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The Department will brief the Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC) on the status of the proposed revisions to Chapter 62-302 (Surface Water Quality Standards) F.A.C. and Chapter 62-303 (Identification of Impaired Surface Waters), F.A.C., which were approved for adoption by the ERC on December 8, 2011. These rule revisions propose numeric nutrient criteria for lakes, flowing waters (streams), springs, and estuary specific criteria for several Florida estuaries.
The Department will also seek approval from the Commission for proposed amendments to Chapter 62-701, F.A.C., which contains regulations for a wide variety of solid waste facilities including landfills, construction and demolition debris disposal facilities and waste processing facilities. A number of simplifying changes are being proposed to the chapter with the goals of continuing environmental protection but also: (1) reducing unnecessary regulations; (2) reducing costs to the regulated community; (3) clarifying existing regulations; and (4) conforming the chapter to recent statutory changes. These measures will result in a significant savings to the regulated community while continuing to provide environmental protection.
The Department will also seek approval from the Commission for adoption of its proposed revisions to Rules 62-210.200, 62-212.300, 62-212.400, F.A.C., to establish PM2.5 as an air pollutant with a significant emissions rate, thereby making industrial facilities that would potentially increase their emissions of PM2.5 or its precursors by a significant amount subject to major source preconstruction review. The proposed amendments are consistent with federal regulation, policy, and guidance, and they do not impose any requirements beyond or in addition to the minimum federal program. The Department will also bring before the ERC its proposal to repeal Rule 62-296.341, F.A.C., to eliminate an unnecessary permitting requirement that was initially promulgated to satisfy federal regional haze regulations, but was later rejected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a means to satisfy such regulations. The rule section is no longer necessary to serve its original purpose.