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 from 8 am to 4 pm 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.This course provides 1.3 Continuing Education Units from the PSU College of Engineering.
Program Eligibility
Anyone involved in the maintenance of unpaved and/or low volume roads will benefit from the practices taught in this course that are designed to reduce sediment pollution and long-term road maintenance costs. 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).
Potential Grant Applications:In order to be eligible to apply for Program funds,the person in charge of work plan developmentand project implementation from the road-owning entity must have attended environmentally sensitive maintenance (ESM) training within the past five (5) calendar years. This training, and all past 2-day ESM trainings, counts as eligibility to apply for BOTHDirt and Gravel and (paved) Low Volume Roadfunds for a period of five (5) calendar years.
1. March 15 & 16, 2016 (Tuesday/Wednesday) - Fayette County
Park Inn by Radisson
Address: 700 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401
Hotel: $89 room block, Dirt & Gravel Roads Training, 724-437-2816
2. March 29 & 30, 2016 (Tuesday/Wednesday) - Columbia/Montour Counties
Pine Barn Inn
Address: One Pine Barn Place, Danville, PA 17821
Hotel: $89 room rate, block under Dirt & Gravel Roads Training, 570-275-2071
3. April 13 & 14, 2016 (Wednesday/Thursday) - Adams/Franklin Counties
Gettysburg Hotel
Address: One Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, PA 17325
Hotel: $98 room rate, block under Dirt & Gravel Roads Training, 717-337-2000
NOTE: Special parking arrangements, must register your license plate # with the on-line system using this link and the Validation Code (NOTE: there is one link for the commuters and one link for the over-night guests), No cost, will be good for both days:
Commuter Permit link-
https://www.tocite.net/gettysburgpd/PurchasePermit/Purchase/6JZgp--Upsafety-- LWB9k--2Tech--
Overnight guest link- https://www.tocite.net/gettysburgpd/PurchasePermit/Purchase/rYS8yTpVxAQ--2Tech--
Validation Code: CDGRS0416
4. April 26 & 27, 2016 (Tuesday/Wednesday) - Blair County
Altoona Grand Hotel
Address: 1 Sheraton Drive, Altoona, PA 16601
Hotel: $65, block under Dirt & Gravel Roads Training, 814-946-1631
5. May 11 & 12, 2016 (Wednesday/Thursday) – Susquehanna/Wayne
Bible Conference Center Montrose
Address: 218 Locust Street, Montrose, PA 18801
Hotel: $119 room rate, Holiday Inn & Express & Suites Gibson, 1561 Oliver Rd,
New Milford, PA 18834, 570-465-5544, room block here
6. May 24 & 25, 2016 (Wednesday/Thursday) - McKean County
Port Allegany Veteran’s Memorial (VFW)
Address: 4743 PA-155, Port Allegany, PA 16743
Hotel: $89 room rate, Holiday Inn Express Bradford, 30 Tarport Drive Ext., Bradford, PA 16701, 814-362-7090, room block here
7. June 1 & 2, 2016 (Wednesday/Thursday) - Erie County - Erie Conservation District
Address: 1927 Wager Road, Erie, PA 16509
Hotel: $89 room rate, Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, 8101 Peach St, Erie, PA 16509, 814-217-1100, Under Center for Dirt & Gravel Roads
8. June 21 & 22, 2016 (Tuesday/Wednesday) - Monroe County
Kalahari Resorts & Convention Center
Address: 250 Kalahari Blvd, Pocono Manor, PA 18349
Hotel: $83 per night single/$149 double, block under Dirt & Gravel Roads Training, 570-580-6000
9. October 19 & 20, 2016 (Wednesday/Thursday)
Sullivan County
St. Francis of Assisi Hall in Mildred
Address: 100 St. Francis Drive, Mildred, PA 18632
Hotel: $89 room rate, block under Dirt & Gravel Roads Training, Book your group rate for Penn State University
Fairfield Inn & Suites, Towanda, PA, 570-265-5553
10. November 15 & 16, 2016 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Center County
Ramada Conference & Golf Hotel
Address: 1450 S Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801
Hotel: $72 room rate, block under Dirt & Gravel Road Studies
814-238-3001 (Group code CG14DG)