By notice published in the Florida Administrative Register on February 12, 2015, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) initiated rulemaking to amend its rules consistent with Section 373.4131, F.S. These rules were last amended on ...

 

WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

St. Johns River Water Management District

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

40C-44.021Definitions

40C-44.065Performance Standards

40C-44.066Water Quality Practices

40C-44.071Relationship to Other Permitting Requirements

40C-44.091Publications Incorporated by Reference

40C-44.101Content of the Application

40C-44.301Conditions for Issuance of Permits

40C-44.900Forms and Instructions

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: By notice published in the Florida Administrative Register on February 12, 2015, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) initiated rulemaking to amend its rules consistent with Section 373.4131, F.S. These rules were last amended on October 1, 2013, to make them consistent with section 373.4131, F.S., which required the Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) in coordination with the five water management districts (“WMDs”) to develop statewide environmental resource permitting (“ERP”) rules. The purpose and effect of this rulemaking will be to make corrections and provide clarifications that have been identified as necessary since October 1, 2013, and to address comments received from the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC). More specifically, the effect of the rulemaking will be to: (1) update the effective date for Part VII of the “Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook, Volume II: For Use within the Geographic Limits of the St. Johns River Water Management District” (Volume II), incorporated by reference in 40C-44.091, F.A.C., since SJRWMD intends to amend this part of Volume II; (2) replace references to “reuse” with “harvesting” or “stormwater harvesting” since those terms are used in Volume II to refer to methods that prevent the discharge of stormwater into surface waters of the State by deliberate application of stormwater for irrigation; (3) repeal subsections 40C-44.065(2)-(3), F.A.C. and rule 40C-44.900, F.A.C. as the District has determined these provisions are no longer needed in light of (a) amendments that became effective October 1, 2013, and (b) existing statutory and rule provisions; (4) add a definition of “NAVD” in 40C-44.021, F.A.C.; and (5) update 40C-44.301(3), F.A.C., which currently references 40C-44.900, F.A.C., because 40C-44.900, F.A.C. is being repealed (for being redundant with 40C-44.101(2), F.A.C.). The proposed rule revisions to Part VII of Volume II will: (1) delete references to appendices D through G which are now incorporated by reference in rules 40C-44.061 and 40C-44.101, F.A.C. as Forms 40C-44.101(2), EN-14M, Table 1, and EN-52 (including §§14.3, 16.3.2, 16.6.2, 16.6.3); (2) revise in part the procedure for processing and submitting applications for certain agricultural surface water management systems to make it consistent with “Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook, Volume I (General and Environmental)” (including §15.4.1); (3) delete certain provisions related to performance standards that have been determined unnecessary since they are subsumed or incorporated in other provisions of the rule or addressed by statute (including §§14.5, 19.1.1); and (4) amend several provisions to implement conforming, clarifying and technical changes (including §§ 15.4, 16.3.2, 16.6.2, 16.6.3, 17.2, 18.1.1, 19.2.2, 19.2.4).

SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendments will correct and clarify text in light of provisions in Chapter 62-330 and “Environmental Resource Applicant’s Handbook, Volume I (General and Environmental)” and make conforming, technical and clarifying changes throughout the rules and “Applicant’s Handbook Environmental Resource Applicant’s Handbook, Volume II: For Use Within the Geographic Limits of the St. Johns River Water Management District”. Additionally, subsection 40C-44.301(3), F.A.C. will be updated to reference 40C-44.101(2), F.A.C. (rather than 40C-44.900, F.A.C.), and rule 40C-44.900 and subsections 40C-44.065(2) and (3), F.A.C. will be repealed since they are subsumed or incorporated in other rule or statutory provisions.

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: The District has completed for the Governor’s Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform (OFARR) the “Is a SERC Required?” form and prepared a summary of the proposed rule amendments, which are both available upon request. Based on the completed “Is a SERC Required?” form and summary and the analysis performed by the District’s staff in preparing and completing those documents, the proposed rule amendments are not expected to require legislative ratification pursuant to subsection 120.541(3), F.S.

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: 369.318, 373.016, 373.044, 373.113, 373.118, 373.171, 373.406, 373.413, 373.4131, 373.416, 373.418 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 373.016, 369.318, 373.016, 373.103, 373.406, 373.409, 373.413, 373.4131, 373.416, 373.418, 373.426, 373.461 373.603, 373.609, 373.613 FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

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: District Clerk, [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: Veronika Thiebach, Sr. Assistant General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529, [phone], email [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

40C-44.021 Definitions.

(1) through (3) No change.

(4) “Conservation Plan” means a document, which describes a system of management practices to control and reduce soil erosion and sediment loss, and improve the quality of discharged water for a specific parcel of property, and which has been either:

(a) Prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in conjunction with a local Soil and Water Conservation District Board, organized pursuant to Chapter 582, F.S., which includes and applies the appropriate management practices consistent with the SCS Field Office Technical Guide – Section IV and the Best Management Practices Selector, incorporated by reference in Rule 40C-44.091, F.A.C., and which includes the following elements when appropriate for the proposed land use:

1. through 6. No change.

7. Harvesting Reuse of the runoff from the agricultural site, using reservoir or canal storage already existing, proposed as part of the plan or otherwise required by permit, for uses such as freeze protection, soil flooding for pest control or soil preservation, or irrigation needs; and

8. No change.

(b) Prepared by a private consultant, who has professional expertise in the fields of hydrology, water pollution control, irrigation design and soil conservation, according to standards, specifications and guidelines developed by SCS. The plan must include and apply the appropriate management practices consistent with the SCS Field Office Technical Guide – Section IV and the Best Management Practices Selector, incorporated by reference in Rule 40C-44.091, F.A.C., and include the following elements when appropriate for the proposed land use:

1. through 6.  No change.

7. Appropriate harvesting reuse of the annual stormwater runoff from the agricultural site for uses such as freeze protection, soil flooding for pest control or soil preservation, or irrigation needs;

8. and 9. No change.

(5) through (9) No change.

(10) “NAVD” means North American vertical datum.

Renumber (10) through (15) as (11) through (16) No change.

This rule will become effective on January 1, 2016, or upon the date that any related amendments to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the Notice of Rule Development published in the Florida Administrative Register on September 3, 2014 (Vol. 40, No. 17) take effect, whichever is later.

Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113, 373.171, 373.418 FS. Law Implemented, 373.413, 373.416 FS. History–New 8-11-91, Amended 10-20-92, 10-3-95, 12-3-06, 10-1-13,                                      ____________.

 

40C-44.065 Performance Standards.

(1) No change.

(2) The surface water management system shall be designed, operated and maintained to

Provide a level of treatment so that discharges will not contain more than 20 mg/l BOD or 20 mg/l of total suspended solids.

(3) In addition to subsections (1) and (2), the applicant is advised that discharges from the agricultural surface water management system will be required to comply with a waste load allocation, or a pollutant load reduction goal pursuant to Chapter 62-40, F.A.C., when said allocation or goal is adopted by District rule, such that the operation is consistent with the objectives of the District as set forth in section 18.0 of  “Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook, Volume II: For Use Within The Geographic Limits of the St. Johns River Water Management District”, which is hereby incorporated by reference as of (10-1-13) and available at [http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-03002] and upon request from the St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, FL 32177-2529. Nothing herein shall be construed to exempt discharges from meeting said allocation or goal.

Renumber (4) through (5) as (2) through (3) No change.

This rule will become effective on January 1, 2016, or upon the date that any related amendments to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the Notice of Rule Development published in the Florida Administrative Register on September 3, 2014 (Vol. 40, No. 17) take effect, whichever is later.

Rulemaking Authority 369.318, 373.044, 373.113, 373.171, 373.415, 373.416, 373.418, 373.461 FS. Law Implemented 369.318, 373.016, 373.413, 373.4131, 373.416, 373.418, 373.426, 373.461 FS. History–New 8-11-91, Amended 10-20-92, 10-3-95, 12-3-06, 10-1-13,                                      __________.

 

40C-44.066 Water Quality Practices.

