The purpose of this amendment is to protect vessel traffic safety on the Okeechobee Waterway, based on the finding of the Martin County Vessel Traffic Study along with input from the citizenry of this county.

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Vessel Registration and Boating Safety

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68D-24.143: Martin County Boating Restricted Areas
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this amendment is to protect vessel traffic safety on the Okeechobee Waterway, based on the finding of the Martin County Vessel Traffic Study along with input from the citizenry of this county.
SUMMARY: This rule will reduce vessel speed limits over specified portions of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway where necessary to manage and promote the use of this state waterway for safe and enjoyable boating. Additionally, the rule is reorganized to list the boating restricted areas in order of the description of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway as given in the Coastal Pilot and navigation charts.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
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.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 327.04, 327.46 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 327.46 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: December 3-4, 2008, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day
PLACE: Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, Florida 33040
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Captain Alan Richard, Assistant General Counsel, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

68D-24.143 Martin County Boating Restricted Areas.

(1) For the purpose of regulating the speed and operation of vessel traffic on and adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway in Martin County, Florida, the following Boating Restricted Areas are established for vessels 35 feet or more in length:

(a)1. Jensen Beach Causeway – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake boating restricted area from shoreline to shoreline bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet north of the centerline of the Jensen Beach Causeway (SR 707A) Bridge and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet south of said bridge, as depicted in drawing A. Gleason Street Boat Ramp – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone from shoreline to shoreline, in and adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway, bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 600 feet north of the Gleason Street Boat Ramp and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet south of said boat ramp, as depicted in drawing A. If the Gleason Street Boat Ramp is closed and its use as a transportation facility discontinued, the zone established in this paragraph shall no longer be in force or effect.

2. Jupiter Island – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake zone from shoreline to shoreline, in and adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway, bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 4,350 feet south of the Hobe South (State Road 708) Bridge (at marker number 33) to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 8,295 feet south of said bridge (at marker 35), as depicted in drawing A.

(b) NE Ocean Boulevard – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake boating restricted area from shoreline to shoreline bounded on the north by the NE Ocean Boulevard (SR A1A) Bridge and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet south of said bridge, as depicted in drawing B. The Town of Jupiter Island is authorized to install and maintain appropriate regulatory markers as directed by the Division of Law Enforcement within such boating restricted area.

(c) Hobe Sound Bridge – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake boating restricted area from shoreline to shoreline bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet north of the centerline of the Hobe Sound (SR 708) Bridge and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 300 feet south of said bridge, as depicted in drawing C.

(d) Jupiter Island – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake boating restricted area from shoreline to shoreline bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the  Florida Intracoastal Waterway 4,350 feet south of the Hobe Sound (SR 708) Bridge and bounded on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 8,295 feet south of said bridge, as depicted in drawing D. The boating restricted area established in this paragraph is applicable only to vessels 35 feet or more in length.

(e) Blowing Rocks – A Slow Speed Minimum Wake boating restricted area from shoreline to shoreline bounded on the north by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 500 feet north of the centerline of the fuel dock located at 26°58.749'’N/80° 05.354”W and on the south by a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway 500 feet south of said fuel dock centerline, as depicted in drawing E. The boating restricted area established in this paragraph is applicable only to vessels 35 feet or more in length and in effect only from November 1 through April 30 each year. If the fuel dock is closed and its use as a public fueling facility discontinued, the boating restricted area established in this paragraph shall no longer be in force or effect.

(2) The boating restricted areas described in Rule 68D-24.143, F.A.C., are depicted on the following drawings:

 

 

 

 

 

Specific Authority 327.04, 327.46 FS. Law Implemented 327.46 FS. History–New 2-25-96, Formerly 62N-24.143, Amended________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Captain Alan Richard, Assistant General Counsel, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sitting as agency head
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: December 6, 2006
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: August 1, 2008