Preliminary Scope
The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) mandates that state DOTs adhere to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permits, regulating stormwater management during transportation facility construction and post-construction. These permits extend to facilities supporting the transportation network. Training requirements within these permits aim to equip DOT staff and contractors with the necessary knowledge to fulfill permit mandates and educate the public on stormwater runoff impacts.
Despite challenges such as staff dispersion—both geographically and across various job responsibilities—and limited equipment access, especially for field maintenance staff, state DOTs have developed various training delivery methods. These range from posters, fliers, classroom and virtual training to certification programs, as well as radio and television public service announcements. Developing and delivering these programs is resource-intensive, prompting the need for improved efficiency and effectiveness, which this synthesis aims to address for the benefit of state DOTs, AASHTO, and researchers.
The objective of this synthesis is to document current state DOT practices for development and delivery of training programs required by NPDES stormwater permits.
Information to be gathered includes (but is not limited to):
- Identification of stormwater permit compliance programs with associated training requirements;
- Practices for identifying target audiences;
- Methods used to administer trainings, e.g., in person/instructor led, on-demand virtual, mass media, or physical materials such as posters;
- Methods for documenting training audiences and events;
- Methods for assessing the effectiveness of trainings;
- Outreach methods for communicating training requirements to non-DOT staff such as construction contractors and private engineering firms;
- Outreach practices applicable to the public; and
- Case examples of training programs, including a training program associated with the issuance and maintenance of a certification program.
Information will be gathered through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected DOTs for the development of case examples. Information gaps and suggestions for research to address those gaps will be identified.
Information Sources (Partial)
TRB Staff
Arefeh Nasri
Phone: 202-334-2763
Email: anasri@nas.edu
Meeting Dates
First Panel Meeting: October 8, 2024, in-person meeting in Washington, DC
Teleconference with Consultant: TBD
Second Panel Meeting: TBD
