The purpose of these rule amendments is to provide definitions for biomass permit and biomass planting, to add the language for biomass plantings within the purpose of Rule 5B-57.002, F.A.C., to add the following plants to the Noxious Weed List; ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

Division of Plant Industry

RULE NOS.: RULE TITLES:

5B-57.001 Definitions

5B-57.002 Purpose

5B-57.007 Noxious Weed List

5B-57.011 Biomass Planting

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of these rule amendments is to provide definitions for biomass permit and biomass planting, to add the language for biomass plantings within the purpose of Rule 5B-57.002, F.A.C., to add the following plants to the Noxious Weed List; Abrus precatorius, Ardisia elliptica, Casuarina equisetifolia, Casuarina glauca, Colubrina asiatica, Leucaena leucocephala, and Scaevola taccada and to provide specific requirements for issuing biomass permits. The effects of the amendments will make the Rules consistent with the provisions of Section 581.083(4), F.S., provide the authority for regulating several new plants known to be invasive noxious weeds and outlining specific procedures for obtaining permits to produce biomass plantings.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Cultivation of Nonnative Plants.

SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 570.07(13), (23) FS., 581.031(1) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 581.031(1), (4), (5), (6), (7) FS., 581.083 FS., 581.101 FS., 581.141 FS.

IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT IS: Richard Gaskalla, Director, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Room A116, 1911 S. W. 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32608, [phone]

 

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:

 

5B-57.001 Definitions.

For the purpose of this rule chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) through (3) No change.

(4) Biomass permit. A permit issued by the department authorizing a biomass planting.

(5) Biomass planting. The cultivation of a nonnative plant, including a genetically engineered plant for purposes of fuel production or purposes other than agriculture in plantings greater in size than two acres.

(4) through (16) renumbered (6) through (17) No change.

Specific Authority 570.07(13),(23) FS. Law Implemented 581.031(4),(5),(6), 581.083, 581.091 FS. History–New 7-27-93, Amended 4-18-04, ________.

 

5B-57.002 Purpose.

The purpose of this rule chapter is to control the introduction into, or movement or spread within this state of any plant pest, noxious weed, or arthropod, and to establish procedures under which the field release of plant pests, noxious weeds, arthropods, and biological control agents or biomass plantings are permitted. Such procedures will assist in confirming that introductions and field releases are conducted in a manner which provides for public and environmental protection.

Specific Authority 570.07(13),(23) FS. Law Implemented 581.031(4),(5),(6), 581.083, 581.091 FS. History–New 7-27-93, Amended ________.

 

5B-57.007 Noxious Weed List.

(1) Parasitic Weeds.

(a) Aeginetia spp. (Aeginetia).

(b) Alectra spp. (Alectra).

(c) Cuscuta spp. Only the native Florida species are excluded from this list. These include:

1. C. americana.

2. C. compacta.

3. C. exaltata.

4. C. gronovii.

5. C. indecora.

6. C. obtusiflora.

7. C. pentagona.

8. C. umbellata.

(d) Orobanche spp. (broomrapes), with the exception of:

1. O. uniflora. (oneflowered broomrape)

(2) Terrestrial Weeds.

(a) Ageratina adenophora (crofton weed).

(b) Alternanthera sessilis (sessile joyweed).

(c) Abrus precatorius (rosary pea).

(d) Ardisia elliptica (shoebutton ardisia).

(e)(c) Asphodelus fistulosus (onionweed).

(f)(d) Avena sterilis (including Avena budoviciana) (animated oat, wild oat).

(g)(e) Borreria alata (broadleaf buttonweed).

(h)(f) Carthamus oxyacantha (wild safflower).

(i) Casuarina equisetifolia (Australian pine).

(j) Casuarina glauca (suckering Australian pine).

(k)(g) Chrysopogon aciculatus (pilipiliula).

(l) Colubrina asiatica (latherleaf).

