The DEP Southwest District regulates industrial wastewater facilities in Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties. The Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission permits industrial wastewater treatment facilities that do not discharge to surface water bodies.
The DEP Southwest District regulates domestic wastewater facilities in the following counties: Citrus, Hardee, Hernando*, Hillsborough**, Manatee, Pasco*, Pinellas and Polk.
Southwest District Domestic Wastewater Contact
The DEP Southwest District regulates potable water systems in the following counties: Citrus, Hardee, Hernando*, Manatee, Pasco* and Pinellas.
*The Hernando and Pasco County utility departments permit the construction of water distribution mains in their counties that are 12 inches or less in diameter and that will distribute drinking water from county-owned drinking water facilities.
The Southwest District Storage Tank Program handles compliance, enforcement, technical assistance and contract management relating to tank systems that store regulated substances. Specific activities conducted by district staff are:
1) Underground and above ground storage tank (Chapters 62-761 and 62-762, F.A.C.) inspections at facilities owned by contracted counties;
2) Discharge prevention and response (Chapter 62S-6, F.A.C.) inspections;
3) Enforcement for non-compliant facilities, including enforcement referrals from the contracted counties;
The Submerged Lands Environmental Resource Coordination (SLERC) regulates activities involving the alteration of surface water flows. This includes new activities in uplands that generate stormwater runoff from upland construction, as well as dredging and filling in wetlands and other surface waters. Environmental Resource Permit applications are processed by either the department or one of the state's water management districts, in accordance with the division of responsibilities specified in operating agreements between the department and the water management districts. The SLERC Program
Southwest District Air Resource Management administers the state of Florida’s ambient air pollution control programs and implements the Federal Clean Air Act and state of Florida statutes in eight counties (Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk).
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