The Department of Environmental Protection amends this rule chapter to update internal references to Section 380.093, F.S., consistent with legislative amendments to Section 380.093, F.S., that took effect on July 1, 2024; ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Office of the Secretary

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

62S-8.001Purpose

62S-8.002Definitions

62S-8.003Project Scoring Criteria

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Department of Environmental Protection amends this rule chapter to update internal references to Section 380.093, F.S., consistent with legislative amendments to Section 380.093, F.S., that took effect on July 1, 2024; to update requirements for submitting completed vulnerability assessments to the Department, consistent with current Section 380.093(3), F.S.; and to revise the rule chapter’s use of “financially disadvantaged small community” to “community eligible for a reduced cost share,” consistent with current Section 380.093(5)(e), F.S. Additionally, discretionary amendments to the rule chapter may be considered, including the addition of Departmental procedures for determining the rank of projects submitted for inclusion in the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan that receive the same score when assessed under the criteria required by Section 380.093(5)(g), F.S.; making adjustments to scoring criteria while maintaining compliance with 380.093(5)(g), F.S.; and providing additional clarity on match and expense eligibility for project inclusion in the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: The subject matters addressed by the rule include mandatory updates to internal, statutory references, required procedures, and term usage to maintain consistency with Section 380.093, F.S. Discretionary updates may be considered to provide additional clarity and administrative guidance on various aspects of the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 380.093(5)(i), F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 380.093, F.S.

A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: January 16, 2025, beginning at 1:30 p.m. to no later than 3:00 p.m. EST.

PLACE: Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building, Room 137A, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, Florida 32399. The public may attend this workshop in person or via webinar. A link to attend this workshop via webinar will be available on the date of the workshop on the Department’s website, at: https://floridadep.gov/rcp/resilient-florida-program/content/resilient-florida-program-rulemaking. Due to technical limitations, virtual participation is limited to 500 participants.

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: Yasmine Armaghani, Planning Consultant, Resilient Florida Program, Department of Environmental Protection, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd, MS #235, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, [phone] or [e-mail]. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap or marital status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or persons who require translation services (free of charge) are asked to contact DEP’s Limited English Proficiency Coordinator at [phone] or [e-mail] at least ten (10) days before the meeting. 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: Yasmine Armaghani, Planning Consultant, Resilient Florida Program, [phone] or [e-mail]. Both the preliminary text of the proposed rule development and the workshop agenda will be available from this contact person beginning on December 31, 2024.

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE.