What does Compliance Really Mean?

Construction plans and a white safety helmet on a wooden surface outdoors.

    A construction site must be operationally effective in controlling erosion and preventing sedimentation from reaching a receiving water source or conveyance system for the site to be in compliance. If a site is struggling to do this, they could be regarded as being out of compliant.  An industrial site or facility has many…

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Who Is the Site Operator

Silhouetted dancers performing energetically at sunset outdoors.

  Florida’s Construction Generic Permit (CGP) for Stormwater Discharge from Large and Small Construction Activities defines “site operator” this way: The person, firm, contractor, public organization, or other legal entity that owns or operates the construction activity and that has authority to control those activities at the project to ensure compliance with the terms and…

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Exposed Areas where Stormwater Flows

Aerial view of an industrial storage yard with machinery and materials.

    A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a national compliance and regulation program. Many components of the NPDES program describe rules and policies to minimize and prevent pollutants in stormwater discharges. Industrial facility operators may be required to obtain an NPDES permit before they can discharge stormwater. This permit is required for…

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Stormwater Volume, Quantity, and Control

Reflection of a building in calm water with mud and grass around.

    Stormwater runoff occurs after a rainfall.  In Florida, especially during the wet and rainy season, rainfall and storms can become torrential at times generating high volume of water in a short period of time.  This stormwater eventually reaches lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands untreated and potentially contaminated. Stormwater runoff can collect pollutants along…

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All Aboard Stormwater

Boat winch with rope coiled around it on a sunny day.

    Marinas and shipyards make their home on or adjacent to waterways.  Marina operators and their tenants frequently store oil, fuel, and many other hazardous chemicals used to maintain their vessels.  These harmful substances can be carried off by stormwater attributing to a negative impact to nearby waterbodies. While performing boat maintenance and general…

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Be Empowered by BMPs

A serene rural landscape with a water canal and cloudy sky.

    There are a variety of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can be implemented to help maintain compliance and regulatory requirements. BMPs can be characterized into two types, either structural or non-Structural. What is the difference? Structural BMPs focus on preventing pollutants in stormwater runoff from leaving site boundaries. All types of structural BMPs…

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Stormwater Inspection – More Than a Permit Requirement

Worker in safety vest inspecting and writing on clipboard at construction site.

  A stormwater compliance inspection can be considered a documented snapshot in time of the construction project from the planning phase to the final stabilization.  Each inspection can provide a story to the evolution of a construction projects performance against minimizing erosion and sediment departing the boundaries of the construction site.  The primary mission of…

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Do you require an MSGP Coverage?

Industrial facility with large yellow tanks and conveyor belts.

    Many industrial facilities are required to receive coverage under the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). The MSGP is under the federal and designated local state authorities of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. Industrial activities that fall under the scope of the MSGP regulations, may be required to obtain MSGP coverage to…

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Industrial Stormwater Violations can Occur

Dirty water flows from a pipe into a polluted stream.

    The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. Congress enacted the law in response to rampant contamination of waterways and brought about important improvements across the nation.  After more than 50 years of…

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