The Department is initiating rulemaking to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for certain surface waters within the Aucilla River Basin where those waters previously have been identified as impaired for specific pollutants and included on ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

62-304.406Aucilla River Basin TMDLs

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Department is initiating rulemaking to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for certain surface waters within the Aucilla River Basin where those waters previously have been identified as impaired for specific pollutants and included on the Department’s verified list of impaired waters. Pursuant to Section 403.067(6), F.S., TMDLs must be adopted in rule by the Secretary of the Department. Chapter 62-304, F.A.C., was established as the rule chapter within which rules adopting TMDLs shall reside. Furthermore, in accordance with paragraph 62-302.531(2)(a), F.A.C., any of these rules which establish nutrient TMDLs, if adopted, are intended to constitute site specific numeric interpretations of the narrative nutrient criterion set forth in paragraph 62-302.530(47)(b), F.A.C., that will supersede the otherwise applicable numeric nutrient criteria in subsection 62-302.531(2), F.A.C., for the particular surface water segment.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: TMDLs and their allocations will be established for the pollutants identified in the Department’s verified list of impaired waters as causing the impairment for certain impaired waters in the above listed basin.

At this time, the Department is concurrently noticing a rulemaking workshop to receive public comments on 1) a draft nutrient TMDL report for the Wacissa River and Springs Group (WBIDs 3424 and 3424Z) and 2) having these nutrient TMDLs, if adopted, constitute site specific numeric interpretations of the narrative nutrient criterion set forth in paragraph 62-302.530(47)(b), F.A.C., that would replace the otherwise applicable numeric nutrient criteria in subsection 62-302.531(2), F.A.C., for these particular waters. The draft TMDL document for these impaired waters will be placed on the Department’s TMDL website (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl/) prior to the workshop, and will be provided upon request to interested parties by mail or via email distribution. The Department will accept written comments on these draft TMDLs, as well as the establishment of these nutrient TMDLs as site specific interpretations of the narrative nutrient criterion, through July 20, 2016. Written comments should be directed to: Richard Hicks, PG Administrator, Ground Water Management Section, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Mail Station #3575, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, email: [e-mail].

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 403.061, 403.067 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 403.061, 403.062, 403.067 FS.

A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: June 29, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building, Conference Room A, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida

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: Richard Hicks, PG Administrator, Ground Water Management Section, MS 3575, Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 or by calling [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Richard Hicks, PG Administrator, Ground Water Management Section, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Mail Station #3575, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 or by email at [e-mail]

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE.