Administrative Law Judge Bram D.E. Canter will conduct a hearing to consider the environmental effects and any other appropriate matters regarding whether to approve the site certification of the proposed Tampa Electric Company, Polk Power Station ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The Siting Coordination Office announces a hearing to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME: June 24, 2013, 9:00 a.m. and continuing through June 28, 2013 as necessary; June 25, 2013, 7:00 p.m.

PLACE: June 24 − 28, 2013, the hearing will be held at the Bartow Civic Center, 2250 South Floral Avenue, Bartow, Polk County, Florida. The evening of June 25, 2013, the public hearing will be held at the Palmetto Club at Fishhawk Ranch, 17004 Dorman Road, Lithia, Hillsborough County, FL, 7:00 p.m. − 9:00 p.m. The portion of the hearing from June 24 − June 28, 2013, will relate to the proposed Polk Power Plant 2-5 Combined Cycle Conversion Project. The portion on the evening of June 25, 2013, will relate to the Polk to Fishhawk transmission lines.

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: Administrative Law Judge Bram D.E. Canter will conduct a hearing to consider the environmental effects and any other appropriate matters regarding whether to approve the site certification of the proposed Tampa Electric Company, Polk Power Station Units 2-5, application for site certification number PA92-32A3, DOAH Case Number 12-3369, DEP Office of General Counsel Case Number 12-1566, pursuant to the Florida Electrical Power Plant Siting Act, Sections 403.501-.518, Florida Statutes. Judge Bram D.E. Canter will prepare a Recommended Order for submission to and final action by the Governor and Cabinet acting as the Siting Board. Pursuant to Section 403.508(3), F.S., parties to the proceeding shall include the applicant, the Public Service Commission, the Department of Economic Opportunity, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the water management district, the Department of Environmental Protection, the regional planning council, the local government, and the Department of Transportation. Any party listed in Section 403.508(3)(a), FS., other than the Department of Environmental Protection or the applicant may waive its right to participate in these proceedings if such party fails to file a notice of its intent to be a party on or before the 90th day prior to the certification hearing. In addition, notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 120, F.S., upon the filing with the administrative law judge of a notice of intent to be a party no later than 75 days after the application is filed, the following shall also be parties to the proceeding: any agency not listed in Section 403.508(3)(a), FS., as to matters within its jurisdiction; any domestic nonprofit corporation or association formed, in whole or in part, to promote conservation or natural beauty, to protect the environment, personal health, or other biological values; to preserve historical sites; to promote consumer interests; to represent labor, commercial, or industrial groups; or to promote comprehensive planning or orderly development of the area in which the proposed electrical power plant is to be located. Other parties may include any person, including those persons listed herein who have failed to timely file a notice of intent to be a party, whose substantial interests are affected and being determined by the proceeding and who timely file a motion to intervene pursuant to Chapter 120, FS., and applicable rules. Intervention pursuant to this paragraph may be granted at the discretion of the designated administrative law judge and upon such conditions as he or she may prescribe any time prior to 30 days before the commencement of the certification hearing. Motions to intervene must be filed (received) with Administrative Law Judge Bram D.E. Canter, Division of Administrative Hearings, The DeSoto Building, 1230 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550, at least 30 days prior to commencement of the certification hearing. Any agency, including those whose properties or works are being affected pursuant to s. 403.509(4), FS., shall be made a party upon the request of the department or the applicant. The certification hearing may be cancelled in accordance with section 403.508(6)(a), F.S.; “No earlier than 29 days prior to the conduct of the certification hearing, the department or the applicant may request that the administrative law judge cancel the certification hearing and relinquish jurisdiction to the department if all parties to the proceeding stipulate that there are no disputed issues of fact or law to be raised at the certification hearing, and if sufficient time remains for the applicant and the department to publish public notices of the cancellation of the hearing at least 3 days prior to the scheduled date of the hearing.”

A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Ms. Cindy Mulkey, Program Administrator, Bob Martinez Center, 2600 Blairstone Road, M.S. 5500, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, [phone].

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Jessica Dalton, Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martinez Center, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 5500, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, [phone] (TDD) or [phone] (Voice).

For more information, you may contact: Jessica Dalton, Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martinez Center, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 5500, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, [phone].