Clean Water Act, NPDES & MS4S

The City of Fort Lauderdale, like other cities, obtained a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The permit requires the City of Fort Lauderdale to develop and implement various stormwater management programs, monitor pollution of the City's waterways, and increase public awareness to generate initiative-taking behaviors that prevent stormwater pollution. This permit is renewed every five years and an annual report is submitted. The City must continuously fulfil certain requirements daily to ensure compliance. FDEP closely monitors the City's program and progress through annual inspections of the City’s facilities and records.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

The SWPPP is a basic statement regarding how a construction site should be managed to prevent or significantly reduce discharge of pollutants from the site during construction activity. According to the SWPPP, no solid materials, including building materials, shall be discharged to any body of water in the United States. The SWPPP should be modified as needed and contain the signatures of all contractors and subcontractors attesting to their reading of the plan and their willingness to abide by its directives.

SWPPP Minimum Required Elements

The minimum elements the SWPPP must contain are as follows:

A. Site Evaluation

Each SWPPP shall provide a description of pollutant sources and other information as indicated:

1. A description of the nature of the construction activity.

2. A description of the intended sequence of major activities that disturb soils for major portions of the site (e.g. grubbing, excavation, grading).

B. Site Assessment

As a result of the site assessment, the SWPPP shall include:

1. Estimates of the total area of the site, and the total area of the site that is expected to be disturbed by excavation, grading, or other activities.

2. An estimate of the runoff coefficient of the site before, during and after construction activities.

3. A site map indicating drainage patterns and approximate slopes anticipated after major grading activities, the area of soil disturbance, an outline of areas that may not be disturbed and the location of major structural and nonstructural controls identified in the plan.

C. Erosion and Sediment Controls

Each SWPPP shall include:

1. A description of the appropriate controls and measures that will be implemented at the construction site to prevent stormwater runoff.

2. The time that the measures will be implemented during the construction process.

D. Other Controls

1. Off-site vehicle tracking of sediments and the generation of dust shall be minimized.

2. The plan shall ensure and demonstrate compliance with applicable State and/or local waste disposal, sanitary sewer or septic system regulations.

3. The plan shall address the proper application rates and methods for the use of fertilizers and pesticides at the construction site.

4. The plan shall ensure that the application, generation and migration of toxic substances is limited and that toxic materials are properly stored and disposed.

E. Preventive Maintenance

Each SWPPP shall include:

1. A description of procedures to ensure the timely maintenance of vegetation, erosion and sediment control measures and other protective measures identified in the site plan are in good and effective operating conditions.

2. Stormwater pollution prevention plans must be amended to reflect any change applicable to protecting surface water resources in sediment and erosion management site plans or site permits.

F. Certification

All contractors and subcontractors identified in a stormwater pollution prevention plan shall sign a copyof the following certification statement before conducting any professional service identified in the stormwater pollution prevention plan:

I certify under penalty of law that I understand the terms and conditions of the general National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that authorizes the stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity from the construction site identified as part of this certification.

The certification must include the name and title of the person providing the signature, the name, address and telephone number of the contracting firm, the address (or other identifying description) of the site, and the date the certification is made. The SWPPP is not valid unless the Certification Statement is signed.

G. Inspection

(1) Qualified personnel (provided by the discharger) shall inspect all points of discharge into United States waters or to a municipal separate storm sewer system, as well as:

• All disturbed areas of the construction site that have not been fully stabilized,

• Areas used for storage of materials that are exposed to precipitation, and

• Structural control measures and locations where vehicles enter or exit the site at least once every seven calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm that generates 0.5 inches of water or greater.

Where sites have been finally stabilized; such inspection shall be conducted at least once every month.

(2) A report summarizing the scope of the inspection, name(s) and qualifications of personnel making the inspection, the date(s) of the inspection, major observations relating to the implementation of the stormwater pollution prevention plan, and corrective actions taken.