The Department of Environmental Protection proposes to develop and establish estuary-specific numeric nutrient criteria (NNC) for the following estuaries: portions of the Big Bend from Alligator Harbor to the Suwannee Sound, Cedar Key, St. Marys ...

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

62-302.532              Estuary-Specific Numeric Interpretations of the Narrative Nutrient Criterion

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Department of Environmental Protection proposes to develop and establish estuary-specific numeric nutrient criteria (NNC) for the following estuaries: portions of the Big Bend from Alligator Harbor to the Suwannee Sound, Cedar Key, St. Marys River estuary, Southern Indian River Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon, several portions of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW) connecting estuarine systems, a variety of small gaps between estuaries with adopted NNC, and parameters for estuaries not currently covered by their adopted nutrient Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), including Upper Escambia Bay, Lower St. Johns River, Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie Estuary, and Caloosahatchee Estuary. Nutrient criteria for these estuaries were included in an August 1, 2013 report to the Governor and Legislature. Pursuant to Chapter 2013-71, Laws of Florida, the Legislature directed the Department to establish these estuary NNC by rule or final order by December 1, 2014.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Rule development will establish NNC for the above listed estuaries, which may include criteria for Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, and Chlorophyll a.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 403.061, 403.062, 403.087, 403.504, 403.704, 403.804 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 403.021(11), 403.061, 403.087, 403.088, 403.141, 403.161, 403.182, 403.502, 403.702, 403.708 FS.

A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AND WILL BE NOTICED IN A FUTURE ISSUE OF THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE REGISTER NOT LESS THAN 14 DAYS BEFORE THE WORKSHOP.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Eric Shaw, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Standards Development Section, MS 6511, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400, [phone] or email: [e-mail]

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