If you are building on a piece of land in Florida that disturbs over one acre or is part of a Larger Common Plan of Development you must obtain cover under the Florida Construction Generic Permit (FCGP) which is part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater program. Florida also requires the operator of the site to have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) prior to filing for the permit. The permit coverage is achieved through filing an Notice of Intent (NOI). Under the FCGP, the responsible authority must implement suitable pollution prevention techniques to reduce erosion and sedimentation and properly manage stormwater.
In addition to the SWPPP, NOI, and installing proper erosion and sedimentation control it is required to have a qualified inspector to perform site inspections weekly and after a 0.5” rainfall, as defined in the permit. Before you disturb land in Florida make sure you have the proper team, plan, and permits to avoid hefty fines from federal, state, and local government agencies.
KCI’s stormwater inspector’s primary role is to arrive on a construction site, obtain the SWPPP, and ensure the SWPPP’s defined erosion control measures have been implemented properly. A KCI stormwater inspector is the first person to determine if the performance standards and intent of the erosion and sediment control rules are being met. At a high level, here are some details of an effective inspection report and documentation a KCI field stormwater inspector might perform.
- Determine that an erosion and sediment control plan for the site has been developed and approved, where applicable.
- Determine that all specified practices have been installed and are being fully and properly maintained by performing a thorough and precision site walkthrough.
- Determine that offsite sedimentation and turbidity in receiving waters are being prevented.
- If deficiencies are identified, then the responsible site contact or operator should be contacted immediately for appropriate action to be taken to attain compliance. Regardless, we make contact on every site visit, routine, or rain event.
- A KCI field consultant and stormwater inspector are our client’s partner, not the enforcement officer.
- The inspection must be recorded and documented. The information an inspector documents could be the basis for enforcement. It is extremely important it is documented in an unbiased manner and only the facts are specified.
An inspector’s report must be written legibly, accurately, consistently, and in clear and concise language. Most importantly, a stormwater inspector is to only identify the facts of the current state of inspection.
Now that we understand what is involved in documenting an inspection, it is critically important the inspector finalizes his inspection by updating and correcting the best management practice (BMP) site map with current changes that have taken place. Finally, after a quality inspection, It will be up to the site operator to begin processing the next steps associated to maintaining and correcting any issues found during the inspection. Next week, we will dive into these expectations, and more.
Outsourcing your stormwater management ensures that your inspections are accurate and complete at all times. Let KCI help you manage your inspections and document and report the findings. Call us today at 888-346-7779.
