Water Management Districts, Southwest Florida Water Management District

 

WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

Southwest Florida Water Management District

 

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

GIVES NOTICE OF DISTRICT DECISION

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) gives notice of its decision on November 17, 2015, approving the 2015 Central Florida Water Initiative Regional Water Supply Plan (CFWI RWSP), including the 2035 Water Resources Protection and Water Supply Strategies (Solutions Strategies), which was jointly developed by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), and Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) (collectively, the Districts) in coordination with stakeholders. The documents are further described below:

1. 2015 CFWI RWSP (Volume I) is available at http://cfwiwater.com/pdfs/plans/CFWI_RWSP_VolI_Draft_2015-10-26.pdf
2. Appendices to Volume I (Volume IA) is available at http://cfwiwater.com/pdfs/plans/CFWI_RWSP_VolIA_Draft_2015-10-26.pdf
3. Solutions Strategies (Volume II), is available at http://cfwiwater.com/pdfs/plans/WRP_VolII_Draft_2015-10-23.pdf
4. Appendices to Volume II (Volume IIA) is available at http://cfwiwater.com/pdfs/plans/WRP_VolIIA_Draft_2015-10-26.pdf

Collectively, these documents are referred to as the 2015 CFWI RWSP Document Series. The 2015 CFWI RWSP Document Series were developed and approved to implement section 373.709, Florida Statutes. In the 2015 CFWI RWSP, the Districts have determined that existing sources of water are not adequate in all of Orange, Osceola, Polk and Seminole Counties, and southern Lake County (CFWI Planning Area) to supply water for all existing and future reasonable-beneficial uses and to sustain the water resources and related natural systems through 2035. The CFWI Planning Area shall be considered a Water Resource Caution Area (WRCA) for the purposes of Section 403.064, F.S. The 2015 CFWI RWSP Document Series identifies alternative water supply (AWS) projects from which water suppliers may choose for meeting water supply needs within the designated WRCA. Although AWS projects added to the 2015 CFWI RWSP Document Series are potentially eligible for certain District funding, there is no assurance of funding.

The file(s) containing the 2015 CFWI RWSP Document Series are available for inspection Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Southwest Florida Water Management District Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, Florida 34604. The documents are also available for review online at the website described above. The Governing Board’s Order adopting the 2015 CFWI RWSP is also available for review online at http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/documents/plans/RWSP/.

A person whose substantial interests may be affected by the District’s decision on a regional water supply plan or the designation of the CFWI Planning Area as a water resource caution area has the right to request an administrative hearing in accordance with Section 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., and Chapter 28-106, F.A.C. A request for hearing must be filed with (received by) the District by hand delivery, U.S. Mail, or other deliver service addressed and sent or delivered to the District’s Agency Clerk at the District’s Tampa Service Office, 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North, Tampa, Florida 33637, or by facsimile to the Agency Clerk at [phone] or [phone] within twenty-one (21) days of this publication. A petition must comply with Sections 120.54(5)(b)4. and 120.569(2)(c), Florida Statutes (F.S.), and Chapter 28-106, F.A.C. The District will not accept a petition submitted by electronic mail. Mediation pursuant to Section 120.573, F.S., is not available.

A person whose substantial interests are or may be affected has the right to a formal administrative hearing pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., where there is a dispute between the District and the party regarding an issue of material fact. A petition for formal hearing must also comply with the requirements set forth in Rule 28-106.201, F.A.C. A person whose substantial interests are or may be affected has the right to an informal administrative hearing pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57(2), F.S., where no material facts are in dispute. A petition for an informal hearing must comply with the requirements set forth in Rule 28-106.301, F.A.C.

A petition for an administrative hearing is deemed filed upon receipt of the complete petition by the Agency Clerk. Petitions received by the Agency Clerk after 5:00 p.m., or on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, shall be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. on the next regular District business day. If transmission of a facsimile-transmitted document is begun prior to 5:00 p.m. but not complete until after 5:00 p.m. the document shall be considered as received after 5:00 p.m. and shall be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. on the next regular District business day.

Failure to file a request for hearing within the specified time period shall constitute a waiver of any right any such person may have to request a hearing pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., and Rule 28-106.111, F.A.C.

Because the administrative hearing process is designed to formulate final agency action, the timely filing of a request for hearing may result in the District’s final action being different from its original action. A person whose substantial interests are or may be affected by the District’s final action has the right to become a party to the proceeding, in accordance with the requirements set forth above.

The District does not discriminate on the basis of disability. This nondiscrimination policy involves every aspect of the District’s functions, including access to and participation in the District’s programs and activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the District’s Human Resources Bureau Chief, 2379 Broad St., Brooksville, FL 34604-6899; telephone [phone] or 1(800)423-1476 (FL only), ext. 4703; or email [e-mail]. 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).