Compliance
Activities
Facility Inspection Program
Overview
The Compliance Assurance Section performs regular inspections of permitted
wastewater facilities within Hillsborough County. These facilities range
from small domestic waste package treatment systems to large power
generating facilities. Under a
Specific
Operating Agreement (SOA) with the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP), the EPC acts on behalf of the DEP to monitor compliance
and enforce provisions of Chapter 403 Florida Statutes for certain
facilities. Facilities not covered by the SOA are inspected under the
authority of the EPC’s enabling Act, Chapter 84-446 Laws of Florida. The EPC
is committed to perform two unannounced inspections at permitted facilities
as a minimum level of service. Additional inspections and resources are
allotted to facilities with compliance problems. In addition, the Compliance
Assurance Section reviews the self-monitoring program (Discharge Monitoring
Reports) for each facility on a monthly basis.
The Inspection Process
Each facility operates within a set of conditions established by a permit.
It is compliance with the terms of the permit that provides the regulatory
agency with reasonable assurance that the operation of a particular
pollution source does not adversely effect the environment.
The EPC conducts a variety of inspections
over the five-year life of a permit. These inspections may include an
office review of the file, on site review of self-monitoring documentation,
visual inspection of treatment units and effluent discharges, and sampling
activities. Each inspection and inspection type is schedule automatically
through the Water Management’s Data Management System. Trained staff
performs each inspection in accordance with EPA and DEP protocols.
Once an inspection has been completed, all the information gathered during
the inspection including sample results is reduced to writing in the form of
an inspection report. The inspection report along with any noted concerns or
alleged violations are communicated to the permittee of the facility for
correction and follow-up. Typically, inspection reports are available within
30 days of the inspection activity.
