preparation

  • Organic Matter

  • Fertilizer

• Stabilization

  • Buffers

  • Stockpiles

• Mulch and Compost

  • Straw

  • Hay

  • Hydromulch

  • Compost

• Rolled Erosion Control Products

  • Netting

  • Blankets

  • Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRMs)

  • Installation

• Surface Roughening

Module 4

Sediment Control

This computer based course module covers proper installation and placement of silt fence; check dams; wattles; inlet protection; pond types; outlet structures; flocculants; dewatering; and turbidity barriers.

• Introduction to Sediment Controls

• Silt Fence

  • Proper Placement

  • Proper Installation

  • J-Hooks

    • Trenching

    • Slicing

  • Alternate Perimeter Controls to Silt Fence

  • Improper Use as a Check Dam

• Check Dams

  • Devices To Use

  • Proper Installation and Spacing

• Wattles

• Level Spreaders

• Slope Drains

• Inlet Protection Devices

• Polyacrylamides (PAMs)

  • Definition

  • Instructions for Use

• Ponds

  • Dewatering

  • Types

    • Traps

    • Detention

    • Retention

    • Infiltration

  • Poor Design - Short Circuiting

• Energy Dissipation

• Oil/Water/Trash Separators

• Turbidity Curtains

• Dewatering Bags

Module 5

Pollution Prevention

This web-based course module covers good housekeeping, management of solid waste, sanitary waste, and hazardous waste; concrete washout; dust control; and construction exits.

• Good Housekeeping

  • Solid Waste

  • Sanitary Waste

  • Hazardous Waste

• Material Storage

• Concrete Washout

• Spill Reporting

• Phasing BMPs

• Dust Control

• Track Out

  • Definition

  • Maintenance

  • Wheel Wash

  • Alternatives to Rock

Module 6

How to Inspect a Construction Site

This web-based course module covers inspection rules and protocol; reviewing the SWPPP for compliance; forms in the SWPPP; updating the SWPPP; site inspections of best management practices (BMPs): proper installation and maintenance of devices; and documentation of inspections.

• Inspection Rules and Protocol

• Reviewing the SWPPP

• Paperwork Inspection

  • Paperwork Overview

  • Notice of Intent (NOI)

  • Contractor Certification Statement Forms

  • Hazardous Material Spill Forms

• Updating the SWPPP

  • Record of Soil Disturbance

  • Site Map

• Inspection

  • Forms

  • Best Management Practices (BMPs)

    • Perimeter Controls

    • Slopes

    • Concrete Washout Area

    • Fuel Storage

    • Check Dams

    • Inlet Protection

    • Trash

    • Exits

    • Vegetation

    • BMP Details

• Notice of Termination (NOT)

• Final Stabilization

Module 7

How to Write a SWPPP

This online stormwater training course module covers the proper life cycle of a construction Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP); gathering the information needed; how to prepare the Construction General Permit application (NOI); documents and forms; site maps and details; and proper design procedures.

• What is a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

  • Construction SWPPP

  • Life of the SWPPP

• Gathering Information

  • Ask Questions

  • Where to Get Information

  • Review Regulations and Construction General Permit

• Preparing the SWPPP

  • Contents of the SWPPP

  • BMPs

  • Standard Permit Conditions

• BMP Design

• Site Maps and Detail Sheet