To develop a generic permit for pollutant discharges to surface waters of the state from the application of pesticides. On January 7, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit Court, in National Cotton Council v. EPA, vacated an EPA rule ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Rule No.: RULE TITLE
62-621.300: Permits
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To develop a generic permit for pollutant discharges to surface waters of the state from the application of pesticides. On January 7, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit Court, in National Cotton Council v. EPA, vacated an EPA rule that exempted pesticide applications to surface waters from the need to obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits under the Clean Water Act. On June 8, 2009, the Sixth Circuit Court granted EPA a two-year stay of their mandate and established April 9, 2011 as the effective date. On June 4, 2010, the EPA published a draft NPDES General Permit (called Generic Permits or GP in Florida) for pollutant discharges from the application of pesticides that will be applicable in unauthorized states and tribal lands. Authorized states are required to have an NPDES pesticides program in place and issue permits by the April 9, 2011 court deadline. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is proposing to develop and adopt a Florida GP that follows the EPA NPDES GP template but will address Florida’s specific needs.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Generic Permit coverage for pollutant discharges to surface waters of the State from the application of pesticides.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 403.061, 403.087, 403.088, 403.0885 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 403.061, 403.087, 403.088, 403.0885 FS.
A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: DEP Central District Office, 3319 Maguire Blvd., Lexington Building, Suite 232, Orlando, Florida 32803
DATE AND TIME: Thursday, October 21, 2010, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: DEP Southwest District Office, Rooms 111 and 112, 13051 North Telecom Parkway, Temple Terrace, Florida 33637-0926
DATE AND TIME: Friday, October 22, 2010, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: DEP Southeast District Office, Public Meeting Room, 400 North Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: DEP Tallahassee, Bob Martinez Center, 6th Floor, Room 609, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399
DATE AND TIME: Friday, October 29, 2010, 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: DEP Northwest District Office, 5th Floor, Room 502, 160 Governmental Center, Pensacola, Florida 32502-5794
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting/by contacting: Shirley Shields, [phone], or Mary Smith, [phone].
If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Copies of the agenda, draft of the proposed rule, draft generic permit may be obtained by visiting http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/rules_dr.htm or by contacting Mary K. Smith, Department of Environmental Protection, MS 3545, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, [phone], email [e-mail]. Copies will be available by October 13, 2010.

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE FROM THE CONTACT PERSON LISTED ABOVE.