The purpose of the proposed rule is to include the Boating Safety and Education Grant Program, the Florida Boating Improvement Program, and the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program with guidelines incorporated that have been developed because the ...

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68-1.003: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Grants Program
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule is to include the Boating Safety and Education Grant Program, the Florida Boating Improvement Program, and the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program with guidelines incorporated that have been developed because the agency has had sufficient time to acquire the knowledge and experience reasonably necessary to address rulemaking for these programs.
SUMMARY: The proposed changes to Rule 68-1.003, F.A.C., will include the Boating Safety and Education Grant Program with education in the title to reflect the education objectives, incorporates new program guidelines, and deletes a repealed rule. They will also include the Florida Boating Improvement Program with the guidelines incorporated and a repealed rule deleted. These guidelines include recent changes to Section 206.606, F.S., to add other uniform waterway markers, public boat ramps, lifts, and hoists, marine railways, and other public launching facilities, and derelict vessel removal as eligible uses of program funds and deleted aquatic plant control. They also include a change that adds a new funding source for public launching facilities, giving priority to counties with 35,000 or more registered vessels, pursuant to Section 328.72(15), Florida Statutes.
The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program is being added to the rule and will incorporate guidelines that follow the requirements of Section 7404 of the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 and the Federal Register, 50 CFR Part 86.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 206.606, 327.47 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 206.606, 327.47, 328.72 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Susanna Stephens, FBIP Program Administrator, or Patricia Harrell, Boating Access Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section, 620 South Meridian Street, Room 235, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, telephone [phone], or email [e-mail] or [e-mail]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

68-1.003 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Grants Program.

(1) through (7) No change.

(8) Florida Boating Safety and Education Grant Program grants shall meet all additional program requirements of Rules 62D-5.031-039, F.A.C. set forth in the Boating Safety and Education Grant Program Guidelines (dated Jan. 2008), which are hereby incorported by reference. The guidelines are available from the Commission at 620 S. Meridian Street, 1M, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 or www.myfwc.com/boating/grants/.

(9) Florida Boating Improvement Program grants shall meet all additional program requirements set forth in the Florida Boating Improvement Program Guidelines (dated Jan. 2008), which are hereby incorporated by reference. The guidelines are available from the Commission at 620 S. Meridian Street, 1M, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 or www.myfwc.com/boating/grants/fbip.htm. be similar to eligible projects determined under the program administered by the Department of Environmental Protection and established in Rules 62D-5.031-.036, F.A.C.

(10) through (11) No change.

(12) Boating Infrastructure Grant Program grants shall meet all additional requirements set forth in the Boating Infrasturcture Grant Program Guidelines (dated Jan. 2008), which are hereby incorporated by reference. The guidelines are available from the Commission at 620 S. Meridian St., 1M, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 or www.myfwc.com/boating/grants/bigp.htm.

Specific Authority 370.023 FS. Law Implemented 370.023 FS. History–New 4-4-04, Amended 3-15-05, Formerly 68A-2.015, Amended 5-22-07,__________ .

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Patricia Harrell, Boating Access Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section
NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sitting as agency head
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: February 6, 2008
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: February 15, 2008