Environmental Resources Management

10 Facts About Environmental Resources Management

1. Governing businesses to protect water quality has proven successful: The number of contaminated sites in drinking water wellfields is five times less than outside of these areas. Environmental Resources Management works with responsible parties to remediate groundwater contamination for the benefit of all residents. To maintain healthy systems and identify any potential threats to water quality, Environmental Resources Management also monitors our wellfields, Biscayne Bay and canals, conducting more than 43,000 analyses in 2010.
   
   
2. Environmental Resources Management responds annually to approximately 2,500 pollution and other environmental complaints from the public.
   
   
3. Less than 2 percent of environmentally regulated businesses are currently under enforcement action. The purpose of our programs and the culture of our employees are to help businesses and individuals comply.
   
   
4. Air quality permits and inspections reduce the amount of pollution in the air that we breathe. In the past, Miami-Dade's air quality did not meet standards set to protect human health, but this was reversed through air quality programs. Environmental Resources Management monitors and reports air quality and we now enjoy good to excellent ratings over 95 percent of the time. This is critical for people with respiratory conditions like asthma and exceptional for such a large metropolitan area.
   
   
5. Wetlands are protected for their inherent ability of directly re-charging and purifying our community's drinking water, providing flood management in low-lying areas and providing important wildlife habitat. Since 1999, more than 13,000 acres of wetlands impacts have been authorized. However, permitting has provided for restoration or enhancement of other wetlands to compensate for the impacts. Active efforts are taken to promote compliance with regulations, such as requiring the use of clean fill and appropriate management of stormwater. Only a relatively small fraction of all wetland parcels in Miami-Dade are affected by enforcement actions.
   
   
6. Residents saved over $23.4 million on flood insurance in 2009 due to the County's excellent FEMA rating. Environmental Resources Management plays an important role in improving and maintaining the local stormwater flood control system.
   
   
7. Maintaining a healthy tree canopy improves property values, helps clean our air, cools and beautifies our neighborhoods, and provides important habitat. Miami-Dade County has an estimated tree canopy of 14 percent, far short of the target of 30-40 percent for a metropolitan area. In the past two years, property owners applied for and received permits to remove 52 acres of tree canopy. However, permitting helps to assure that the most important trees are protected and provides for replacement of lost tree canopy.
   
   
8. Environmental Resources Management has created over 200 artificial reefs, restored more than 20 miles of beaches and bay shorelines and enhanced more than 500 acres of coastal habitats. These projects help to offset impacts of authorized coastal development. They reduce erosion and storm damage, improve water quality, enhance fisheries and wildlife habitat, and provide recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
   
   
9. As part of the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program. more than 20,000 acres of land have been acquired and are actively managed by Environmental Resources Management, preserving the heritage of South Florida's diverse wildlife, lush native plants and the serenity of natural settings for the enjoyment of future generations. Preserving environmentally endangered lands provides other public benefits, including drinking water recharge and reduced impacts from flooding.
   
   
10. Environmental Resources Management manages delegated federal and state programs providing the convenience of a one-stop process for approvals, which saves residents time and money.