Purpose
The Department is initiating rulemaking to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for certain surface waters within the Springs Coast Basin where those waters previously have been identified as impaired for specific pollutants and included on the Department’s verified list of impaired waters. Pursuant to Section 403.067(6), F.S., TMDLs must be adopted in rule by the Secretary of the Department. Chapter 62-304, F.A.C., was established as the rule chapter within which rules adopting TMDLs shall reside. Furthermore, upon paragraph 62-302.531(2)(a), F.A.C., becoming effective, any of these rules which establish nutrient TMDLs, if adopted, are intended to constitute site specific numeric interpretations of the narrative nutrient criterion set forth in paragraph 62-302.530(47)(b), F.A.C. that will supersede the otherwise applicable numeric nutrient criteria in rule 62-302.531 for the particular surface water segment.