The practices listed below are set forth in this rule for the purpose of evaluating compliance with this chapter. It is presumed the water quality practices implemented in accordance with this section will provide reasonable assurance that the system will comply with the performance standards described in Rule 40C-44.065, F.A.C. The water quality practices or other alternatives shall be implemented to the extent necessary to comply with the performance standards described in Rule 40C-44.065, F.A.C. In some cases, the implementation of these practices may not result in compliance with the performance standards for issuance of an individual environmental resource permit for an agricultural system. In those cases, the applicant shall provide for implementation of such additional water quality practices and/or treatment methodologies as necessary to provide reasonable assurance that the discharge will comply with the performance standards described in Rule 40C-44.065, F.A.C.

(1) Reduce the volume of stormwater and associated wastewater discharged to waters of the state by:

(a) No change.

(b) Maximizing on-site recycling to satisfy irrigation, freeze protection and pest control needs. The applicant may demonstrate maximum stormwater harvesting reuse by using all the practically available water from reservoir storage prior to using groundwater.

(2) through (3) No change.

(4) Applicants who propose to satisfy the performance standards in Rule 40C-44.065, F.A.C., by employing a treatment methodology or device other than those described in subsections 40C-44.066(1) through 40C-44.066(3), F.A.C., may seek approval for an equivalent alternative through the District’s individual permit process. The applicant must provide reasonable assurance, through plans, test results or other information, that the alternative will provide an adequate level of treatment to meet the performance standards above.

This rule will become effective on January 1, 2016, or upon the date that any related amendments to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the Notice of Rule Development published in the Florida Administrative Register on September 3, 2014 (Vol. 40, No. 17) take effect, whichever is later.

Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113, 373.171, 373.4131, 373.416, 373.418 FS. Law Implemented 373.016, 373.4131, 373.416 FS. History–New 8-11-91, Amended 10-20-92, 10-3-95, 12-3-06, 10-1-13,                        .

 

40C-44.071 Relationship to Other Permitting Requirements.

(1) No change.

(2) Alterations of existing agricultural surface water management systems, which would otherwise require permits pursuant to paragraph 62-330.020(2)(a), F.A.C., will be considered minor alterations and will qualify for an individual environmental resource permit, pursuant to this chapter, provided they do not increase the peak discharge rate and total discharge volume, when applicable (“Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook, Volume II: For Use Within The Geographic Limits of the St. Johns River Water Management District”, Section 3.2), or alter off-site storage and conveyance capabilities of the water resource (“Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook, Volume II: For Use Within The Geographic Limits of the St. Johns River Water Management District” Section 3.34), or adversely affect wetland functions, (“Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook, Volume I (General and Environmental)” Section 10.2.2) or increase the off-site pollutant loading (“Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook, Volume II: For Use Within The Geographic Limits of the St. Johns River Water Management District” Section 4.0), all as incorporated by reference in paragraph 40C-4.091(1)(a), F.A.C., or implemented pursuant to paragraph 373.4131(2)(a), F.S. (2012), as applicable.

(3) through (5) No change.

This rule will become effective on January 1, 2016, or upon the date that any related amendments to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the Notice of Rule Development published in the Florida Administrative Register on September 3, 2014 (Vol. 40, No. 17) take effect, whichever is later.

Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113, 373.171, 373.416, 373.418 FS. Law Implemented 373.4131, 373.416, 373.418 FS. History–New 8-11-91, Amended 10-20-92, 10-3-95, 12-3-06, 10-1-13,                           .

 

40C-44.091 Publications Incorporated by Reference.

(1) The Governing Board hereby adopts by reference Part VII (sections 14.0-19.2.6), available at [insert URL from DOS http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-03002] and upon request from the St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529 of the document entitled “Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook, Volume II: For Use Within The Geographic Limits of the St. Johns River Water Management District”, effective (effective date 10-1-13).

(a) through (b) No change.

(2) through (3) No change.

This rule will become effective on January 1, 2016, or upon the date that any related amendments to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the Notice of Rule Development published in the Florida Administrative Register on September 3, 2014 (Vol. 40, No. 17) take effect, whichever is later.

