Purpose


The fees charged by the Department (DEP) to process applications, notices, and petitions for environmental resource permit (ERP) activities regulated under Part IV of Chapter 373, F.S., are being amended. These amendments will be made in paragraphs 62-4.050(4)(h) and (i), F.A.C. These amendments are made in conjunction with amendments to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., to implement the statewide environmental resource permit (SWERP) rule authorized by Section 373.4131, F.S. The processing fees apply to both DEP and the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) for applications, notices, and petitions processed by either Agency within the NWFWMD. The fees also will apply to DEP statewide when it is responsible for the review and agency action on an ERP activity; separate rulemaking to amend processing fees has been noticed by the water management districts when they are responsible for the review and agency action on an ERP activity in accordance with the Operating Agreements incorporated by reference between the agencies in Chapters 62-113 and (currently) 62-346, F.A.C. Overall, the rule amendments will simplify the ERP processing fee schedule (to make it easier for staff and the public to determine the correct processing fee), while keeping the overall fees collected as revenue-neutral as possible (although fees for some activities will decrease, while others will increase). The proposed minor revisions to Rules 62-4.001 and 62-4.200, F.A.C., are necessary to account for the repeal of rules under Chapters 62-343 and 62-346, F.A.C. that will occur concurrently with the SWERP rulemaking.