Review and assessment of the construction site runoff inspection and enforcement program of a municipal stormwater management program: City of Miami Beach, Florida

Pollutants carried by stormwater and other runoff can negatively impact flora and fauna in aquatic environments and can affect the health of nearby urban residents and its recreational users. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program seeks to improve water quality by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. For the City of Miami Beach, construction sites are recognized as a particular concern because soil disturbance activities exacerbate erosion processes and increase sediment runoff into the waters of Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, which is designated as an Outstanding Florida Water by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. One requirement of the City’s NPDES permit is the development of a Construction Site Runoff Inspection and Enforcement Program and a written plan that includes a construction site inspection schedule, criteria for prioritization and frequency of inspections, and standard operating procedures for conducting inspections and for enforcing non-compliance. Past NPDES Annual Reports submitted by the City have alluded to potential deficiencies in the written plan for this program. This study conducted a review of the NPDES requirements and compared them to the City’s standard operating procedures and actual practices of construction site run-off inspections. The results of this assessment were then used to develop recommendations that will ensure greater control of reporting and tracking processes, the inclusion of more accurate information in the City’s future NPDES Annual Reports, and improved water quality for the residents and visitors who live, work, and play in the City of Miami Beach