ESM Course:

The Center's Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance (ESM) Course is an intense two-day classroom session focused on providing the knowledge and tools necessary for road owners to maintain roads in a more cost-efficient and environmentally sensitive manner. The Center's holds approximately 10 ESM Courses at locations around Pennsylvania every year. The course runs form 8am to 4pm for two days and includes lunch. The course is free to municipal, county, and state agencies involved with PA's Dirt and Gravel Road Program. Individuals from private and out-of-state entities can attend one of these courses for a fee. The Center is also available to bring the ESM Course on the road to meet the needs of private or out-of-state entities. This course provides 1.3 Continuing Education Units from the PSU College of Engineering.

The Center also delivers a one-day course focusing on ESM practices for the Gas industry (and other heaving hauling industries). Details on this course can be found by clicking the "Marcellus" link in the left margin.

Who Should Attend:

Anyone involved in the maintenance of unpaved roads will benefit form the practices taught in this course that are designed to reduce sediment pollution and long-term road maintenance costs. Within the PA Dirt and Gravel Road Program, Township, Conservation District, and Forestry personnel involved in the Program are required to attend an ESM training every 5 years to maintain Program eligibility (at least one person from entity). PA Municipalities must be certified by attending the training within the last five years in order to apply for funding. Township, District, and Forestry Personnel who have previously attended the ESM training can also become re-certified by attending an Annual Maintenance Workshop (RE-certification only, must have attended ESM training in past).

ESM Course Resources:

General Information Brochure: Detailed description of the ESM Course including agenda.
Calendar: Current ESM Course schedule as listed in the Center's calendar.
Register: Register for an upcoming ESM Course.
Attendee List: List of attendees from past trainings. Townships in PA are required to have attended the ESM Course within the past 5 years in order to be eligible for Dirt and Gravel Road Program Funding.

Individual ESM County Course Brochures:

Printable brochures below contain information, directions, and fax-in registration form for upcoming ESM courses. Course brochures will be posted for each session as details are finalized, typically 2 months before the course date. For 2013 planning, download the 2-Day Training for 2013 Schedule (updated April 4, 2013).

Indiana (June 12-13, 2013) Download Brochure
York/Lancaster/Lebanon (July 10-11, 2013) Download Brochure
Dauphin/Northumberland/Schuylkill (August 13-14, 2013) Download Brochure
Susquehanna/Wyoming (October 15-16, 2013) (Brochure coming soon)
Pike (November 13-14, 2013) (Brochure coming soon)

Course Outline:

Introduction
Program Orientation
Basic Principle of Natural Systems
Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance Practices (EMSP) Intro
ESMP - Off Right-of-Way Impacts
ESMP - Roadside Vegetation Management
ESMP - Road Banks
ESMP - Road / Stream Interface
ESMP - Road Ditches
ESMP - Road Ditch Outlets
ESMP - Driving Surface Aggregate
ESMP - Road Surface Maintenance
ESMP - Road Surface Drainage
ESMP - Surface Stabilization

ESM Registration:

For more information on the ESM Course or to schedule a course in your county, complete and submit the following form.

The course is available at no cost to representatives of any public agency involved in Pennsylvania's Dirt & Gravel Road Program through funding from The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, State Conservation Commission and the Bureau of Forestry. All other interested parties are invited to attend. For all other interested parties the cost is $395 (check made out to "Penn State University"), which includes associated registration fees, lunches for both days and all course materials. You will receive a certificate awarded in recognition of successful completion of thirteen hours of instruction (1.3 CEUs) from the Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies and the College of Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. If you would like to meet with a trainer during your scheduled training, please call me to set-up a meeting time or check the box on this form and I will contact you.

* Denotes a required field.

OR

Complete Only if Paying by Check or if Eligible for No Cost Training

* Select ESM Course Location:

* First Name: *Last Name:

* E-mail address:

* Confirm email:

* Title:

Company Name:

Department/Division:

* Address 1:

Address 2:

* City:

* State/Province/Region:

* Zip/Postal Code:

Country:

* Phone Number: Extension:

Fax Number:

Please contact me regarding a time to meet with the trainers.

* Complete if eligible for a no cost course (check your affiliation - only check one)

To be eligible for a no cost course, you must be a representative of a public agency involved in Pennsylvania's Dirt & Gravel Road Program through funding from The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, State Conservation Commission and the Bureau of Forestry.

PADEP Bureau of Forestry PennDOT Fish and Boat Commision

Game Commision Allegheny National Forest NRCS Other:

County Conservation District (Select CountyCCD: )

Municipality (Select County: and Municipality: )

* Complete if ineligible for a no cost course

For all parties ineligible for a no cost course, the cost is $395, which includes associated registration fees, lunches for both days and all training materials. Please mail a check made payable to "Penn State University" to:

Kathy Moir
Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies
215 Transportation Research Building
University Park, PA 16802

Ineligible for a no cost course