Environmental training

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) staff can register for most instructor-led classes and e-learning courses through the Learning Center. Other participants can contact Barb Steusloff, Barbara.Steusloff@wsdot.wa.gov for more information regarding training provided by ESO instructors. 

Environmental training resources by topic

Review our training opportunities by topic below.

Compliance Assurance

Commitment Tracking System (CTS) is a web application for new CTS users and all WSDOT staff that tracks WSDOT project environmental commitments and environmental non-compliance events. This virtual training teaches users how to create a project, add commitments to a project, copy commitments from other sources to a project, enter non-compliance events that occur on a WSDOT project, and run a variety of reports. 

Contractor Compliance Root Issues webinar guides WSDOT staff and consultants that are involved in project design and contract development, through three potential root causes that may lead to compliance concerns during project construction and provides possible solutions. This training focuses on when the contract is not being followed, when the contract is unclear or incorrect, and when the contract is missing required information. 

Environmental Compliance for Construction introduces staff to their environmental responsibilities during the construction phase of WSDOT projects.  Environmental and construction field staff need to take this course to help them learn about complying with environmental commitments, where commitments come from, recognize non-compliance events in the field and communicate them to the project engineer via the Environmental Compliance Assurance Policy (ECAP).  ESO offers this class as an eLearning course, in person, and via Teams meetings.  This should be the first environmental course taken by construction field staff.

Environmental Non-compliance is a webinar for all WSDOT staff that participate in project inspections or are involved in Environmental Compliance Assurance Policy (ECAP) and procedures. ECAP is used during design and construction phases of WSDOT projects to respond to known or suspected environmental non-compliance events.  Learn about ECAP policy and procedures and about proper documentation.

Construction site erosion and sediment control training

WSDOT trains staff and consultants on policies and procedures for complying with construction stormwater and NPDES 402 Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSWGP) requirements on projects within the WSDOT Right-of-Way. Successful completion of this class is required for staff responsible for designing or implementing temporary erosion and sediment control (TESC) plans, collecting or reporting discharge samples, or ensuring compliance during design or in the field (as detailed in Ch.1 of the WSDOT TESC Manual). Classes are offered annually in January, February, and March, though additional classes may be offered based on popular demand. The class may be taken to recertify an expiring CESCL or in conjunction with an approved 8-hour Field BMP training course for the full CESCL certification. While CESCL certification is not typically necessary for WSDOT staff, obtaining and maintaining CESCL certification through the WSDOT classroom and Field BMP Classes is highly encouraged as it facilitates greater knowledge of appropriate TESC Best Management Practices for plan design, field inspection, and contract enforcement. 

Staff can sign up for "WSDOT ENV: Construction Site Erosion and Sediment Control" in the Learning Center. Consultants can request to be registered for WSDOT's class if deemed necessary. While WSDOT staff may obtain CESCL certification or re-certification through an external Ecology approved training provider, doing so does not replace the requirement for staff to complete the internal WSDOT training. 

Cultural resources training 

Cultural resources training promotes awareness, preservation and stewardship of Washington’s cultural resources. The Cultural Resources program provides customized training for transportation professionals (including engineering, planning, contracting, maintenance, biologists and other disciplines). Participants learn to address cultural resource management issues on transportation projects and gain hands-on experience in the field. Training focuses on state and federal regulations and compliance procedures, the National Register of Historic Places and alternative perspectives on values and significance.

Environmental Justice (EJ) training

Environmental Justice, Title VI and English Proficiency webinar for staff doing NEPA Categorical Exclusion evaluations. This training describes the basics, evaluation process and making determinations.

Fish & wildlife training

Training for Biological Assessment authors (PDF 149KB)  

Lists of consultants who have met the BA author qualification requirements:

• Prequalification roster consultants qualified to write BAs (PDF 23KB)
• Qualified BA authors not on the Prequalification roster (PDF 97KB)

Hazardous materials and spill prevention training 

We provide online training for WSDOT staff who review Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures Plans. WSDOT staff can access the course through the Learning Center by searching for the course title “WSDOT ENV: Spill Plan Reviewer Training (OLT).”

