Florida Statutes 252.942 – Inspections and audits
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(1)(a) Any duly authorized representative of the division may at any reasonable time enter to inspect and audit, in order to ascertain compliance with this part or rules adopted to implement this part, any specified stationary source subject to the requirements of s. 112(r)(7), except a building that is used exclusively for a private residence.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 252.942
- Accidental release: means an unanticipated emission of a regulated substance into the ambient air from a stationary source. See Florida Statutes 252.936
- Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
- Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
- Audit: means a review of information at, or submitted by, a stationary source subject to…. See Florida Statutes 252.936
- Commission: means the State Emergency Response Commission for Hazardous Materials created by Executive Order 94-138. See Florida Statutes 252.936
- Division: means the Division of Emergency Management in the Executive Office of the Governor. See Florida Statutes 252.936
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Inspection: means a review of information at a stationary source subject to…. See Florida Statutes 252.936
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Owner or operator: means any person who owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises any stationary source subject to…. See Florida Statutes 252.936
- Person: means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, state or any agency or institution thereof, municipality, political subdivision of the state, and any agency, department, or instrumentality of the United States, and any officer, agent, or employee thereof, and, for the purposes of…. See Florida Statutes 252.936
- Process: means a process as that term is defined under Florida Statutes 252.936
- Risk Management Plan: means the Risk Management Plan required under…. See Florida Statutes 252.936
- Stationary source: means any buildings, structures, equipment, installations, or regulated substance emitting stationary activities which belong to the same industrial group, which are located on one or more contiguous properties, which are under the control of the same person (or persons under common control), and from which an accidental release may occur. See Florida Statutes 252.936
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- writing: includes handwriting, printing, typewriting, and all other methods and means of forming letters and characters upon paper, stone, wood, or other materials. See Florida Statutes 1.01
(b) Any duly authorized representative may at any reasonable time have access to any specified stationary source subject to s. 112(r)(7) for inspection and copying any supporting documentation required under this part.
(c) A person may not refuse reasonable entry or access to any authorized representative of the division who requests entry for purposes of inspection and who presents appropriate credentials; nor shall any person obstruct, hamper, or interfere with such inspection.
(2) An inspection or audit under subsection (1) may be conducted only after:
(a) Consent for the inspection is received from the owner, operator, or person in charge; or
(b) The appropriate inspection warrant as provided in this section is obtained.
(3)(a) An inspection warrant as authorized by this chapter may be issued by a judge of any county court or circuit court of this state which has jurisdiction over the place or thing to be searched.
(b) When a proper affidavit is made, the judge may issue an inspection warrant if:
1. It appears that the properties to be inspected may be connected with or contain evidence of the violation of any of the provisions of this part or any rule properly promulgated thereunder; or
2. The inspection sought is an integral part of a larger scheme of systematic routine inspections that are necessary to, and consistent with, the continuing efforts of the division to ensure compliance with the provisions of this part and any rules adopted thereunder.
(c) The judge shall, before issuing the warrant, have the application for the warrant duly sworn to and subscribed by a representative of the division; and he or she may receive further testimony from witnesses, supporting affidavits, or depositions in writing to support the application. The affidavit and further proof must set forth the facts tending to establish the grounds specified in paragraph (b) or the reasons for believing that such grounds exist.
(d) Upon examination of the application and proofs submitted and if satisfied that cause exists for issuing the inspection warrant, the judge shall issue a warrant, signed by him or her with the name of his or her office, to any division representative, which warrant will authorize the representative to inspect the property described in the warrant.
(4) The division shall periodically audit Risk Management Plans submitted by owners or operators of stationary sources subject to s. 112(r)(7) and require revisions of such plans when necessary to ensure compliance with this part. The audit and revision requirements must substantially comply with federal regulations implementing s. 112(r)(7). The division shall develop, with the advice and consent of the commission, an annual audit work plan which identifies specified stationary sources or audits based on the program resources available. Stationary sources will be prioritized for audits based on factors which include, but are not limited to, stationary source location and proximity to population centers, chemical characteristics and inventories, stationary source accident history, process accident history, compliance or inspection by allied agency programs, and the results of stationary sources’ self-audits.
(5) Upon request, owners or operators of specified stationary sources subject to s. 112(r)(7) shall receive an oral exit interview at the conclusion of an inspection or audit.
(6) Following an audit or inspection, the division shall issue the owner or operator a written preliminary determination of any necessary revisions to the stationary source Risk Management Plan to ensure that the plan meets the requirements of this part and rules adopted to implement this part. The preliminary determination must include an explanation of the basis for the revisions, reflecting industry standards and guidelines to the extent that such standards and guidelines are applicable, and must include a timetable for their implementation.
(7) The division shall provide reasonable notice of its intent to conduct an onsite inspection or audit of a specified stationary source. Inspections or audits may be conducted without notice in response to an accidental release or to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.