FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:
68E-1.004General Permit Application Procedures, Requirements and Expiration
NOTICE OF CHANGE
Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 42 No. 89, May 6, 2016 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.
68E-1.004 General Permit Application Procedures, Requirements and Expiration.
(1) through (4) No change.
(5) Nest Relocation: To qualify to relocate marine turtle nests, the applicant’s qualified individual shall have a minimum of twenty-five (25) hours one (1) nesting season of having successfully relocated marine turtle nests obtained within the past five (5) years. Applicants shall submit a notarized statement detailing how the qualified individual meets this requirement including dates and specific location(s) where experience was acquired. Relocations shall be considered successful if the hatch and emergence success meets or exceeds the hatch and emergence success averaged by species statewide all relocated nests have at least 70% hatch and emergence success or greater for nests that are not impacted by erosion, inundation, or predators. As part of the application, the applicant shall provide complete up-to-date documentation of the qualified individual’s relocation experience for at least one nesting season, including (a) and (b) below. State and federal employees who are requesting a permit to relocate marine turtle nests on state or federal land are not required to meet this criterion.
(a) through (c) No change.
(6) through (11) No change.
(12) Captive Facilities: To qualify to hold or to rehabilitate marine turtles for a conservation purpose or for education, applicants with ownership or control over property that maintains adequate equipment to safely hold and care for marine turtles for the purposes of the permitted activity and that meet the requirements of this Chapter and Section 4 of the Handbook must do the following:
(a) No change.
(b) Veterinary care shall be provided by facilities holding or rehabilitating marine turtles. Veterinarians providing marine turtle care shall have expertise with marine turtles as outlined in this Chapter and Section 4 in the Handbook. The applicant shall identify at least two veterinarians who will provide the care at the facility and include documentation of each veterinarian’s experience with the application. The veterinarians identified in the application shall be listed on the Marine Turtle Permit.
1. No change.
2. No change.
3. For facilities located in Florida, tThe applicant shall provide a copy of a valid State of Florida veterinary license (Ch. 474 F.S.) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Controlled Substance Registration Certificate for each proposed veterinarian. For facilities located in other states, the applicant shall provide a copy of a valid veterinary license issued by the state where the facility is located. If one of the veterinarians holds a DEA Certificate for the facility’s address and the appropriate controlled drugs are stored in accordance with federal regulations on site for use by all veterinarians, than only one DEA Certificate is required. If controlled substances are not going to be stored on-site under a DEA Certificate for that site, than all attending veterinarians must have DEA Certificates.
(c) through (i) No change.
(j) All facilities or individuals involved in the rehabilitation of marine turtles shall obtain and maintain a current authorization for euthanasia of threatened and endangered marine turtles from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
(13) No change.
(14) Marine Turtle Conservation Handbook: The Commission Marine Turtle Conservation Handbook (effective 06/16 04/16) related to nesting surveys, nest relocation, release, and other management or conservation activities is hereby incorporated by reference and is available at the address listed in subsection (1) above and online at [Insert DoS Reference Website Link].
(15) through (19) No change.
