that on May 21, 2014, St. Johns River Water Management District (“District”) issued a Final Order Granting Variance under Section 120.542, F.S. (SJRWMD FOR# 2014-16), to St. Johns County Utility Department (Petitioner). The District received the ...

 

WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

St. Johns River Water Management District

The St. Johns River Water Management District hereby gives notice that on May 21, 2014, St. Johns River Water Management District (“District”) issued a Final Order Granting Variance under Section 120.542, F.S. (SJRWMD FOR# 2014-16), to St. Johns County Utility Department (Petitioner). The District received the Petition for Variance on April 4, 2014, and an amended Petition for Variance on April 14, 2014, and published a notice of receipt in the Florida Administrative Register, Vol. 40, No. 75 on April 17, 2014. The District did not receive any public comment. The Final Order Granting Variance provides a variance from subsection 40C-3.517(3) of the Florida Administrative Code. This rule provides in pertinent part that water wells having a nominal casing size equal to or greater than four inches in outside diameter and obtaining water from a formation shall have a nominal two-inch thickness of grout sealing the annular space for the entire length of casing. The basis of the District’s decision to grant the variance is as follows: 1) requiring Petitioner to install a smaller diameter liner to achieve the required two-inch annular space would reduce the production capacity of the well and create a technological hardship 2) not granting the variance would require Petitioner to expend additional funds to properly abandon the existing well and construct a new well would creating a substantial financial hardship, and 3) the proposed alternative will not adversely affect the water resource.

A copy of the Order or additional information may be obtained by contacting: Kealey A. West, Assistant General Counsel, at the Office of General Counsel, St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529 or by telephone: [phone].