DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Notice of Intent to Issue A Variance Under Section 403.201, F.S.
The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) gives notice of its intent to grant a variance (File No. 0144913-020-EV-VE) to PCS Phosphate – White Springs (PCS), Post Office Box 300, White Springs, Florida 32096, under Section 403.201(1)(a), F.S., from the provisions of Rule 62-302.530(30), F.A.C., which provides minimum standards for dissolved oxygen levels in surface waters. This variance will authorize the dissolved oxygen levels in the hypolimnia (the deepest layer) of the reclaimed phosphate mine pit lakes within the Hamilton County Mine to fall below the minimum levels set by Rule 62-302.530, F.A.C.
The Hamilton County Mine is an approximately 99,588-acre site located in Hamilton County, Florida approximately eight miles north of White Springs. The project site is located to the west and north of the Suwannee River, along both the east and west sides of Interstate 75, and south of the Georgia border. 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 – 8, 16 – 23, 26 – 35, Township 1 North, Range 16 East; Sections 1 – 35, Township 1 South, Range 16 East; and Sections 7 and 8, Township 1 South, Range 17 East. The Hamilton County Mine lies entirely within the watershed of the Upper Suwannee River, an Outstanding Florida Water (OFW), and Class III waters.
Mediation is not available.
A person whose substantial interests are affected by the Department’s 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 the Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000.
Under Rule 62-110.106(4), F.A.C., a person whose substantial interests are affected by the Department’s 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 the 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 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 person’s 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 Department’s action is based must contain the following information: (a) the name and address of each agency affected and each agency’s file or identification number, if known; (b) the name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner; the name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s representative, if any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioner’s 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 agency’s proposed action; (f) a statement of the specific rules or statutes that the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agency’s 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 agency’s proposed action.
A petition that does not dispute the material facts on which the Department’s 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 the Clerk of the Department in the 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.
