40E-63.402. Definitions

(1) “Best Management Practice (BMP)” means a practice or combination of practices determined by the District, in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) and FDACS, based on research, field testing, and expert review, to be the most effective and practicable on-location means, including economical and technological considerations, of improving water quality in agricultural and urban discharges to a level that balances water quality improvements, and agricultural productivity, as applicable.

(2) “BMP Plan” means a combination of BMPs that meets, but is not limited to, the requirements of Rules 40E-63.435 and 40E-63.437, F.A.C., as determined by the District.

(3) “BMP equivalent point” means the numerical value assigned to a BMP as provided in Appendix B1 (incorporated by reference in subsection 40E-63.435(1), F.A.C.). The points are used for regulatory permit review to ensure a comparable level of effort in BMP implementation among permittees. The points are an indication of relative BMP effectiveness. The points were based on expert review, technical publications, best professional judgment, and cooperative workshops with stakeholders.

(4) “C-139 Basin” means those lands described in the EFA, Section 373.4592(16), F.S. or lands outside those boundaries which discharge to the C-139 Basin or to the canals or structures described in subsection 40E-63.401(1), F.A.C.

(5) “Demonstration project” means an investigation based on technical information to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of best management practices techniques offering phosphorus reduction benefits. Criteria to be considered by the District for review are described in subsection 40E-63.437(3) and Rule 40E-63.438, F.A.C.

(6) “Discharge” means any surface water runoff generated by rainfall, irrigation, or seepage flowing off-site from a land area. Runoff may occur through a structure (pump or gravity) or may flow as uncontrolled discharge from a land area.

(7) “Nutrient control practices” means a category of BMPs that minimizes nutrient input and the movement of nutrients off-site by efficient and controlled application of nutrients (e.g., organic and chemical fertilizers, soil amendments, and residuals).

(8) “Parcel” means a contiguous land area identified in the county tax rolls under common ownership.

(9) “Particulate matter and sediment control practices” means a category of BMPs that minimizes the movement off-site of nutrients in particulate matter and sediments by controlling the amount of eroded soil and plant matter in discharges.

(10) “Permit basin” means a parcel or group of parcels served by one or more discharge structures that collectively represent all of the discharge from that area of land. A permit may have one or more permit basins. The boundaries of a permit basin are determined by the District based on available hydrologic data to define, to the extent practicable, the land area discharging to each sub-basin.

(11) “Structure” means a structural device or hydrologic feature (e.g. pump, culvert, open connection, land surface grading, ditch) that water flows through or across and is ultimately discharged/directed from a permit basin to a receiving water body.

(12) “Sub-basin” is an area of land determined by the District to represent all discharges to District monitoring locations based upon hydrologic mapping, and permittee submitted information, as represented in Appendix B3.1 “Permittee Annual Phosphorus Load Determination Based on Sub-basin Monitoring and the Permit Basin Discharge Monitoring Program”, dated November 2010, incorporated by reference in paragraph 40E-63.446(2)(a), F.A.C.

(13) “Verification plan” means a water quality monitoring program to verify the expected effectiveness of a BMP Plan or proposed water quality improvement activities in accordance with subsection 40E-63.461(4), F.A.C.

(14) “Water management practices” means a category of BMPs that minimizes the quantity and improves the quality of off-site discharges which carry nutrients downstream. BMPs for water management include discharge and irrigation management practices to reduce runoff.

(15) “Water management system” means the collection of devices, improvements or natural systems whereby surface waters are conveyed, controlled, impounded, or obstructed. For water management systems serving multiple entities, dams, impoundments, reservoirs and their structures and canals are referred to as the common facilities.

(16) “Water quality improvement activities” means a combination of modifications to a BMP Plan proposed by a permittee to meet the required total phosphorus reduction requirements of Appendix B3.2. (incorporated by reference in paragraph 40E-63.446(2)(a), F.A.C.). Improvement activities may include revising implementation methods to increase the effectiveness of existing BMPs or implementing additional BMPs.

(17) “Water year” or “WY” means the 12-month period beginning on May 1 and ending on the following April 30.

Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113, 373.4592 FS. Law Implemented 373.016, 373.085, 373.086, 373.451, 373.453, 373.4592(4)(f) FS. History–New 1-24-02, Amended 11-9-10.