(m)(h) Commelina benghalensis (Benghal dayflower).

(n)(i) Crupina vulgaris (common crupina).

(o)(j) Cupaniopsis anacardioides (carrotwood) Propagation prohibited effective 7/1/99; sale or distribution prohibited 1/1/2001.

(p)(k) Digitaria scalarum (African couchgrass, fingergrass).

(q)(l) Digitaria velutina (velvet fingergrass, annual couchgrass).

(r)(m) Dioscorea alata (white yam).

(s)(n) Dioscorea bulbifera (air potato).

(t)(o) Drymaria arenarioides (lightning weed).

(u)(p) Emex australis (three-corner jack).

(v)(q) Emex spinosa (devil's thorn).

(w)(r) Euphorbia prunifolia (painted euphorbia).

(x)(s) Galega officinalis (goat's rue).

(y)(t) Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed).

(z)(u) Imperata brasiliensis (Brazilian satintail).

(aa)(v) Imperata cylindrica (cogongrass).

(bb)(w) Ipomoea triloba (little bell, aiea morning glory).

(cc)(x) Ischaemum rugosum (murainograss).

(dd)(y) Leptochloa chinensis (Asian sprangletop).

(ee) Leucaena leucocephala (lead tree).

(ff)(z) Lycium ferocissimum (African boxthorn).

(gg)(aa) Lygodium japonicum (Japanese climbing fern).

(hh)(bb) Lygodium microphyllum (small-leaved climbing fern).

(ii)(cc) Melaleuca quinquenervia (melaleuca). 1

(jj)(dd) Melastoma malabathricum (Indian rhododendron).

(kk)(ee) Mikania cordata (mile-a-minute).

(ll)(ff) Mikania micrantha (climbing hempweed).

(mm)(gg) Mimosa invisa (giant sensitive plant).

(nn)(hh) Mimosa pigra (catclaw mimosa). 1

(oo)(ii) Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock).

(pp)(jj) Neyraudia reynaudiana (Burma reed).

(qq)(kk) Opuntia aurantiaca (jointed prickly pear).

(rr)(ll) Oryza longistaminata (red rice).

(ss)(mm) Oryza punctata (red rice).

(tt)(nn) Oryza rufipogon (wild red rice).

(uu)(oo) Paederia cruddasiana (sewer-vine).

(vv)(pp) Paederia foetida (skunk-vine).

(ww)(qq) Paspalum scrobiculatum (Kodomillet).

(xx)(rr) Pennisetum clandestinum (Kikuyu grass).

(yy)(ss) Pennisetum macrourum (African feathergrass).

(zz)(tt) Pennisetum pedicellatum (Kyasuma grass).

(aaa)(uu) Pennisetum polystachyon (missiongrass, thin napiergrass).

(bbb)(vv) Prosopis spp.

(ccc)(ww) Pueraria montana (kudzu).

(ddd)(xx) Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (downy myrtle).

(eee)(yy) Rottboellia cochinchinensis (itchgrass).

(fff)(zz) Rubus fruticosus (bramble blackberry).

(ggg)(aaa) Rubus molluccanus (wild raspberry).

(hhh)(bbb) Saccharum spontaneum (wild sugarcane).

(iii)(ccc) Salsola vermiculata (wormleaf salsola).

(jjj)(ddd) Sapium sebiferum (Chinese tallow tree).

(kkk) Scaevola taccada (beach naupaka). Propagation prohibited immediately and distribution prohibited by July 1, 2007.

(lll)(eee) Schinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian pepper-tree). 1

(mmm)(fff) Setaria pallidefusca (cattail grass).

(nnn)(ggg) Solanum tampicense (wetland nightshade).

(ooo)(hhh) Solanum torvum (turkeyberry).

(ppp)(iii) Solanum viarum (tropical soda apple).

(qqq)(jjj) Tridax procumbens (coat buttons).