Rulemaking Authority 369.318, 373.044, 373.113, 373.171, 373.406, 373.4131, 373.416, 373.418 FS. Law Implemented 369.318, 373.406, 373.413, 373.4131, 373.416, 373.418, 373.426, 373.461, 373.603, 373.609, 373.613 FS. History–New 8-11-91, Amended 10-20-92, 10-3-95, 12-3-06, 10-1-13,                                      .

 

40C-44.101 Content of the Application.

(1) No change.

(2) Applicants for an individual environmental resource permit for an agricultural system under this chapter shall complete District form 40C-44.101(2), (Supplemental Information for Agricultural Systems) incorporated herein by reference, as of (10-1-13), available at [http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02658], and upon request from the St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529, and Section A of form 62-330.060(1), Joint Application for Individual and Conceptual Environmental Resource Permit/Authorization to Use State-Owned Submerged Lands/Federal Dredge and Fill Permit” (effective date 10-1-13), available upon request from the St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529, and implemented pursuant to paragraph 373.4131(2)(a), F.S. (2012).

This rule will become effective on January 1, 2016, or upon the date that any related amendments to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the Notice of Rule Development published in the Florida Administrative Register on September 3, 2014 (Vol. 40, No. 17) take effect, whichever is later.

Rulemaking Authority 369.318, 373.044, 373.113, 373.171, 373.416, 373.418 FS. Law Implemented 369.318, 373.103, 373.413, 373.4131, 373.416, 373.461 FS. History–New 8-11-91, Amended 10-20-92, 10-3-95, 12-3-06, 10-1-13,                                      .

 

40C-44.301  Conditions for Issuance of Permits

(1) through (2) No change.

(3) Existing systems which are required to obtain a permit pursuant to this chapter are presumed to satisfy the conditions for issuance in subsections (1) and (2) above provided the information requested on the appropriate application form, pursuant to Rule 40C-44.101(2) 40C-44.900, F.A.C., is submitted and the applicant demonstrates compliance with the performance standards of Rule 40C-44.065, F.A.C. If available information indicates that the operation and maintenance of the system is inconsistent with the conditions for issuance in subsections (1) and (2) above, the District shall require additional information which demonstrates that the existing system is in compliance with the performance standards of Rule 40C-44.065, F.A.C.

This rule will become effective on January 1, 2016, or upon the date that any related amendments to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the Notice of Rule Development published in the Florida Administrative Register on September 3, 2014 (Vol. 40, No. 17) take effect, whichever is later.

Rulemaking Authority 373.016, 373.044, 373.113, 373.171, 373.406, 373.416, 373.418 FS. Law Implemented 373.016, 373.409, 373.4131, 373.416, 373.418 FS. History–New 8-11-91, Amended 10-20-92, 7-4-93, 10-3-95, 10-1-13,_____________.

 

40C-44.900 Forms and Instructions.

This rule repeal will become effective on January 1, 2016, or upon the date that any related amendments to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the Notice of Rule Development published in the Florida Administrative Register on September 3, 2014 (Vol. 40, No. 17) take effect, whichever is later.

Rulemaking Authority 120.53(1), 369.318, 373.044, 373.113, 373.406, 373.416, 373.418 FS. Law Implemented 120.52(16), 120.53(1), 369.318, 373.103, 373.413, 373.4131, 373.416, 373.461 FS. History–New 8-11-91, Amended 10-20-92, 10-3-95, 12-3-06, 10-1-13, Repealed ,                                 _____________.

 

Sections of St. Johns River Water Management District Applicant’s Handbook (Volume II only) and Appendices that will be incorporated by reference as a result of the proposed amendments may be viewed at http://floridaswater.com/ruledevelopment/.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Veronika Thiebach, Sr. Assistant General Counsel, St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529, [phone] and Thomas Mayton Jr., Sr. Assistant General Counsel, St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529, [phone]

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: November 10, 2015

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: February 12, 2015 (for 40C-44.021, 40C-44.065, 40C-44.066, 40C-44.071, 40C-44.091, 40C-44.101, 40C-44.900, F.A.C.) and November 12, 2015 (for 40C-44.301, F.A.C. only)