Thank you for visiting the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County’s (EPC) website. Your privacy is very important to us. Our policy is to try not to collect personal information about you when you visit our website, except under limited circumstances described below; or unless you affirmatively choose to make such information available to us.

Documents Subject to Florida Record Laws

Pursuant to Florida Record Laws under Chapter 119, F.S.

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records.  If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity.  Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Additional documents subject to public records inspection upon demand, unless specifically exempted by Florida Statutes (F.S.), include but are not limited to: 

• Letters / Correspondence / Plans and Drawings;
• Investigation Reports;
• Information provided to EPC in connection with EPC business;
• Forms (including, but not limited to, applications, feedback forms, information request forms, etc.); or
• Other documents, whether initiated by a citizen, outside entity or organization, or EPC staff member.

Information Collected and Stored Automatically

When you visit our website, certain information is automatically collected and stored either through an analytics program, or through our website’s content management system.  This information includes:

• Internet domain and IP address;
• Browser type and operating system (OS) you used to access our site;
• Date and time you access our site;
• Search terms you used and pages you visit while on our site;
• Referrer website information, if you linked to EPC from another website; and
• Location.

Information collected and stored is used primarily to improve the content and overall user experience. 

Third-Party Links and Providers

There are links and pointers to third-party Internet websites contained within EPC's website.  For example, web-based applications and forms, such as the EPC’s “Report an Environmental Concern,” are processed through a third-party provider. 

Once you link to another site, you are subject to the privacy policy of the new site.  As such, sites that are linked from the EPC’s website are not under our control.  EPC and Hillsborough County do not assume any responsibility or liability for any information, communications or materials available at such linked sites, or at any link contained in a linked site.  EPC and Hillsborough County do not intend any third-party links to be considered referrals or endorsements of the linked entities, which are provided solely for user convenience.  Each individual site has its own set of privacy policies, which EPC encourages all users to read when exiting our website.  User assumes sole responsibility for use of third-party links and pointers.

If a visitor submits the “Report an Environmental Concern” form, the following is collected by the current third-party provider: 

• IP address;
• Browser type and operating system (OS); and
• Referrer address information, whenever a user submits EPC web-based forms.

Nonetheless, the third-party provider or its policies may change and thus what is collected may change.  Additionally, any optional information the visitor chooses to include in this form or other forms (name, e-mail, address, phone, etc.) is saved and may be a public record, unless otherwise exempted by Florida Statutes (F.S.).  Any other web-based form a visitor fills out may at a minimum capture the IP address.

Collection of Personal Information and Opt-Out

EPC collects the personal information of website visitors who voluntarily register for news and alert notifications.  Information collected may include name, e-mail and phone number. It is your choice to participate in our E-notification alert system. You may opt-out of E-notifications at any time.  

Phone System Information Capture

The EPC phone system captures incoming phone numbers and caller identification, whenever EPC’s main phone line, or any associated employee extension, is contacted by an outside phone line.  The information collected through this system is subject to Florida Record Laws under Chapter 119, F.S.

Liability and General Disclaimers

The EPC shall not be liable for damages of any kind which are, or may be, incurred by the use or access of any information contained in, or relating to, this website. 

Every effort has been made to offer the most current, correct, and clearly expressed information possible on our web pages.  Nevertheless, inadvertent errors in information may occur.  EPC and Hillsborough County disclaim any responsibility for typographical errors and accuracy of the information that may be contained on EPC web pages.  The information and data included in this website have been compiled by EPC staff from a variety of sources, and are subject to change without notice to the User. 

With respect to documents and information available from this site, the EPC makes no warranty, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use or inability to use the data; assumes no legal liability or responsibility regarding the quality, content, completeness, suitability, adequacy, sequence, accuracy, or timeliness of such information and data as provided; assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed; or represents that its use would not infringe upon privately owned rights.  Accordingly, information and materials provided on, or through, our website cannot be used to satisfy legal, or other mandatory, obligations.