Permitting

Complete Permit Application for Section 404, 401, and HPAs is a webinar for environmental coordinators, consultants, and regional maintenance environmental coordinators. The training explains what is needed and how to prepare complete applications to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cleans Water Act section 404 and Rivers and Harbors Act section 10, Washington State Department of Ecology's Clean Water Act section 401, and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA).

Complete Permit Application Drawings is a webinar that builds off of the Complete Permit Application training and should be taken by environmental coordinators, consultants, and regional maintenance environmental coordinators. Learn how to complete permit application drawings for Section 404, 401 and HPAs. 

Fish Passage Pre-construction Notification is a webinar for environmental coordinators, consultants, and regional maintenance environmental coordinators. Learn what is needed and how to prepare the Fish Passage Pre-construction Notification for the Corps section 404 and ECY Clean Water Act section 401

Introduction to Hydraulic Project Approval (HPAs) is a webinar for environmental coordinators, consultants, and regional maintenance environmental coordinators. Learn about the different types of HPAs, Hydraulic Project jurisdiction, non-compliance issues, how to submit a complete HPA, and where to find additional resources. 

No Permits Required is a webinar for environmental coordinators, consultants, and regional maintenance environmental coordinators. Understand when a permit is not required for the WDFW, fish passage, and transportation projects, know when authorization is not required by the Corps and ECY.

Section 404 and Section 401 Permitting is a webinar for environmental coordinators, consultants, and regional maintenance environmental coordinators. Learn about the 2021 changes to Nationwide permits (NWPs), Regional General Conditions, Washington State Department of Ecology section 401, and Coastal Zone Management. 

NEPA 

View the Local Programs NEPA Courses YouTube videos and reference our Region cross reference (DOCX 23KB) guide for differences between the local and regional processes.

Additional environmental training resources

Organizations and other WSDOT offices also provide environmental training. The list below provides links to these environmental training resources.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Motor Vehicle Emissions Stimulator (MOVES) - This is an emission modeling system that estimates emissions for mobile sources at the national, county, and project level for criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gases and air toxics. It should be taken by air quality and greenhouse gas subject matter experts and consultants that conduct analysis as part of NEPA/SEPA. The Moves trainings include pdf's, webinars and hands-on training courses, which includes MOVES5 introduction and overview, project level quantitative PM hotspot analysis and detailed information on how to use Moves to estimate both on-road and non-road emissions.
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) NEPA Overview as Applied to Transportation Projects – These short videos provide an overview of the National Environmental Policy Act as it applies to FHWA projects. These videos target local agencies but are relevant for the general NEPA process at WSDOT.
• FHWA Infrastructure Carbon Estimator (ICE) - This tool estimates the lifecycle energy and greenhouse gas emissions from the construction and maintenance of transportation facilities. The ICE webinar provides an overview of how to use the tool for project-specific or planning level analysis and should be taken by energy and greenhouse gas subject matter experts and consultants that conduct analysis as part of project planning and NEPA/SEPA.
• FHWA Traffic Noise Model (TNM) - The training demonstrates various project level modeling tasks to meet the needs of State's Department of Transportation. This model is required to be used on all Federal-aid highway projects to comply with 23 CFR, Part 772.17. It should be taken by noise and acoustics subject matter experts and consultants that conduct analysis for these projects.
• Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) Training – DES serves several state agencies, providing training on a variety of topics including computer, management and soft skills.
• Washington State Department of Ecology – The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance program offers training and resources on shoreline protection, conservation and the State Environmental Policy Act.
• Washington State Department of Ecology Coastal Training Program – These courses provide science-based training to professionals making shoreline management decisions.
• National Highway Institute (NHI) – NHI offers a variety of courses, materials and seminars for the transportation community. Examples of training topics include Asset Management, Hydraulics, and Design and Traffic Operations.
• Associated General Contractors (AGC) Education Foundation – AGC offers courses for people working in project construction, such as Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Construction.
• Local Technical Assistance Program – These courses, coordinated through the WSDOT Local Programs Office, focus primarily on a local government audience.