Florida’s rainfall, flat terrain, extensive waterways, and continuing construction activity make effective erosion and sediment control especially important. When soil leaves a construction site, it can enter storm drains, canals, lakes, wetlands, and other surface waters—creating environmental, operational, and regulatory problems.
Public works employees, utility crews, contractors, inspectors, project managers, engineers, and stormwater personnel therefore need more than a general understanding of erosion control. They need to know which requirements apply, which Best Management Practices (BMPs) are appropriate, who is responsible for inspecting them, and which Florida manuals support those decisions.
One common source of confusion is the phrase “the FDEP erosion-control manual.” Florida actually uses several related resources with different purposes. Understanding those differences is the first step toward using them correctly.
The manuals generally fall into three groups:
These documents complement one another, but they are not interchangeable. No single manual replaces the applicable permit, approved project plans, contract specifications, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, local requirements, or qualified professional judgment.
Tier I introduces the principles of stormwater management, erosion, sedimentation, and pollution prevention. It is intended primarily for employees and contractors who install, operate, or maintain erosion and sediment-control BMPs.
According to the Florida Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector program, Tier I addresses topics such as:
Tier I is also a prerequisite for Tier II. Completing Tier I alone should not be described as earning the FSESCI Qualified Inspector certificate.
For field personnel, the practical lesson is straightforward: a BMP must be selected, installed, and maintained correctly to work. A silt fence, inlet protection device, sediment trap, stabilized entrance, or vegetative measure is not effective merely because it appears on a plan or has been placed on the site.
Tier II builds on the installer-level material and provides additional instruction for employees who inspect erosion and sediment controls.
The curriculum includes more detailed treatment of:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s FSESCI program describes the state course as a two-day class based on the Florida Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector’s Manual. Participants must also complete a proctored examination and earn a minimum score of 70% to receive the FSESCI Qualified Inspector certificate.
The state program is designed to prepare personnel to conduct qualifying stormwater inspections under Florida’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System construction requirements.
However, the certificate does not:
Organizations should confirm which qualifications and refresher requirements apply to each employee’s actual duties.
The State of Florida Erosion and Sediment Control Designer and Reviewer Manual was developed for professionals involved in evaluating site conditions and designing or reviewing erosion and sediment-control systems.
This resource goes beyond the installer and inspector curriculum by addressing subjects such as:
Florida’s current Construction Generic Permit references the 2013 Designer and Reviewer Manual when addressing consistency of construction-site BMPs.
That does not make the Designer and Reviewer Manual the FSESCI course manual. The FSESCI Tier I and Tier II manuals support installer and inspector training, while the Designer and Reviewer Manual serves a different planning and technical-review function.
The current Tier I and Tier II materials can be found on the program’s FSESCI manual downloads page.
The manuals are most valuable when their principles are converted into clear field responsibilities.
BMP selection should account for the project phase, anticipated runoff, drainage patterns, soil conditions, slopes, nearby receiving waters, available space, and construction sequence.
A standard detail copied from another project may be inappropriate if the site conditions are materially different.
Temporary controls generally must be installed at the stage required by the applicable permit, plans, and construction sequence. Waiting until visible sediment has already left the site defeats the preventive purpose of erosion and sediment control.
An inspector should determine whether a BMP is installed correctly, remains functional, and is controlling the intended runoff or sediment pathway.
A BMP may be present but ineffective because it is:
Inspection records should be complete, legible, consistent, and tied to the applicable project requirements. Records should identify deficiencies, required corrective actions, responsible parties, and follow-up verification.
Photographs can be valuable, but they should support—not replace—clear written documentation.
Temporary erosion and sediment controls are only part of the process. Final stabilization, removal of temporary controls, permit termination, and retention of required records must be managed in accordance with the governing permit and project documents.
The manuals provide essential technical and instructional guidance, but organizations should never treat them as the only source of compliance requirements.
Depending on the project, controlling documents may include:
FDEP maintains its current NPDES stormwater permits and forms online.
Regulatory review note—August 15, 2026: FDEP is also publishing Construction Generic Permit rulemaking drafts. Draft language should not be treated as an adopted requirement. Agencies and contractors should verify the current effective permit, rules, and forms before making compliance decisions.
For project-specific regulatory, legal, or engineering questions, consult the appropriate permitting authority and qualified professional.
FSESCI training may be appropriate for:
Not everyone needs the same depth of instruction. Organizations should first identify who installs BMPs, who inspects them, who designs or approves them, who documents corrective actions, and who holds responsibility under the permit.
Public agencies and contractors can use the following process to convert training into better field performance:
Training is most effective when it is reinforced through field coaching, supervisor review, quality-control checks, and clear accountability.
Tampa Bay Training is an approved FSESCI training provider—FDEP Provider #15.
The FSESCI program includes the two-day state curriculum and the required proctored examination. A minimum score of 70% is required for the FSESCI Qualified Inspector certificate.
Training options may include:
The FSESCI qualification is not currently offered by Tampa Bay Training as an unproctored self-paced course.
Organizations needing general annual stormwater, NPDES, or municipal stormwater training should confirm whether that need is separate from the FSESCI Qualified Inspector program. Tampa Bay Training can help buyers distinguish between qualification training, employee awareness training, and customized organizational training.
To discuss the appropriate option, contact Tampa Bay Training Customer Service or view upcoming classes through the Tampa Bay Training Eventbrite portal.
Florida’s FSESCI manuals are valuable tools, but they work best when organizations understand the purpose of each resource.
Tier I supports BMP installers. Tier II prepares inspectors. The Designer and Reviewer Manual supports planning, design, and technical review. The applicable permit, project documents, and current regulatory requirements ultimately control the work.
By combining appropriate training with clear field responsibilities, competent supervision, reliable documentation, and timely corrective action, public works organizations can better protect Florida’s water resources while delivering safe and successful infrastructure projects.
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