Compliance


Michelle Leigh mleigh@co.volusia.fl.us	(386) 736-5927, ext. 2295 (DeLand)

The Compliance Inspection Program is responsible for educating owners and operators of petroleum storage facilities to minimize the potential for discharges. All currently registered facilities are inspected annually in Volusia County, ensuring that the facilities are utilizing appropriate pollution prevention equipment and are adhering to correct tank management practices in accordance with the FDEP rules and guidelines. In addition to annual compliance inspections, staff performs three other important functions: Program personnel conduct inspections at critical times during the tank installation process to ensure that new tank systems are constructed and installed properly and therefore, less likely to fail resulting in a discharge. Staff performs inspections during tank removals and closures thus providing assurance that any discharge that may have occurred is properly detected and reported. Discharge inspections are performed whenever owners or operators report suspected or confirmed releases of petroleum product. During discharge inspections, the inspector, with the cooperation of the owner-operator, attempts to determine the source of the leak or spill, its severity and degree of threat to the environment, and to see that appropriate steps are undertaken to abate and contain the discharge and to repair the damaged components of the system. If violations cannot be resolved by the local program, then a case referral is made so that the FDEP can make a penalty assessment along with its other enforcement efforts. The range of penalties, depending on the extent of deviation from the requirements and the potential for harm to humans and the environment, is $100 to $10,000 per day per violation. Owners and operators need to plan for the next deadline for major upgrading. All systems must be upgraded by 12-31-09 in order to meet the required performance standards. If they are not, they must be permanently and properly closed in accordance with Rule 62-761.800(3), F.A.C. Petroleum Storage Tank Facility Inspection Guide FDEP Storage Tank Regulations