Enforcement Training

Section 12812.2 of the California Government Code. This section requires the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) Office of the Secretary to develop a program to ensure that all the boards, departments, offices, and other agencies that implement Cal/EPA's laws and regulations "take consistent, effective, and coordinated compliance and enforcement actions." The statute specifically requires that, "The program shall include training and cross-training of inspection and enforcement personnel…"

The Cal/EPA Inspector Certification Program was created to implement the training component of the statute. All Cal/EPA boards, departments, offices, and local implementing agencies have contributed to its development. The program consists of the Basic Inspector Academy, the annual Environmental Cross Media Enforcement Symposium, and the Inspector Training Clearinghouse. The Academy provides baseline training for new inspectors, and the Symposium provides continuing education for all inspectors.

The staff resources for the Inspector Certification Program are housed in the California Air Resources Board (ARB), Enforcement Division, Training Section.

Inspector Training Clearinghouse

The Cal/EPA Clearinghouse for Inspector Training provides a one-stop-shopping source for all kinds of information associated with environmental inspector training. Courses offered by both state and local agencies are represented. For more information, please visit the Cal/EPA Inspector Training Clearinghouse.

Course 310: The Cal/EPA Basic Inspector Academy

The Basic Inspector Academy (BIA) is designed to teach environmental agency inspectors and other compliance professionals core knowledge and skills, and to encourage cross-media awareness needed to conduct quality inspections. The objective of the program is to ensure consistent, effective, and coordinated compliance and enforcement actions to protect public health and the environment by the state, local, and tribal agencies implementing environmental laws or regulations within the jurisdiction of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

A prerequisite to the classroom portion of The Academy is an online course. The online course is approximately six to ten hours and must be completed before you attend the classroom training. The following fundamental topics are covered online:

• Role of the Inspector
• Science of Environmental Pollution
• Overview of Environmental Law
• Cal/EPA Agencies, Roles and Responsibilities

The four- day classroom portion covers the following practical skills for environmental inspectors:

• Inspection Overview
• Elements of a Violation
• Report Writing
• Interviewing
• Sampling and Evidence Collection
• Report Analysis
• Testimony Skills

Academy Schedule

• July 15-18, 2008 (San Diego)
• November 4-7, 2008 (Sacramento)

Registration Information

Academy enrollment is restricted to state and local environmental regulators within the State of California, only. You are encouraged to register as early as possible because space is limited. There are four ways to register:

1) Telephone	(916) 322-2227
2) FAX	(916) 323-3303, Attn: Nancy Thompson
3) Email	nthompso@arb.ca.gov
4) US Mail	Nancy Thompson Air Resources Board  Enforcement Division, 5th floor  P.O. Box 2815  Sacramento, CA 95812

Please use the registration form provided below. The form cannot be saved using Acrobat Reader, so please print the form for mailing or faxing. If you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat, you can save and attach your completed registration form to nthompso@arb.ca.gov. All registrations will be accepted in the order received. If you do not receive confirmation two weeks prior to the course, please contact Nancy Thompson.

Course Fees $50.00/week

Registration Form (California environmental regulators, only)

• Compliance Training Program Registration Form (Adobe Acrobat)

You may need to get Acrobat Reader.

Contact Information

For more information about the Cal/EPA Inspector Certification Program and other training opportunities, please contact:

Cal/EPA Inspector Certification Program,
Nancy Thompson,  Program Coordinator
(916) 322-2227

ARB Training & Compliance Assistance Branch
Mary Boyer, Chief 
(916) 322-6037

The following agencies have contributed to the Inspector Certification Program:

California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board Department of Pesticide Regulation Integrated Waste Management Board Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment State Water Resources Control Board Department of Toxic Substances Control