62-330.443. General Permit to the Florida Department of Transportation, Counties and Municipalities for Minor Bridge Alteration, Placement, Replacement, Removal, Maintenance, and Operation

(1) A general permit is granted to the Florida Department of Transportation, counties, and municipalities to conduct the activities described below:

(a) For existing maintained roadways and causeways, the alteration, placement, replacement, removal, modification, or maintenance of bridges or bridge culverts and approaches where the combined total of dredging and filling, both temporary and permanent, in wetlands and other surface waters does not exceed 0.5 acre. The total work conducted under notices of intent to use this general permit shall result in the creation of no more than 0.5 acre of new overwater structure for any bridge crossing, including parallel spans, and no new structure area over waters within federally designated critical habitat of Johnson’s seagrass (Halophila johnsonii).

(b) Channel clearing and shaping, not to exceed a combined total of 0.5 acre of dredging and filling in wetlands and other surface waters, to facilitate maximum hydraulic efficiency of the structures detailed in paragraph (a), above, where the spoil material is used on an upland portion of the project or is deposited on a self-contained, upland spoil site. Escape of spoil material or water from the spoil deposition area into wetlands or other surface waters is prohibited.

(2) This general permit shall be subject to the following specific conditions:

(a) No dredging of access or work channels is authorized by this general permit;

(b) Temporary fill roads shall not be constructed waterward of mean high water or ordinary high water;

(c) All fill placed in wetlands, other than fill on which a bridge or approach is constructed, shall be regraded to the original wetland elevations and revegetated with native wetland species endemic to adjoining, undisturbed wetlands, within seven days of completion of construction. Within “clear zones,” revegetation shall be with native herbaceous species endemic to adjoining, undisturbed wetlands. During the five-year period following the initial planting or restoration of the site, these areas shall be maintained to ensure planted or naturally recruited native wetland species are surviving and growing, and that the areal coverage of exotic and invasive species constitutes less than 10% areal coverage;

(d) Hydraulic openings of bridges shall be sufficient to prevent downstream scour, increased downstream water velocities, and increased flood elevations on the property of others;

(e) Minimum horizontal and vertical navigational clearances on bridges over navigable waters of the United States shall be established in accordance with procedures outlined in Chapter 2 of the U.S. Coast Guard Bridge Administration Manual, COMDTINST M16590.5C, (March 26, 2004), incorporated by reference herein (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-03150), a copy of which may be obtained from the Agency, as described in subsection 62-330.010(5), F.A.C, and in no circumstance shall placement or replacement of a bridge result in a reduction of horizontal and vertical navigational clearances;

(f) Replacement or modification of a bridge that includes changes in the configuration of the bridge and fill areas due to changes in materials, construction techniques, or meeting current construction codes or safety standards are authorized under this permit. Any connecting road expansion or alteration associated with such replacement or modification must be authorized by a separate general or individual permit under chapter 62-330, F.A.C., as applicable, before the start of construction; and

(g) This general permit does not authorize the construction of additional travel lanes for motorized vehicles, except that any single-lane bridge may be widened to two travel lanes, provided the bridge widening does not exceed that reasonably necessary to match the existing travel lane alignment of a two-lane road. This permit does not authorize new corridors or  roadway connections where there is no existing structure over wetlands or waterways.

Rulemaking Authority 373.026(7), 373.043, 373.118(1), 373.406(5), 373.4131, 373.414(9), 373.418, 403.805(1) FS. Law Implemented 373.118(1), 373.406(5), 373.413, 373.4131, 373.414(9), 373.416, 373.418, 373.419, 403.814(1) FS. History–New 10-3-95, Amended 10-1-07, Formerly 62-341.443, Amended 10-1-13, 6-1-18.