(rrr)(kkk) Urochloa panicoides (liverseed grass).

1Department of Environmental Protection permit required for these species.

Specific Authority 570.07(13),(23) FS. Law Implemented 581.031(4),(5),(6), 581.083, 581.091 FS. History–New 7-27-93, Amended 2-28-94, 6-30-96, 7-7-99, ________.

 

5B-57.011 Biomass Plantings.

(1) Biomass Permit Requirements. It shall be unlawful to establish a biomass planting greater in size than two contiguous acres except under a biomass permit (DACS 08382) issued by the department. No biomass permit shall be issued for any planting of plants on the state noxious weed list or the federal noxious weed list. No biomass permit shall be issued unless the applicant is the owner of the property or has written permission from the property owner to utilize the land for biomass plantings. Applications for biomass permits shall be made on form DACS 08381 and submitted to the Division of Plant Industry, P. O. Box 147100, Gainesville, FL 32614-7100. Separate applications for biomass permits shall be required for each noncontiguous growing location and must include a complete description of the nonnative plant to be grown and an estimated cost of removing and destroying the subject plant including the basis for calculating or determining that estimate. The applications must be submitted with the permit fee of $50 and proof that a bond in the form approved by the department and issued by a surety company admitted to do business in Florida or a certificate of deposit has been obtained as described in Section 581.083(4), F.S. Biomass permits are valid for a twelve-month period following the date of issue and must be renewed annually by the submission of another biomass permit application and $50 permit fee. The application forms can be obtained from the same address or from the Division of Plant Industry website, http:// www.doacs.state.fl.us/~pi/. In evaluating the permit application, the department shall visit the proposed growing location and determine if feasible measures can be taken to prevent the spread of the plant into neighboring ecosystems. The permit will include the following requirements as a minimum:

(a) A system of traps or filters shall be required to prevent plants or plant parts from spreading through ditches, natural waterways or other drainage.

(b) Measures will be required to prevent spread by seed.

(c) A fallow area, wide enough to prevent plant spread into adjacent areas, shall be required. The fallow area will be on both sides of a berm surrounding the biomass planting.

(d) Any equipment used on the site must be cleaned of all plant debris before being moved from the property.

(e) Wildfire protection measures will be required to mitigate fire risk and damages to surrounding areas.

(f) A compliance agreement (DACS 08383) containing any additional requirements needed to prevent plant spread shall be signed and will be an addendum to the permit. Failure to abide by the permit stipulations or the compliance agreement is considered to be a violation of these rules.

(2) Bonds or Certificates of Deposit. Each permit holder shall maintain for each separate growing location a bond or a certificate of deposit in an amount of not less than 150 percent of the estimated cost of removing and destroying the plants as described in Section 581.083(4), F.S. The bond or certificate of deposit may not exceed $5,000 per acre except as allowed by statute.

(3) Abandoned Biomass Plantings. It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon a biomass planting. It is the responsibility of the property owner or permit holder to completely destroy the planting prior to vacating the property or stopping commercial production. If the department determines that the permit holder is no longer maintaining or cultivating the plants subject to the special permit and has not removed and destroyed the plants authorized by the special permit or has exceeded the conditions of the biomass permit, the department shall take action to initiate the removal of the plants through the issuance of an immediate final order and execution of the bond or certificate of deposit as described in Section 581.083(4), F.S.

(4) Exemptions. A biomass permit is not required for plants produced for purposes of agriculture as defined in Section 570.02(1), F.S. or if the department in consultation with the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has determined that the nonnative plant is not invasive and specifically exempts it in this rule. The following plants or groups of plants are exempt:

(a) Any plant that is produced for purposes of human food consumption

(b) Any plant that is commonly grown for commercial feed, feedstuff or forage for livestock

(c) Pinus spp.

Specific Authority 570.07(13),(23) FS. Law Implemented 581.031(4),(5),(6), 581.083, 581.091 FS. History–New________.