DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Notice of Request for Public Comment
The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) announces the availability of revised draft lists of impaired waters for Group 1, Cycle 3 waterbodies in the St. Marks-Ochlockonee Rivers, Suwannee River, Ocklawaha River, Tampa Bay, Everglades West Coast, and the Lake Okeechobee basins. The revised lists, which were developed pursuant to the methodologies in the Impaired Waters Rule, Chapter 62-303, F.A.C., include waters that the Department proposes to add to or remove from Florida’s 303(d) list of waters verified as impaired. The revised lists will be available on the Department’s Watershed Assessment website (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/assessment/index.htm) by November 28, 2012, and will be provided upon request to interested parties by mail or via e-mail distribution.
In addition to comments on the revised lists, the Department also requests recommendations on the prioritization of development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for those waters verified as impaired in the draft lists. The Department will take the recommendations into account as it moves forward with determining the order of TMDL development. The Department will accept written comments on the revised lists and TMDL priorities through December 13, 2012. Written comments should be directed to Ms. Julie Espy, Watershed Assessment Section, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3560, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, or by e-mail at julie.espy@dep.state.fl.us.
