The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) is proposing rules as part of a statewide effort headed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and joined by all five water management districts (WMDs), to increase consistency in the consumptive use permitting (CUP) programs (referred to as “CUPcon”). These proposed rules will make appropriate rule amendments to SJRWMD’s Chapters 40C-1 and 40C-2, F.A.C., and the Applicant’s Handbook: Consumptive Uses of Water (A.H.), to address the following goals of DEP and the WMDs for this CUPcon rulemaking: (1) making the CUP rules less confusing for applicants; (2) treating applicants equitably statewide; (3) providing consistent protection of the environment; (4) streamlining the application and permitting process; and (5) incentivizing behavior that protects water resources, including water conservation. Additional information about the statewide CUP consistency initiative is available at DEP’s website at: www.dep.state.fl.us/water/waterpolicy/cupcon.htm. SJRWMD is also proposing to create new exemptions and general permits by rule and to repeal Chapters 40C-20, and 40C-22, F.A.C.