The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) gives notice of its intent to grant a variance (File No. 0144913-010) to PCS Phosphate White Springs (PCS) Hamilton County Mine, Post Office Box 300, White Springs, Florida 32096 under Section 403.201, Florida Statutes (F.S.) from the provisions of subsection 62-302.530(30), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), which provides minimum standards for dissolved oxygen levels in surface waters. This variance will apply to dissolved oxygen levels in the hypolimnions (the deepest layer) of the reclaimed, man-made lakes shown on Maps VII-5 1 of 2 and VII-5 2 of 2 in PCS conceptual reclamation plan PCS‑HC‑CPC, which was approved on April 8, 2005. The variance will be permanent.
On May 18, 2007, PCS submitted a petition for a variance from the provisions of subsection 62‑302.530(30), F.A.C., which provides minimum standards for dissolved oxygen levels in surface waters.
The Hamilton County Mine is located to the north and west of the Suwannee River, along the east and west sides of Interstate 75, and south of the Georgia Border in Hamilton County, Florida. The mine area is located in Sections 1, 2, 11-15, 22-28, and 33-36, Township 1 North, Range 14 East; Sections 1-5, and 10-14, Township 1 South, Range 14 East; Sections 19-21, and 28-34, Township 2 North, Range 15 East; Sections 1-36, Township 1 North, Range 15 East; Sections 1-27, 35, and 36, Township 1 South, Range 15 East; Section 1, Township 2 South, Range 15 East; Sections 5-9, 16-23, 26-35, Township 1 North, Range 16 East; Sections 1-35, Township 1 South, Range 16 East; Sections 4-6, Township 2 South, Range 16 East; Section 7, Township 1 South, Range 17 East; and Section 18, Township 1 South, Range 17 East in the watershed of the Suwannee River, an Outstanding Florida Water, Class III waters.
The dissolved oxygen levels in the hypolimnions of the man-made lakes are expected to drop below the mandatory minimum of 5.0 mg/L at times. The low dissolved oxygen levels in the hypolimnions of the man-made lakes are not expected to result in any on-site or off-site impacts. Oxygen levels in the upper layers of the man-made lakes are expected to meet the requirements of Rule 62-302.530, F.A.C., and be adequate to support healthy fish populations. Once reclamation is completed, the man-made lakes will be connected to reclaimed and/or preserved wetlands and streams. Water exiting each of the man-made lakes is expected to meet the requirements for dissolved oxygen and other water quality criteria of Rule 62-302.530, F.A.C. There is no practical means known or available to achieve the required dissolved oxygen levels within the hypolimnions of the man-made lakes. Therefore, the Department intends to grant a variance pursuant to Section 403.201(1)(a), F.S., for dissolved oxygen within the hypolimnions of the man-made lakes approved in conceptual reclamation plan PCS-HC-CPC.
Under this intent to grant, this variance is hereby granted subject to the applicants compliance with any requirement in this intent to publish notice of this intent in a newspaper of general circulation and to provide proof of such publication in accordance with Section 50.051, F.S. This action is final and effective on the date filed with the Clerk of the Department unless a sufficient petition for an administrative hearing is timely filed under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., as provided below. If a sufficient petition for an administrative hearing is timely filed, this intent to grant automatically becomes only proposed agency action on the application, subject to the result of the administrative review process. Therefore, on the filing of a timely and sufficient petition, this action will not be final and effective until further order of the Department. When proof of publication is provided, if required by this intent, and if a sufficient petition is not timely filed, the variance will be granted as a ministerial action. Because an administrative hearing may result in the reversal or substantial modification of this action, the applicant is advised not to commence construction or other activities until the deadlines noted below for filing a petition for an administrative hearing or request for an extension of time have expired and until the variance has been executed and delivered. Mediation is not available.
A person whose substantial interests are affected by the Departments action may petition for an administrative proceeding (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. The petition must contain the information set forth below and must be filed (received by the clerk) in: Office of General Counsel of the Department, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000.
Under subsection 62-110.106(4), F.A.C., a person whose substantial interests are affected by the Departments action may also request an extension of time to file a petition for an administrative hearing. The Department may, for good cause shown, grant the request for an extension of time. Requests for extension of time must be filed with: Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399‑3000, before the applicable deadline. A timely request for extension of time shall toll the running of the time period for filing a petition until the request is acted upon. If a request is filed late, the Department may still grant it upon a motion by the requesting party showing that the failure to file a request for an extension of time before the deadline was the result of excusable neglect.
If a timely and sufficient petition for an administrative hearing is filed, other persons whose substantial interests will be affected by the outcome of the administrative process have the right to petition to intervene in the proceeding. Intervention will be permitted only at the discretion of the presiding officer upon the filing of a motion in compliance with Rule 28-106.205, F.A.C.
In accordance with Section 403.201, F.S., petitions for an administrative hearing by the applicant must be filed within 14 days of receipt of this written notice. Petitions filed by any persons other than the applicant, and other than those entitled to written notice under Section 120.60(3), F.S., must be filed within 14 days of publication of the notice or within 14 days of receipt of the written notice, whichever occurs first. Under Section 120.60(3), F.S., however, any person who has asked the Department for notice of agency action may file a petition within 14 days of receipt of such notice, regardless of the date of publication.
The petitioner shall mail a copy of the petition to the applicant at the address indicated above at the time of filing. The failure of any person to file a petition for an administrative hearing within the appropriate time period shall constitute a waiver of that persons right to request an administrative determination (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S.
A petition that disputes the material facts on which the Departments action is based must contain the following information: (a) the name and address of each agency affected and each agencys file or identification number, if known; (b) the name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner; the name, address, and telephone number of the petitioners representative, if any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioners substantial interests are or will be affected by the agency determination; (c) a statement of when and how the petitioner received notice of the agency decision; (d) a statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so indicate; (e) a concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts that the petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the agencys proposed action; (f) a statement of the specific rules or statutes that the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agencys proposed action, including an explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and (g) a statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action that the petitioner wishes the agency to take with respect to the agencys proposed action.
A petition that does not dispute the material facts on which the Departments action is based shall state that no such facts are in dispute and otherwise shall contain the same information as set forth above, as required by Rule 28-106.301, F.A.C. Under Sections 120.569(2)(c) and (d), F.S., a petition for administrative hearing must be dismissed by the agency if the petition does not substantially comply with the above requirements or is untimely filed.
This intent to grant a variance constitutes an order of the Department. Subject to the provisions of Section 120.68(7)(a), F.S., which may require a remand for an administrative hearing, the applicant has the right to seek judicial review of the order under Section 120.68, F.S., by the filing of a notice of appeal under Rule 9.110 of the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure with: Clerk of the Department, Office of General Counsel, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399‑3000; and by filing a copy of the notice of appeal accompanied by the applicable filing fees with the appropriate district court of appeal. The notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days from the date when the order is filed with the Clerk of the Department.
