Environmental Compliance Division

What is Environmental Compliance?

The definition of environmental compliance is to conform to any environmental regulations, laws plus any other regulations or standards. You may believe this sounds rather complicated but it’s not. In fact, it’s nothing more than what you should be doing already to be running your company legally. In recent years environmental compliance has become a big concern and it will only get bigger as concerns for the environment grow. Corporations and businesses have therefore got to be more cautious than ever before, especially since the stringency and number of environmental standards have increased recently. 

At the City of Hallandale, Environmental Compliance means training, auditing, recordkeeping, managing environmental programs, responding to public complaints that affect the environment, its natural resources, and inhabitants, to maintain local and federal compliance to avoid penalties. 

Click here for tips on how to stay environmentally compliant.

Contact Us

  1. Jocelyn Brown

    Environmental Compliance Manager
    Phone: 954-457-3016
    More Information

Complaints

“If you see something, say something!”

Although we are a small Department (1 Manager and 1 Specialist) we are passionate about the protection of our natural resources and will IMMEDIATELY (with 24 hrs) respond to any environmental-related complaints and enforce as applicable. You can report an environmental concern using the following platform: https://www.hallandalebeachfl.gov/1287/Report-a-Concern

The following are examples of environmental issues that warrant further investigation:

  • Excessive use of water (i.e.: leaving water faucets on long periods of time)
  • Illicit discharges to open waters (i.e. gray water from boats, chemical release to storm drains and the environment)
  • Irrigating for long periods during drought conditions,
  • Irrigation water through spray heads not targeted to vegetated areas but to impervious surfaces such as paved streets and concrete sidewalks,
  • Changing oils in streets without a catch pan and allowing to drain into storm drain,
  • Washing a vehicle over storm drain,
  • Business draining unknown liquid into storm drain without pre-treating this liquid,
  • Storing chemicals outside with no containment to capture spills and no overhead protection from rain and sun that can destroy metals and cause containers to leak,
  • Using a residential backyard as a landfill or a junkyard to receive waste for business,
  • Dumping large amounts of cooking grease into a sewer or storm drain,
  • Painting outside on or near a storm drain

*When completing the complaint form, please provide your name and correct contact information so that we can contact you if we need additional information to conduct a thorough investigation.

Remember, our natural resources are for us to protect because we need them to survive! Let us all do our part with protecting these natural resources that are slowly degrading and depleting.

Managed Programs

Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA)

What is EPCRA? 

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 was created to help communities plan for chemical emergencies. It also requires industry to report on the storage, use and releases of hazardous substances to federal, state, and local governments. EPCRA requires state and local governments, and Indian tribes to use this information to prepare for and protect their communities from potential risks.

Under EPCRA, the City is required to prepare a TIER II Report. What is TIER II reporting? Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) was created to protect communities from the health and environmental hazards associated with hazardous chemicals.  Under Section 312 of the Act, regulated industries must file an annual Tier II report with the SERC, LEPC, and local fire department for hazardous and/or extremely hazardous substances stored, used, or manufactured on site for more than a 24 hour period at any time during the previous calendar year.  The deadline for filing a Tier II report for the previous year is March 1st. The fees assessed for Tier II facilities by State of Florida provide funding for new and ongoing emergency planning initiatives. 

Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG Program)

Fats, oils, and greases (FOG) means all organic polar compounds derived from animal and/or plant sources that contain multiple carbon chain triglyceride molecules. These substances are detectable and measurable using analytical test procedures established in 40 CFR 136, as may be amended from time to time. All are sometimes referred to herein as "grease" or "greases."

The Fats, Oils and Grease Program is an extension of the NPDES (explained below) Program to prevent sanitary sewer overflows that can runoff into receiving bodies of water and contaminate ecological habitats and drinking water supplies. The program specifically targets restaurants and any business that prepares food in large quantities. 

How does preparing food cause problems to the sewer?

If large amounts of Fats, Oils and Grease enter sewer lines and drains, over time this oily substance will stick to the inside of the pipes and harden, thus reducing the capacity of the pipe and restricting the flow of sewer, resulting in an overflow. 

