St. Johns River Water Management District
ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT GIVE NOTICE OF DISTRICT DECISIONS
The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) (collectively, the Districts) give joint notice of their decisions on January 17, 2017, approving the North Florida Regional Water Supply Plan with appendices (2010-2035 Planning Horizon) (the NFRWSP), which was jointly developed by the Districts in coordination with numerous stakeholders. The NFRWSP area includes 14 counties (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, and Union). The NFRWSP is further described below and can be obtained using the following link:
http://northfloridawater.com/watersupplyplan/document.html
The NFRWSP was developed and approved to implement section 373.709, Florida Statutes (F.S.). In the plan, the Districts have determined that existing sources of water are not adequate within the geographic region covered by the NFRWSP (Planning Region) to supply water for all existing and future reasonable-beneficial uses and to sustain the water resources and related natural systems through 2035. The Planning Region within SJRWMD’s jurisdictional boundaries (all of Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties, and portions of Alachua, Baker, and Bradford counties) is designated as a Water Resource Caution Area (WRCA) for the purposes of Section 403.064, F.S. The NFRWSP 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 NFRWSP are potentially eligible for certain District funding, there is no assurance of funding.
SJRWMD’s files(s) containing the NFRWSP are available for inspection Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the St. Johns River Water Management District Headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka, Florida, 32177-2529. If you wish to receive a copy, please submit your request to the Office of Business and Administrative Services, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida, 32177-2529. You may also review these documents by using your web browser to go to the website described above.
SRWMD’s files(s) containing the NFRWSP are available for inspection Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at District Headquarters, 9225 C.R. 49, Live Oak, Florida, 32060. If you wish to receive a copy, please submit your request to the District clerk at that address. You may also review these documents by using your web browser to go to the website described above.
A person whose substantial interests are or may be affected by either District’s decision on the regional water supply plan or on SJRWMD’s designation of that portion of the NFRWSP Planning Region located within its jurisdictional boundaries as a water resource caution area may have the right to request an administrative hearing in accordance with Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., where there is a dispute between a District and the party regarding an issue of material fact. A petition for formal hearing must also comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 28-106, 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.
As to SJRWMD, a request for hearing must be filed with (received by) the District either by delivery at the Office of the District Clerk at District Headquarters, P.O. Box 1429, Palatka, Florida 32178-1429 (4049 Reid St., Palatka, FL 32177) or by email with the District Clerk at Clerk@sjrwmd.com within 21 days from publication of this notice. 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 sent by facsimile (fax), as explained below. Mediation pursuant to Section 120.573, F.S., is not available. A petition for an administrative hearing is deemed filed upon receipt of the complete petition by the District Clerk at the District Headquarters in Palatka, Florida. Petitions received by the District 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. The District’s acceptance of petitions filed by e-mail is subject to certain conditions set forth in the District’s Statement of Agency Organization and Operation, which is available at www.sjrwmd.com/agency_statement.pdf. These conditions include, but are not limited to, the petition being in the form of a PDF of TFF file and being capable of being stored and printed by the District. Further, pursuant to the District’s Statement of Agency Organization and Operation, attempting to file a petition by facsimile is prohibited and shall not constitute filing. If you wish to do so, please visit http://northfloridawater.com/watersupplyplan/notice.html to read the complete Notice of Rights to determine any legal rights you may have concerning SJRWMD’s decision on the NFRWSP. You can also request the Notice of Rights by contacting the Director, Office of Business and Administrative Services, P.O. Box 1429, Palatka, FL 32178, tele. no.: (386)329-4268.
As to SRWMD, a request for hearing must be filed with (received by) the Office of the District Clerk at District Headquarters, 9225 C.R. 49, Live Oak, Florida, 32060, within twenty-one (21) days from publication of this notice. 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. Mediation pursuant to Section 120.573, F.S., is not available.
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 a District’s final action being different from its original action. A person whose substantial interests are or may be affected by a District’s final action has the right to become a party to the proceeding, in accordance with the requirements set forth above.
