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What is a Stormwater Compliance Inspection?

Riverside County has been issued a state municipal stormwater permit. This permit requires stormwater pollution compliance inspections to be conducted at all retail gasoline stations, automotive body shops, automotive repair facilities, equipment rental yards, nurseries, kennels, automotive dealers, restaurants, other commercial and industrial businesses, and all General Industrial Stormwater Permit industries. A stormwater compliance inspection is an on-site evaluation of how business related functions such as process activities and the storage of outdoor equipment, material, and wastes are being managed in order to protect water quality. The evaluation also includes an assessment of the existence of other potential site pollutants including sediment, motor oil, grease, chemicals, food, animal waste and wastewater from cleaning activities.

An initial stormwater compliance inspection will be conducted to determine the business-facilities current stormwater compliance and to establish a facility priority classification and frequency for subsequent inspections. The initial inspection will be conducted by the Department of Building and Safety Environmental Compliance Division. Subsequent stormwater compliance inspections will be conducted based on the prioritization and frequency of inspection assigned.

If My Business Is Covered Under The State Of California's General Industrial Stormwater Permit Does My Business Still Require An Inspection?

Yes. Businesses that are covered under the State of California's General Industrial Stormwater Permit require business-facility stormwater compliance inspections. The inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with the County's Stormwater Management Ordinance. Inspectors will also verify that General Permitted businesses are in compliance with State-required Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans.

Will I be charged for the inspection?

Yes, all businesses will be required to pay an initial inspection deposit of $196.50. This deposit is based upon a one and a half hour inspection at the hourly inspection rate of $131 per hour, as established by County Ordinance. We will only use the amount of deposit necessary to conduct the inspection, any unused deposited fees will be returned upon completion of the inspection. The annual inspection program is based upon the facility priority classification and will require an annual deposit amount.

How often will my business be inspected for stormwater compliance?

After the initial stormwater quality inspection is complete, which is scheduled to begin in early fall, 2007 and the facility has been determined to be in compliance with all state and local stormwater quality requirements, the business-facility will receive a certificate of compliance from the Environmental Compliance Division. The certificate of compliance includes a low, medium or high facility priority classification which designates the site?s potential impact on water quality. Subsequent business-facility stormwater compliance inspections will be conducted based on the following schedule:

Low - priority classification businesses require a compliance inspection every 5 years

Medium - priority classification businesses require a compliance inspection every 2 years

High - priority classification businesses require a compliance inspection each year.

When will the stormwater compliance inspections begin?

Initial inspections will begin in early fall, 2007. Subsequent inspections are scheduled to begin in the spring, 2008 according to the above schedule.

What are typical areas that inspectors will look at during a stormwater compliance inspection?

Sources of stormwater pollution inspected include, but are not limited to the following:

Discharges from vehicles and equipment
Evidence of dumping materials and wastes
Oily service bays being washed out
Leakage from outdoor containers
Power washing discharges
Discharges of concrete, paint, automotive fluids
Mismanagement of hazardous wastes
Poor stormwater housekeeping practices
Uncovered or leaking dumpsters
Exposed process activities and equipment
Liquids and other materials stored outdoors
Sediment control from indoor and outdoor areas
Failure to maintain grease traps/ interceptors

What if my business activities are not exposed to stormwater? Am I still required to be inspected?

Yes. An initial inspection is required to verify that no stormwater exposure exists. Businesses that can demonstrate that they have no stormwater exposure during the first inspection - that is, facilities that have all process activities, equipment, storage, waste areas, loading and receiving areas, etc. under permanent cover, or indoors, will not be subject to further stormwater compliance inspections. Providing the County inspector with a copy of a No-exposure Certification filed with the State at the time of your initial stormwater compliance inspection will ensure that additional business-facility site inspections will not be required.

How can I prepare my business for inspection?

Start by familiarizing yourself with potential and actual sources of pollutants at your business and the locations of storm drains and nearby waterways that could receive drainage from your facility. Determine whether materials are being intentionally or accidentally discharged from your facility into the storm drainage system or local waterways. Consider what will happen to exposed pollutants when it rains at your facility; such as oil, grease, cement, sediment, chemicals, food waste, etc. that are either dumped or stored in outdoor, unprotected locations.

You can prepare your business for inspection by identifying changes that could be made at your facility to prevent pollutants from getting into the storm drainage system and local waters. Sometimes this can be as simple as keeping outdoor areas clean, or moving wastes to a covered storage area, or keeping dumpsters closed. Any action you take now will help you to be prepared.