South District Compliance Assurance Program

Compliance is a priority for DEP because it is key to protecting Florida's public health and the environment.

DEP takes a proactive approach to protecting Florida’s environment through education and outreach. DEP’s overall high compliance rate demonstrates that its proactive approach to protecting Florida’s environment is working. The department’s first goal is to prevent environmental harm from occurring by using outreach to ensure facilities understand how to maintain compliance. Compliance means that regulated businesses and facilities are following the law and adhering to permit conditions, which helps to prevent environmental harm. When non-compliance does occur, the department provides compliance assistance to help bring a facility back into compliance as quickly as possible, preventing and reducing any harm to the environmental or public health. However, when enforcement is necessary, action is taken to hold violators accountable.

The South District's Compliance Assurance Program's responsibilities include:

• Oversee compliance with environmental laws in multiple areas (air, waste, water and state lands)
• Conduct inspections to determine the compliance status of regulated facilities
• Provide the regulated community with compliance assistance
• Promote high compliance rates through outreach activities
• Respond to complaints and citizen inquiries both timely and effectively
• Enforce environmental laws fairly and consistently to protect human health and the environment
• Provide Florida's residents, businesses and visitors with the highest customer service