62-348.500. Conditions for Issuance

To obtain a permit under this chapter, an applicant must provide reasonable assurance that the construction, alteration, operation, maintenance, removal or abandonment of a surface water management system will meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Will meet the requirements of Chapters 62-330 and 62-345, F.A.C., for environmental resource permits, except for wetland mitigation requirements for high-quality peat extraction areas. Chapter 62-348, F.A.C., specifies alternative wetland mitigation requirements for high-quality peat extraction areas;

(2) Will not include extraction in the underlying clay, sand or rock strata; however, nothing herein shall preclude the applicant from proposing plans for the excavation of sand necessary for the construction of onsite access or drainage features provided the underlying sand stratum is restored using the excavated materials or other clean clay, sand or rock during reclamation;

(3) No portion of the extraction or mitigation area is part of an existing or proposed larger plan of development;

(4) No portion of the mine is located in a body of water designated as Outstanding Florida Waters;

(5) Will not include within the high-quality peat extraction area wetlands having a current condition score of greater than or equal to 0.80, as verified by the Department in accordance with the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method of Chapter 62-345, F.A.C.;

(6) No less than 80 percent of the peat to be extracted is high-quality peat and at least 80 percent of the high-quality peat will be used by the horticultural industry in products that incorporate other renewable or recycled materials to replace or reduce the use of natural peat; and

(7) Wetland mitigation will meet the design and technical criteria of Rule 62-348.600, F.A.C.

Rulemaking Authority 373.026(7), 373.043, 373.4131, 373.4145, 373.421, 403.805(1) FS. Law Implemented 373.042, 373.409, 373.413, 373.4131, 373.4142, 373.4145, 373.416, 373.426 FS. History–New 8-18-10, Amended 1-5-15.