service and outreach:
georgia erosion & sedimentation control act
major changes to the erosion & sedimentation
act of 1975
The Stakeholder Advisory Board
Development of Education and Training Programs on
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation
Stop Work Orders
The Stakeholder Advisory
Board
The Stakeholder Advisory Board will consist of no more than 13 members
appointed by the Governor and will represent the following 13 interest
groups:
- The State Environmental Protection Division
- The State Soil and Water Conservation Commission
- Soil and water conservation districts
- The Department of Transportation
- Municipal governments
- County governments
- Public utilities
- The engineering and design community
- The construction community
- The development community
- The environmental community
- The Erosion and Sediment Control Overview Council
- Educators
One member will be elected chairperson by the Stakeholder Advisory Board.
The chairperson will be responsible for calling all meetings of the Stakeholder
Advisory Board.
What Are the Responsibilities of the Stakeholder Advisory Board?
The Stakeholder Advisory Board is charged with working in conjunction
with the Environmental Protection Division and the Soil and Water Conservation
Commission to establish, evaluate, and maintain the State's education
and training program on soil erosion and sedimentation.
This duty may include reviewing and evaluating:
- Course curricula
- Educational materials
- Exam and testing procedures
- Trainer and instructor qualifications
- Audit results performed by the commission
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Development of Education
and Training Programs on Soil Erosion and Sedimentation
The State Soil and Water Conservation Commission, in consultation with
the State's Environmental Protection Division and Stakeholder Advisory
Board, is responsible for developing and implementing education and training
programs on soil erosion and sedimentation. All persons involved in land
development design, review, permitting, construction, monitoring, or inspection
or any land-disturbing activity will be required to complete the education
and training certificate requirements by December 31, 2006.
2 levels of education and training will be available; the level of education
and training required under this legislation depends on an individual's
involvement in land disturbing activities. These 2 levels will include
no less than the following four seminars.
Level 1 will include:
- A fundamental seminar covering the applicable laws, requirements,
processes, and latest means and methods recognized by the state to
effectively control erosion and sedimentation;
- An advanced fundamentals seminar providing additional details of
installation and maintenance of best management practices (BMPs) for
both regulatory and nonregulatory inspectors and others; and
- An awareness seminar outlining information regarding the State's
erosion and sediment control practices and processes and the systems,
laws, and roles of the participants.
Level 2 will add:
- An introduction seminar on design seminar which will provide the
required training to design and review a successful erosion, sedimentation,
and pollution control plan.
What Are the Requirements for Education and Training Certification?
- Individuals must obtain a passing grade as established by the Stakeholder
Advisory Board on a final exam covering the material taught in each
mandatory seminar. At the discretion of the commission, final exams
may serve in lieu of attendance at the seminar.
- Certification must be renewed no later than three years after being
issued.
- A certified individual will be required to attend and participate
in at least four hours of approved continuing education courses every
three years.
What Are the Requirement for Trainers and Instructors?
Trainers and instructors for Level 1 and Level 2 education and training
programs will be required to complete a seminar which will provide the
minimum training as to applicable laws and best management practices
and design of erosion, sedimentation, and pollution control plans in
the state.
Minimum Requirements for Level 1 Trainers and Instructors:
- Education: Four-year college degree or five-years experience in
the field of erosion and sediment control;
- Experience: Five-years experience in the field of erosion and
sediment control. If years of experience is used in lieu of the
education requirement, a total of ten-years field experience is
required;
- Approval by the commission and the Stakeholder Advisory Board;
and
- Successful completion of the Level 1 trainer and instructor seminar
found in paragraph.
Minimum Requirements for Level 2 Trainers and Instructors:
- Meet at least the minimum requirements of a Level 1 trainer or
instructor;
- Complete any other requirements as set by the State Soil and Water
Conservation Commission;
- Successful completion of the Level 2 trainer and instructor seminar.
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Stop Work Orders
An important change has been made to stop work orders. The following
procedure is still in place for issuing a stop work order:
- 1st and 2nd violations - a written warning is issued. If after 5 days
corrective action has not occurred a stop work order will be issued
- 3rd and subsequent violations or a violation that poses imminent threat
to public health or environment - a stop work order will be issued immediately
To better enforce the use of BMPs, the legislature added that if a violation
occurs and the violator has not incorporated or maintained the BMPs an
immediate stop work order can be issued. This can be a costly punishment
for companies that must meet a deadline.
Stop work orders take effect immediately upon issuance and remain in
effect until corrective action or mitigation has been taken.
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Sandy streambed due to erosion in Cox Creek,
Georgia. Courtesy: Krista Jones
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