§ 8-33. Inspections

(a) Scope of inspections.

(1) Right to inspect. Prior to commencing any inspection as herein below authorized, the authorized inspector shall obtain either the consent of the owner or occupant of the property or shall obtain an administrative inspection warrant or criminal search warrant.

(2) Entry to inspect. The authorized inspector may enter property to investigate the source of any discharge of any public street, inlet, gutter, storm drain or the stormwater drainage system located within the jurisdiction of the City of Costa Mesa.

(3) Compliance assessments. The authorized inspector may inspect property for the purpose of verifying compliance with this chapter, including but not limited to (i) identifying products produced, processes conducted, chemicals used and materials stored on or contained within the property, (ii) identifying point(s) of discharge of all wastewater, process water systems and pollutants, (iii) investigating the natural slope at the location, including drainage patterns and man-made conveyance systems, (iv) establishing the location of all points of discharge from the property, whether by surface runoff or through a storm drain system, (v) locating any illicit connection or the source of prohibited discharge, (vi) evaluating compliance with any permit issued pursuant to section 8-35 hereof, and (vii) investigating the condition of any legal nonconforming connection.

(4) Portable equipment. For purposes of verifying compliance with this chapter, the authorized inspector may inspect any vehicle, truck, trailer, tank truck or other mobile equipment.

(5) Records review. The authorized inspector may inspect all records of the owner or occupant of property relating to chemicals or processes presently or previously occurring on-site, including material and/or chemical inventories, facilities maps or schematics and diagrams, material safety data sheets, hazardous waste manifests, business plans, pollution prevention plans, state general permits, stormwater pollution prevention plans, monitoring program plans and any other record(s) relating to illicit connections, prohibited discharges, a legal nonconforming connection or any other source of contribution or potential contribution of pollutants to the stormwater drainage system.

(6) Sample and test. The authorized inspector may inspect, sample and test any area runoff, soils area (including groundwater testing), process discharge, materials within any storage area (including any container contents), and/or treatment system discharge for the purpose of determining the potential for contribution of pollutants to the stormwater drainage system. The authorized inspector may investigate the integrity of all storm drain and sanitary sewer systems, any legal nonconforming connection or other pipelines on the property using appropriate tests, including but not limited to smoke and dye tests or video surveys. The authorized inspector may take photographs or video tape, make measurements or drawings, and create any other record reasonably necessary to document conditions on the property.

(7) Monitoring. The authorized inspector may erect and maintain monitoring devices for the purpose of measuring any discharge or potential source of discharge to the stormwater drainage system.

(8) Test results. The owner or occupant of property subject to inspection shall, on submission of a written request, receive copies of all monitoring and test results conducted by the authorized inspector.

(Ord. No. 97-20, § 2, 9-21-97)