Below is a section of pipe affected by FOG:

Pipe clogged with solid fats oils and grease

This program is new to the City of Hallandale, but not new to neighboring cities. It is designed for wastewater treatment Control Authorities to be proactive in preventing SSOs because if there are too many SSOs, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will levy penalties by monetary fines and order the City to implement the program. 

Before the program is implemented, the City will notify all restaurants and businesses that prepare large amounts of food with an introductory letter prior to conducting formal inspections to determine program compliance. 

The City’s FOG Ordinance can be found under Chapter 30. Utilities, Article IV. – Sewer Services, Division 2. – Fats, Oils and Grease Program: https://library.municode.com/fl/hallandale_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH30UT_ARTIVSESE_DIV2FAOIGRPR

Hazardous Waste Management - Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA)

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the public law that creates the framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. The law describes the waste management program mandated by Congress that gave EPA authority to develop the RCRA program. The term RCRA is often used interchangeably to refer to the law, regulations and EPA policy and guidance. 

There are three (3) hazardous waste generator status:

1. Very Small Quantity Generator - Very small quantity generator is a generator that generates less than or equal to the following amounts in a calendar month:

  1. 100 kilograms (220 lbs) of non-acute hazardous waste; and 
  2. 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) of acute hazardous waste listed in §261.31 or §261.33(e) of this chapter; and 
  3. 100 kilograms (220 lbs) of any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill, into or on any land or water, of any acute hazardous waste listed in §261.31 or §261.33(e) of this chapter.

 

2. Small Quantity Generator is a generator that generates the following amounts in a calendar month: 

  1. Greater than 100 kilograms (220 lbs) but less than 1,000 kilograms (2200 lbs) of non-acute hazardous waste; and 
  2. Less than or equal to 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) of acute hazardous waste listed in §261.31 or §261.33(e) of this chapter; and 
  3. Less than or equal to 100 kilograms (220 lbs) of any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill, into or on any land or water, of any acute hazardous waste listed in §261.31 or §261.33(e) of this chapter.

3. Large Quantity Generator is a generator that generates and of the following amounts in a calendar month:

  1. Greater than or equal to 1,000 kilograms (2200 lbs) of non-acute hazardous waste; or 
  2. Greater than 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) of acute hazardous waste listed in §261.31 or §261.33(e) of this chapter; or 
  3. Greater than 100 kilograms (220 lbs) of any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill, into or on any land or water, of any acute hazardous waste listed in §261.31 or §261.33(e) of this chapter.

The City’s Public Works Department accepts Household Hazardous Waste on a quarterly basis, which is covered under Chapter 32 – Zoning and Land Development, Article IV – Development Standards - Division 18. Solid Waste Disposal, Section 32-641. Hazardous Waste 

DIVISION 18. - SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL | Code of Ordinances | Hallandale Beach, FL | Municode Library

Household Hazardous Waste Program rules are found here: 

Household hazardous waste water bill insert (hallandalebeachfl.gov)

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Program regulates point source discharges from three potential sources: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), construction activities and industrial activities. The NPDES Stormwater Program in Tallahassee is responsible for the development, administration and compliance of rules and policy to minimize and prevent pollutants in stormwater discharges. Operators of these sources may be required to obtain an NPDES permit before they can discharge stormwater.

Stormwater runoff is generated from rain events that flow over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground. The runoff picks up pollutants like trash, chemicals, oils, and dirt/sediment that can harm our rivers, streams and lakes. To protect these resources, municipalities, construction and industries activities, and others use stormwater controls, known as Best Management Practices (BMPs), to manage their runoff. The implementation of these practices, which include BMP design, performance and adaptive management requirements, prevent pollution by controlling it at its source.

 

At the City of Hallandale Beach, there are a few ordinances that are enacted to protect against water pollution and runoff.

Sec. 13-1. Prohibitions against water and air pollution generally

Sec. 13-5- Our local Coral Reef Protection Act

Sec. 13-10 – Prohibition on distribution, sale or use of plastic beverage straws- Chapter 13 - HEALTH AND SANITATION | Code of Ordinances | Hallandale Beach, FL | Municode Library