Compliance Assurance
Compliance Assurance represents a major component in the Water Management
Division’s efforts to protect the waters of Hillsborough County. The
Compliance Assurance Section is responsible for compliance, enforcement, and
information management activities within the Division. In addition, the
Compliance Assurance Section responds to citizen’s complaints related to
wastewater and water quality. These activities include routine monitoring
and evaluation of a facility’s self-monitoring program, and an inspection
program to ensure facilities comply with conditions and effluent limitations
found in their facility permits. Non-permitted facilities and citizen
complaints are investigated to determine the nature of any violations of
applicable rules as well as environmental impacts.
The Compliance
Assurance Section uses many different tools to effect compliance. They
include non-compliance letters, warning notices, compliance initiatives,
data analysis, diagnostic evaluations, and formal enforcement action. Each
non-compliance issue may require one or more of these tools that will result
in resolution of any violations while protecting and preserving water
quality in Hillsborough County. In all non-compliance cases, the appropriate
follow-up in the form of monitoring and/or inspections is conducted to
ensure that any required corrective actions are completed in a timely
manner.
Several projects
have been undertaken recently to enhance the efficiency of the Compliance
Assurance Section. They include proactive initiatives intended to identify
problems before they result in violations; in house data automation and
information management to help supervisors and managers make assessments
related to program priorities and effectiveness as well as workload
allocation; and industry surveys to determine further regulatory needs.
The Compliance
Assurance Section continues to enhance its data automation and data
evaluation capabilities. The analysis of data forms the basis for
performance measurements. In addition, proactive initiatives and diagnostic
evaluations will take a more prominent role in facility compliance.
