Federal and state regulatory agencies at times will perform inspections on companies they may determine are out of compliance with federal and state requirements for stormwater regulatory expectations. Many industrial facilities are required to obtain a stormwater permit from either the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or their state’s environmental agency.
These permits outline the specific stormwater management practices that the facility must implement to prevent pollution and runoff. An industrial facility that does not have a permit may trigger an uninspected visit from a regulatory agency. If a regulatory agency receives a particular complaint that may bring awareness of non-compliance issues, the facility may be issued a violation notice. This notice outlines the specific issues that need to be addressed and provides time for corrective action.
Here is a list of several types of agencies that may perform stormwater compliance inspections and enforce compliance.
- EPA – Environmental Protection Agency (Federal)
- ACOE – Army Corps of Engineers (Federal)
- FDEP – Florida Department of Environmental Protection (State)
- WMD – Water Management District (State)
Federal and state regulatory inspections can happen across a variety of industrial sectors. The goal of specific inspections is to enforce compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards outlined by the Clean Water Act. During an inspection, regulatory officials will visit the facility to inspect and examine its operations, best management practices (BMPs), and compliance records. The consequences of regulatory inspections can vary as well. If an entity is found to be non-compliant during an inspection, it may be subject to penalties, fines, warnings, or other enforcement actions.
We must keep in mind the overall goal is to eliminate activities causing environmental harm. By Industrial facilities understanding the necessity for water quality standards and implementing programs to reduce stormwater contaminated runoff, will positively impact the environment.
KCI is an expert at helping an industrial facility perform a thorough walk-through assessment to help eliminate potential risk. We realize there are numerous types of industrial facilities that may have many degrees of unique sources for stormwater pollution.
Stormwater discharges at an industrial facility can be based on many activities that may be taking place at any given time. If your business is subject to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, KCI can help you apply for permit coverage. We can also ensure all proper identification of specific BMPs is identified for your business type or industrial sector. Call us today at (888)-346-7779.
