Department of Environmental Protection, Departmental

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

NOTICE OF PROPOSED WATER QUALITY STUDY

Pursuant to subsection 62-650.500(6), Florida Administrative Code, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (Department) gives notice of the intent of Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) to conduct a study of water quality in Sweetwater Branch, the stream to which GRU’s Main Street Water Reclamation Facility currently discharges under its FDEP Permit No. FL0027251. The purpose of this study is to establish appropriate numeric interpretations of the narrative water quality standard for nutrients for this existing discharge. At the conclusion of the study, these numeric interpretations may be established in the form of Water Quality Based Effluent Limits (WQBELs) or other site-specific order of the Department.

Any interested person may submit written comments on the plan of study to Ms. Alice Rankeillor, P.E., Gainesville Regional Utilities, Post Office Box 14705, Station A110, Gainesville, FL 32614-7051, and provide a copy to Ken Weaver, Water Quality Standards Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 6511, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 or email: [e-mail]. Comments must be received within 14 days of publication of this notice.

In response to comments received pertaining to the Plan of Study (POS), the applicant may revise the POS if necessary. Upon approval of any revisions to the POS by the Department, the applicant shall conduct the study for purposes of establishing numeric interpretations of the narrative nutrient standard for the affected receiving waters.

Although the Department may allow for informal dispute resolution during the study period, the study is free from agency decision making and does not constitute proposed agency action until notice of such is given pursuant to subsection 62-650.500(8), Florida Administrative Code.

Upon request, the POS is available for public inspection during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, at Gainesville Regional Utilities, Post Office Box 14705, Station A110, Gainesville, FL 32614-7051 or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Room 205D, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone] or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast District Office, 8800 Baymeadows Way West, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256-7590, [phone].