Construction General Permit Inspector Training

• Background
• 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP) Inspector Training Requirements
• EPA's Inspector Training Course
• Non-EPA Inspector Trainings

Background

For the 2022 CGP, EPA has updated the training requirements for personnel conducting inspections required under Part 4 of the permit. These updates are necessary to address EPA’s observation that a large number of permitted operators are not conducting adequate inspections and documenting their findings in accordance with the permit. To address this problem, EPA has strengthened the training requirements for inspection personnel to ensure that only qualified persons conduct such inspections.

2022 CGP Inspector Training Requirements

Part 6.3 of the CGP requires that those who wish to be considered a qualified person to conduct inspections under Part 4 of the EPA’s 2022 CGP must, at a minimum, either:

• Complete EPA’s construction inspection training course or 
• Hold a current valid construction inspection certification or license from a program that, at a minimum, covers principles and practices of erosion control and pollution prevention practices at construction sites; proper installation and maintenance of erosion and sediment controls and pollution prevention practices used at construction sites; and performance of inspections, including the proper completion of required reports and documentation, consistent with Part 4 of the 2022 CGP.

EPA's Construction Inspection Training Course

EPA’s construction inspection training course is available. The training is provided at no cost. If an individual completes the EPA course and passes the exam, that person will be considered qualified to conduct inspections under Part 4 of the 2022 CGP, and will be provided with documentation showing their successful completion of the EPA course. The course is provided in English and Spanish.

Non-EPA Inspector Trainings

There are a number of existing state and third-party stormwater courses that offer alternatives to the inspector training program provided by EPA for the 2022 CGP. If the non-EPA course covers the minimum topics listed in Part 6.3.b of the CGP, an individual completing the course and having an up-to-date certification of completion can rely on the course to comply with the CGP’s requirements. EPA's review of the following non-EPA training programs found that the course materials appeared to address these minimum topics:

Because EPA does not recommend or endorse individual products or vendors, EPA's reference to the above training programs does not constitute an Agency approval of any individual course, or any broader Agency recognition beyond having addressed the required minimum topics in CGP Part 6.3.b. EPA may update this list from time to time as it learns of additional training programs that may meet the CGP Part 6.3.b requirements. If you are aware of any training programs not listed here that you believe satisfy these requirements, you may contact EPA to provide information for the Agency’s consideration. 

Note: If one of the minimum training topics from the CGP Part 6.3.b list (e.g., installation and maintenance of pollution prevention practices) is not covered by a non-EPA training program, you may consider supplementing that training program with the analogous module of the EPA course (e.g., Module 4) that covers the missing minimum training topic.