Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Erosion Control and Stormwater Management

MnDOT training requirements for erosion and sediment control and construction stormwater personnel

Planning and implementing stormwater management and erosion and sediment control (ESC) on construction sites is specialized work, and most roles require specific training and certification.

SWPPP Designers (owner/MnDOT)

Intended for MnDOT staff or consultants responsible for designing and reviewing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), such as engineers, engineering specialists, and hydraulics and design technicians. Staff must successfully complete the initial certification and recertify every three years. 

Recommended (but not required) for staff responsible for applying for an EPA Construction Stormwater General Permit (CGP), such as those involving tribal land.

Visit the US EPA’s Submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI), Notice of Termination (NOT), or Low Erosivity Waiver (LEW) under the Construction General Permit webpage.

Construction Site Compliance Oversight (MnDOT)

Intended for MnDOT staff or consultants responsible for overseeing work to ensure compliance with the MPCA Construction Stormwater Permit and MnDOT’s contract requirements for Stormwater Management and Erosion Control Contract. This includes project supervisors, project engineers, and Inspectors. Staff must successfully complete the initial certification and recertify every three years.

Inspectors must complete the Erosion Control Installer training in their first year. In their second year they take the Construction Site Management training. They must then maintain certification in Construction Site Management but do not need to maintain their Installer certification.

Required for compliance oversight staff only when an EPA Construction Stormwater General Permit (CGP) applies, such as those involving Tribal land. If no CGP applies, completion of this class is encouraged but not required.

To register, visit the US EPA’s Construction Inspection Training Course webpage.

Erosion Control Supervisors (operator/contractor)

Intended for prime contractor staff identified to fulfill this role, as described in MnDOT Standard Specification 2573.3A.1. This individual oversees the contractor’s work to ensure compliance with the MPCA Construction Stormwater Permit and MnDOT’s stormwater management and erosion control contract requirements (as per the MnDOT Standard Specifications, including 1717 and 2573).

Required only when an EPA Construction Stormwater General Permit (CGP) applies, including projects taking place on tribal land. If no EPA CGP applies, completion of this class is encouraged but not required.

To register, visit the US EPA’s Construction Inspection Training Course webpage.

Erosion Control Installers (operator/contractor)

A qualified individual representing the contractor responsible for the installation and maintenance of erosion and sediment control Best Management Practices (BMP) as described in Standard Specification 2573.3A.2.
This class is also required for first-year MnDOT inspectors. In their second year, inspectors switch to the Construction Site Management class.

HECP Applicators (contractor)

Required for contractors who install certain hydraulic erosion control products (HECP), in accordance with MnDOT Standard Specifications 2575 and 3884.

  • MnDOT-hosted (every three years): MnDOT hosts an HECP Applicator Certification Training in partnership with BMP Vendors and the Seeding Contractor’s Association every three years. The next training will occur in Winter/Spring 2028. To receive updates on the next offering, please complete and submit the MnDOT Construction Stormwater and ESC Training Updates form.
  • Vendor/suppliers: HECP vendors and suppliers may elect to host in-house certification to interested staff.

For information about training requirements, including what is required to host an approved certification training, please visit the MnDOT Erosion Control and Stormwater Management: Hydraulic Erosion Control Product Applicator Certification webpage.