Responsible Land Disturber (RLD)
Certificate of Competence Program

On Jan. 1, 2009, the fee for RLD certification and recertification increased to $115.

The Responsible Land Disturber Certificate of Competence Program was established as a component of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Program by revisions to the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (Title 10.1, Chapter 5, Article 4 of the Code of Virginia). The program is effective July 1, 2001. A memo, FAQ sheet and text of the revisions are available for download below. Effective in July 2001, as a prerequisite for erosion and sediment control plan approval throughout Virginia, the person responsible for carrying out the plan must provide the name of an individual holding an RLD Certificate who will be in charge of and responsible for carrying out a regulated "land-disturbing activity."

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) operates the RLD Certificate of Competence Program. The principal objectives of the RLD Certificate of Competence Program are:

• To present educational material that promotes a baseline understanding of the law, Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations and Minimum Standards, basic erosion and sediment control principles and practices, and ESC specifications to those individuals responsible for land-disturbing activities regulated in the commonwealth,
   
• To issue an RLD Certificate of Competence to individuals who demonstrate ESC competence through an online or proctor assisted examination, and
   
• To improve ESC compliance throughout the commonwealth to ensure protection to property and natural resources.

Below, you can download a copy of the RLD Applicant Packet. The packet highlights key technical, regulatory and policy features of the ESC Program that are essential for effective and efficient on-site ESC plan implementation. All of the material necessary to pass the RLD Certificate of Competence examination and successfully achieve certification is within the RLD Applicant Packet.

Downloads

The following publications in support of the RLD Certificate of Competence Program are available in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). To save the document, right-click on the link and save the "target" file to your computer. Most web browsers allow you to view the document without saving it. (Version 4 or later of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software is required. Adobe Acrobat Reader 5 is available from the Adobe website. Take care to designate the proper platform - Windows 95, 98, NT, Mac, Linux, etc.- in step one of the download.)

• Click here to download a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) sheet (16K, PDF) on the RLD Certificate of Competence Program
• Click here to download a copy of the entire Applicant Packet (2,726K, PDF)

For your convenience, the RLD Applicant Packet is also available for download in four separate, smaller files. Note, however, that all four parts must be printed and compiled to ensure that you have the entire packet. This option is highly suggested to reduce download time for applicants using an older computer/printer and/or standard home telephone line Internet access.

• Click here to download Part 1 of the RLD Applicant Packet (111K, PDF)
• Click here to download Part 2 of the RLD Applicant Packet (926K, PDF)
• Click here to download Part 3 of the RLD Applicant Packet (875, PDF)
• Click here to download Part 4 of the RLD Applicant Packet (870K, PDF)