The Erosion Control Blogs

My concerns mirror mjb on 2.3.10, in this time of budgetary constraint it is imperitive to make all dollars count. So what accreditation do I really need? Does a CESSWI carry more weight than a CISEC? Do I really need anything other than a CPESC? Most of all who or what agency or organization can I believe in to set the standard? It does seem that sometimes it's just all about who can charge me for things I do not need.

Most of these techniques increase the shrot term cost of a project (make a difference in the amount of money the executing contractor can put in his pocket). Therefore, there has to be an incentive and generally it isn't because it is cheaper to do it right. What it has to be is that if you don't it will cost you more in the long run or that you will be fined (enforcement) or sued. We keep wanting to "do the right thing" and believe that doing the right thing is what everyone will do. That isn't the human nature of everyone. There has to be enforcement to get implementation. Inspectors must become enforcers and they have to have a big enough stick to make enforcement stick and there have to be enough of them that those being enforced on know that they will get caught and pay.

In my local market, the problem with bringing on contractors comes down to lack of enforcement. Many of them have been trained by the State to develop SW plans, conduct inspections, etc. but when the risk of enforcement is near ZERO, the incentives are far from tangible.

I agree with Rider. Drivers only travel the speed limit if they believe there's a cop to hand out a ticket. No different for the contracting community. Even more so, because the profit incentive is to disregard effective BMPs if you can get away with it. Enforcement requires support from the management of the regulating agency, and that will only come if the community (city, county, etc.) accepts the program.

With California's new NPDES Permit a QSP, Qualified Stormwater Practitioner must either be a PE, or have a CISEC or CESSWI to implement and inspect onsite BMP's. A QSD, Qualified Stormwater Developer must be either a PE or a CPESC to develop a SWPPP, or alter an existing WP Control Plan. It will be interesting to see the level of control exercised by the state to ensure that only qualified people are performing these tasks. As it stands now, inspections appear to be few and far between, perhaps because of budget contraints, or perhaps its an attempt not overburden a construction industry that is attempting to recover from the current economic crisis. Either way, enforcement has been light at best.

I looked up the CESSWI program; unfortunately my employer (your local government) does not like to pay annual dues. They will pay for training all day long but what is gained by the inspector paying an annual fee to keep a certification? It looks like the need to renew the certification annually is just a way of collecting $ without offering any training. In fact no training is offered at all only a test certification that expires in one year. The photograph of building occupied by EnviroCert International, Inc. makes it look like it is a 2 person operation. If you want us inspectors on board TEACH US. Just taking our money and handing out certs will only keep things as they are and cost more money. mjb