Rancho Cordova Municipal Code Art. IV Inspection And Monitoring

A. Prior to commencing any inspection authorized pursuant to this section, the administrator shall obtain the consent of the owner or occupant of the premises, or an administrative inspection warrant. Routine or area inspections shall be based upon such reasonable selection processes as may be deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of this chapter, including, but not limited to, random sampling, sampling in areas with evidence of storm water contamination, illicit connections, discharge of non-storm water to the city MS4 or similar factors.

B. The administrator may enter upon private property to investigate the source of any discharge to any public street, inlet, gutter, storm drain or the city's storm water conveyance system. Routine or area inspections shall be based upon such reasonable selection processes as may be deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of this chapter, including, but not limited to, random sampling, sampling in areas with evidence of storm water contamination, illicit connections, discharge of non-storm water to the city MS4 or similar factors.

C. The administrator may enter upon private property for the purpose of verifying compliance with the provisions of this chapter, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Identifying products produced, processes conducted, chemicals used, and materials stored on or contained within the property;

2. Identifying point(s) of discharge of all wastewater, process water systems, pollutants, and other discharges from the property;

3. Investigating the natural slope of the premises, including drainage patterns and artificial conveyance systems;

4. Establishing the location of all points of discharge from the property, whether by surface runoff or through a storm drain;

5. Locating any illicit connection or the source of any prohibited non-storm water discharge; and

6. Evaluating implementation of BMPs.

D. For purposes of verifying compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the administrator may inspect any vehicle, truck, trailer, tank truck or other mobile equipment, or any stationary equipment, which may reasonably be believed to be used by the business for business-related activities and to be associated with industrial sources of pollutants or with non-storm water discharges.

E. The administrator may inspect all records of the owner or occupant of any premises relating to chemicals or processes presently or previously occurring on site, including materials and/or chemical inventories, facilities maps or schematics or diagrams, material safety data sheets, hazardous waste manifests, business plans, pollution prevention plans, state general permits, monitoring program plans or any other records relating to illicit connections, prohibited discharges or the potential discharge of pollutants to the city MS4. In addition, the administrator may require the owner or occupant to furnish, within a reasonable time period, copies of all such records listed in this section.

F. The administrator may inspect, sample, and test any area runoff, soils area (including any groundwater testing), process discharge, materials within any waste storage area (including any container contents), and/or treatment system discharge for the purpose of determining the potential for the contribution of pollutants to the city MS4. The administrator may investigate the integrity and layout of all storm drain and sanitary sewer systems or other pipelines on the premises using appropriate tests, including, but not limited to, smoke and dye tests or video surveys. The administrator may take photographs or videotape, make measurements or drawings, and create any other record reasonably necessary to document conditions on the premises.

G. The administrator may erect and maintain monitoring and sampling devices for measuring any discharge or potential source of discharge to the city MS4.

(Ord. 41-2004 § 2; Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A))

The administrator shall collect such fees as may be authorized by the city council, to provide for the recovery of regulatory costs, including routine inspections and other regulatory functions associated with this chapter. Failure of any person or entity to pay required fees within the time period set in the policy established by the administrator shall be a violation of this chapter. There shall be no fee assessed to appeal the determination that a person or entity conducts any subject activity. Any such fees shall be established by resolution of the city council and shall be in accordance with all other applicable legal requirements.

(Formerly 15.12.350; Ord. 41-2004 § 2; Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A))