The purpose of this rule development is to establish an Environmental Resource General Permit to authorize the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) to dredge channels and canals within certain trafficsheds and secondary channel systems, ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

62-330.411General Permit for Public Navigation Channel and Canal Infrastructure by the West Coast Inland Navigation District within Charlotte County

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule development is to establish an Environmental Resource General Permit to authorize the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) to dredge channels and canals within certain trafficsheds and secondary channel systems, located in Charlotte County, that have been determined to make a significant contribution to public boating traffic.

The effect of this rule development would be to further implement WCIND’s “Regional Waterway Management System” (RWMS) within Southwest Florida, and thereby promote safer and more environmentally-friendly boating practices within the area. Qualifying projects would benefit from streamlined permitting reviews and a more certain regulatory outcome, and would receive a Letter of Consent for the use of state-owned submerged lands, if applicable.

Similar general permits have previously been issued for certain WCIND activities covered under the RWMS, within Lee (62-330.412, F.A.C.) and Manatee and Sarasota (62-330.410, F.A.C.) Counties.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., will be amended to add a new general permit for dredging of certain public channels and canals within Charlotte County by the West Coast Inland Navigation District.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 373.026(7), 373.043, 373.118(1), 373.406(5), 373.4131, 373.414(9), 373.418, 403.805(1), 403.814(1) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 253.002, 253.77(1), 253.77(4), 258.42, 373.118(1), 373.406(5), 373.413, 373.4131, 373.414(1), 373.414(1)(b), 373.414(9), 373.416, 373.426, 403.061(34), 403.813(3), 403.814(1) FS.

A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIMES: The workshop will be conducted as two separate sessions on April 1, 2014, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Workshop Session 1 will be held from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., and Session 2 will be held from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The same materials and information will be presented at both sessions, and the public may attend either (or both)

PLACE: The workshop will be held at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950

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 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Andrew May at telephone: [phone], or via e-mail: [e-mail]. 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 A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Andrew May, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Mail Stop 2500, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400, telephone: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail] or facsimile: [phone]. (OGC NO. 13-1285)

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE FROM THE CONTACT PERSON LISTED ABOVE.