EPC Rule Amendments
EPC conducted several rule workshops, both online and in person, to discuss proposed amendments and to solicit public comment regarding proposed changes to its Noise Pollution and Waste Management Rules. The proposed rule amendments were subsequently adopted by the EPC Commission. Jeff Sims, Air Division (left photo), discusses proposed rule changes at an in-person Noise Rule Public Workshop with attendees (right photo).
EPC recently adopted amendments to its Noise Pollution Rule (Chapter 1-10, Rules of the EPC), which are aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and clarity of noise regulations in Hillsborough County. The amendments focused on clarifying definitions and formatting to make it easier to understand for both residents and businesses. In response to specific monitoring challenges the Agency faced within the City of Tampa, the EPC clarified and redefined exempted areas where noise results from entertainment and incorporated detailed maps that delineate the noise-exempted areas. EPC and City of Tampa will continue to operate with concurrent jurisdiction to investigate and respond to noise concerns throughout the City that occur outside of the specified exempted areas. These amendments additionally bring the Agency’s Noise Rule into closer alignment with Hillsborough County noise ordinances for more consistency.
The EPC’s Waste Management Rule (Chapter 1-7, Rules of the EPC) was last revised in 2002. The 2023 amended Rule adoption provides greater specificity and clarity within several Rule sections, incorporates corrected references to State regulations, adds exemption criteria for a specific solid waste management facility type, and codifies the Agency’s allowance of the unregulated reuse of processed yard trash (mulch) for certain applications. These amendments are intended to make it easier for staff and the regulated public to manage solid and hazardous waste by providing a clearer and more navigable Waste Management Rule that addresses: the applicable management of solid and hazardous waste, the proper operation and maintenance of solid waste management facilities, and the responsible development and redevelopment of impacted properties in Hillsborough County.
Community Outreach and Engagement
Education, Outreach, and Special Events
 EPC proudly supports science and education for students of all ages. This December, EPC Executive Director Janet Lorton was invited to a ceremony where McDonald Elementary School was awarded the Florida Association for Water Quality Control Environmental Education Grant. In addition, the first student cohort of the Environmental Workforce Training Program at the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC of Tampa) celebrated their graduation, which was attended by EPC staff. An EPA Brownfields Grant was awarded to the CDC of Tampa last year to train approximately 200 students for placement in environmental jobs. EPC wishes the school and these graduates all the best with their future environmental endeavors!
 Fall is the perfect season for festivals and fairs! EPC provided helpful outreach to citizens at our booths during the annual Wonders of Wildlife Festival, the YES! Fair, and the Florida Birding and Nature Festival. These well-attended community events are fun for the whole family.
 During November, Air Division staff joined with the EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection for a special Temple Terrace Community Meeting to discuss ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions and observed Florida's first-ever test flight of an electric vertical takeoff and landing plane, aka electric air taxi. The event was hosted by the Tampa International Airport and Volocopter.
EPC Attorney Andrew Zodrow served as a panelist for the Stetson Environmental Law Society in October and spoke to visitors at the Hillsborough County Bar Association's Pro Bono Law Fair.
EPC staff gave a presentation about wetland regulations and the development of properties to a University of South Florida Real Estate Development class of about 20 college students in October. Staff additionally talked to 225 elementary and middle school students about our Agency and the importance of protecting our environment during the November Great American Teach-In.
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EPC hosted the annual Florida Fats, Oil, and Grease (FOG) Conference on August 3-4, 2023. The workshop included about 100 representatives from municipal, utility, and regulatory organizations from around the State and keynote speakers from outside of Florida. Improper disposal of commercial and residential FOG are major contributors to sewage overflows. The conference has become a valuable networking opportunity for counties and cities to present and discuss the concerns with containment and disposal of FOG. Visit Hillsborough County - Cooking Oil Recycling Effort (C.O.R.E.) to learn more about how to recycle these materials.
 The Florida Chamber of Commerce conducts the Environmental Permitting Summer School each year, providing a platform for over 1000 attendees including attorneys, consultants, engineers, state and local government officials, developers, and landowners to discuss important environmental issues facing Florida. The event covers a wide range of topics such as environmental, energy, and growth management laws, rules, and programs.
Port Tampa Bay invited EPC to join with them and other Port Tampa Bay partners to speak at a special environmental-themed harbor tour held aboard the Yacht Starship. During the event, Executive Director Janet Lorton and staff shared information about our Agency with the media and guests. Approximately 300 members of the public joined the tour, which focused on encouraging environmental stewardship and promoting collaboration for the protection of local natural resources.
Employee Spotlight
Lora and Sterlin Woodard: Engineering a Legacy
Lora Chennault Woodard and Sterlin Keith Woodard, a power couple in every sense, recently bid farewell to their remarkable careers as Professional Engineers, leaving behind a combined legacy of 61 years of dedicated service to the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) and the citizens of Hillsborough County. As they begin their retirement together, we celebrate the lasting impact of their exceptional work on the environment and the community.
Lora, a Tampa native, was the first African American female to graduate with a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Central Florida in 1986. She also served as a pioneer for women working for Hillsborough County Government when she became EPC’s first female African American Professional Engineer. Lora’s over 28-year career path at EPC began as a design engineer and eventually led to her selection as the lead engineer for the Agency’s Domestic Wastewater Collection System Permitting Program. Her expertise extended to environmental permitting, overseeing projects like the County’s first vacuum sewer system, and the expansion of the largest wastewater treatment facility in Odessa. Lora additionally chaired the Agency’s Engineering Group, enhancing collaboration and knowledge-sharing among EPC engineers. Her tireless efforts earned her the Agency’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a fitting tribute to her outstanding contributions.
Sterlin, born in Tallahassee and raised in Winter Haven, is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Florida and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of South Florida. Sterlin left an indelible mark on air quality regulation during his 33-year tenure as an engineer at the EPC. Sterlin's leadership resulted in the achievement of significant environmental regulatory milestones through the implementation of compliance and enforcement initiatives in Hillsborough County. These initiatives included local Natural Gas repowering; the application of state-of-the-art local noise regulation efficiencies and noise monitoring technological improvements; and enhanced online access to EPC’s lead (Pb) monitoring data and review of contingency measures designed to bring lead (Pb) emission levels from a local battery recycling facility into compliance. Sterlin served as the EPC’s first African American Director when he was selected to lead the Air Division. Furthermore, under his expert leadership, Hillsborough County ultimately achieved attainment for all the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) following 40 years of progressive regulation. Recognized with the EPC Lifetime Achievement Award, Sterlin leaves behind a legacy of protecting natural resources for the citizens of Hillsborough County.
As Lora and Sterlin transition into retirement, their influence on the environment and the community remains integral to the Agency’s history. Their dedicated commitment to environmental protection influenced the development of policies and regulations, motivated the next generation of engineers to carry on the vital task of resource conservation, and had a positive impact on the environmental landscape of Hillsborough County.
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