The purpose of the rule is to adopt a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), and its allocations, for fecal coliform in the Upper East Coast Basin.

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
62-304.435: Upper East Coast Basin TMDLs Spruce Creek.

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule is to adopt a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), and its allocations, for fecal coliform in the Upper East Coast Basin.

SUMMARY: The TMDL addresses a fecal coliform impairment in the Upper East Coast Basin. Specifically, the TMDL rule being proposed for adoption is for Pellicer Creek. This waterbody was verified as impaired using the methodology established in Chapter 62-303, F.A.C., Identification of Impaired Surface Waters. The methodology used to develop the TMDL was the percent reduction method. This rulemaking has been given an OGC case number 12-1219.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: There are no regulated entities, including NPDES permitted wastewater and municipal stormwater facilities, located in the Pellicer Creek watershed.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 403.061, 403.067 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 403.061, 403.062, 403.067 FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW (IF NOT REQUESTED, THIS HEARING WILL NOT BE HELD):

DATE AND TIME: September 27, 2012, 1:30 p.m.

PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martinez Center, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Room 609, Tallahassee, FL

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: Ms. Pat Waters at [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 IS: Jan Mandrup-Poulsen, Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Bureau of Watershed Restoration, Mail Station 3555, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, telephone [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

62-304.435 Upper East Coast Basin TMDLs Spruce Creek.

(1) Spruce Creek (Freshwater Segment). The Total Maximum Daily Load for the freshwater segment of Spruce Creek is 400 counts/100mL for fecal coliform, and is allocated as follows:

(a) The Wasteload Allocation (WLA) for discharges subject to the Department’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Stormwater Permitting Program is to address anthropogenic sources in the basin such that in-stream concentrations meet the fecal coliform criteria which, based on the measured concentrations from the 1997 to 2005 period, will require a 53 percent reduction at sources contributing to exceedances of the criteria,

(b) The Load Allocation (LA) for nonpoint sources is to address anthropogenic sources in the basin such that in-stream concentrations meet the fecal coliform criteria which, based on the measured concentrations from the 1997 to 2005 period, will require a 53 percent reduction at sources contributing to exceedances of the criteria,

(c) The Margin of Safety is implicit,

(d) While the LA and WLA for fecal coliform have been expressed as the percent reductions needed to attain the applicable Class III criteria, it is the combined reductions from both anthropogenic point and nonpoint sources that will result in the required reduction of in-stream fecal concentration. However, it is not the intent of the TMDL to abate natural background conditions.

(2) Spruce Creek (Marine Segment). The Total Maximum Daily Load for the marine segment of Spruce Creek is based on achieving the Class 3 marine minimum dissolved oxygen criterion of 4.0 mg/L, and is allocated as follows:

(a) The WLA Wasteload Allocation for discharges subject to the Department’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Stormwater Permitting Program is a 25 percent reduction of current anthropogenic 5 day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) loading, and a 27 percent reduction of current anthropogenic total phosphorus (TP) loading based on measured concentrations from the 1992 to 2005 period,

(b) The LA Load Allocation for nonpoint sources is a 25 percent reduction of current anthropogenic 5 day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) loading, and a 27 percent reduction of current anthropogenic total phosphorus (TP) loading based on measured concentrations from the 1992 to 2005 period,

(c) The Margin of Safety is implicit.

(3) Fecal Coliform TMDL for Pellicer Creek. The TMDL for Pellicer Creek is 43 counts/100mL for fecal coliform, and is allocated as follows:

(a) The WLA for wastewater sources is not applicable,

(b) The WLA for discharges subject to the Department’s NPDES Municipal Stormwater Permitting Program is not applicable,

(c) The LA for nonpoint sources is to address anthropogenic sources in the basin such that in-stream concentrations meet the fecal coliform criteria which, based on the measured concentrations from 2004, 2005, and 2009, will require a 94 percent reduction of sources contributing to exceedances of the criteria, and

(d) The Margin of Safety is implicit.

(e) While the LA for fecal coliform has been expressed as the percent reductions needed to attain the applicable Class II criteria, it is the combined reductions from all anthropogenic sources that will result in the required reduction of in-stream fecal concentration. However, it is not the intent of the TMDL to abate natural background conditions.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 403.061, 403.067 FS. Law Implemented 403.061, 403.062, 403.067 FS. History–New 6-3-08, Amended_________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Drew Bartlett, Director, Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Herschel Vinyard Jr., Secretary

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 15, 2012

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: November 23, 2011