On December 5, 2012, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a Final Order granting a petition for variance to Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA). The petition for variance was received on October 2, 2012, seeking the reissuance of a ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
62-699.200: Definitions.
62-699.310: Classification and Staffing of Domestic Wastewater or Water Treatment Plants and Water Distribution Systems
62-699.311: Additional Classification and Staffing Requirements

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection hereby gives notice: On December 5, 2012, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a Final Order granting a petition for variance to Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA). The petition for variance was received on October 2, 2012, seeking the reissuance of a variance from paragraph 62-699.310(2)(e) and subsection 62-699.311(4), F.A.C., to allow for a reduction in staffing requirements at ECUA’s Class B and C water treatment plants. The petition was assigned OGC Case No. 12-1551. Notice of receipt of the petition was published in the Florida Administrative Register on October 9, 2012. No public comment was received. The Final Order granted the variance because the petitioner demonstrated that the application of Rules 62-699.310 and 62-699.311, F.A.C., would create a substantial hardship and that the purposes of the underlying statutes would be met with the conditions imposed by the Department under the variance. The conditions require that ECUA staff its water treatment plants and booster disinfection stations with one site visit per day, seven days per week, for a total of 3.5 hours per plant/station per week by a Class B or higher operator. ECUA will also have all water treatment systems continuously monitored, operated and controlled remotely using a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system that is manned by a Class A operator placed at a central location.
A copy of the Order or additional information may be obtained by contacting: Virginia Harmon, Department of Environmental Protection, Drinking Water Section, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400; (850)-245-8630.