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 JEA to conduct a study of water quality in the Grander Creek Basin (Yulee Swamp and Lofton Creek), the receiving waters to which JEA’s Nassau Regional Water Reclamation Facility currently discharges under its FDEP Permit No. FL0116793. The purpose of this phase of the study is to evaluate possible sources contributing to the observed nutrient concentrations in Yulee Swamp and Lofton Creek, and the purpose of the overall study is to establish appropriate nutrient Water Quality Based Effluent Limitations (WQBELs) for the discharge that will attain the narrative water quality standard for nutrients in Yulee Swamp and Lofton Creek.

Any interested person may submit written comments on the plan of study to Mr. Paul Steinbrecher, P.E., Director, Permitting and Regulatory Conformance, JEA 21 West Church Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202 and provide a copy to Jeff Martin, Wastewater Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 8800 Baymeadows Way West, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256 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.

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 JEA, 21 West Church Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202 or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Room 205D, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400, [phone] or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast District Office, 8800 Baymeadows Way West, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256-7590, [phone].