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

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

RULE NO:RULE TITLE

62-304.645Springs Coast Basin TMDLs

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Department is initiating rulemaking to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for certain surface waters within the Springs Coast 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, upon paragraph 62-302.531(2)(a), F.A.C., becoming effective, 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 Rule 62-302.531, 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 two workshops to receive public comments on 1) draft nutrient TMDL reports for the Homosassa-Trotter Pumphouse Springs Group, Bluebird Springs and Hidden River Springs (WBIDs 1345G, 1348A and 1348E), and the Chassahowitzka-Crab Creek Springs Group, Chassahowitzka River-Baird Creek, Baird Springs, Ruth Spring and Beteejay Springs (WBIDs 1348Z, 1348D and 1361B), to be adopted in Rule 62-304.645, F.A.C. and 2) having the 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, upon paragraph 62-302.531(2)(a), F.A.C., becoming effective. The draft TMDL documents for these impaired waters will be placed on the Department’s TMDL website (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl/) by September 23, 2014 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 October 30, 2014. 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.

RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS WILL BE HELD AT THE DATES, TIMES AND PLACES SHOWN BELOW:

Homosassa-Trotter Pumphouse Springs Group, Bluebird Springs and Hidden River Springs TMDLs

DATE AND TIME: September 30, 2014, 10:00 a.m.

PLACES: Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, 4150 South Suncoast Blvd., Park Visitor Center – Florida Room, Homosassa, Florida and Chassahowitzka-Crab Creek Springs Group, Chassahowitzka River-Baird Creek, Baird Springs, Ruth Spring and Beteejay Springs TMDLs

DATE AND TIME: September 30, 2014, 1:30 p.m.

PLACE: Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, 4150 South Suncoast Blvd., Park Visitor Center – Florida Room, Homosassa, Florida

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in these workshops/meetings is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Ms. Linda Quinn-Godwin, [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 TO OBTAIN 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, email: [e-mail]

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