62-331.248. General Permit for Florida Department of Transportation and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise

(1) This general permit authorizes activities required for the construction of Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) projects, with a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and/or FDOT approved Environmental Document (PD&E, Categorical Exclusion, Environmental Assessment, Environmental Impact Statement, or State Environmental Impact Report), including non-capacity and capacity improvements, where dredge and fill impacts do not result in the loss of greater than 5.0 acres of state-assumed waters (wetlands and surface waters) for any 1-mile segment of roadway length up to a maximum loss of 50 acres of state-assumed waters per project. This includes FTE projects with an approved state Environmental Document. Secondary impacts associated with projects authorized under this general permit shall be assessed, however, secondary impact acreages will not count toward the impact acreage limits (5.0 acres/1-mile and 50 acres total) within this general permit.

(2) This general permit does not authorize construction of a new alignment (non-existing roadway).

(3) This general permit is subject to the following conditions:

(a) Use of this general permit is limited to linear transportation projects that have been reviewed through the FDOT Efficient Transportation Decision Making (ETDM) and/or Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study. The environmental documents must have been evaluated, re-evaluated, or confirmed to be current within five years of submittal of an application.

(b) The term “capacity” is used to express the maximum number of vehicles or persons that can pass a point on a roadway during a given time period under prevailing roadway and traffic conditions. A capacity improvement project is normally implemented by the addition of through travel lanes. A capacity improvement project can also be a new interchange or new intersection that is contiguous and connects to an existing roadway but would not include a new interchange or intersection that results in a new roadway alignment. Non-capacity improvement projects may include safety improvements, maintenance, bike lane, or sidewalk additions.

(c) No work shall be performed until the permittee submits satisfactory plans for the proposed activity and receives written authorization from the Agency.

(d) If the project includes modification of a federal project, no work shall be performed until the permittee receives authorization under 33 U.S.C §408 from the Corps of Engineers.

(e) Conformance with the descriptions, quantities, and criteria in this general permit does not guarantee authorization under this general permit. The Agency reserves the right to require that any request for authorization under this general permit be evaluated as an individual permit.

(f) A copy of all “Commitments” related to the avoidance and minimization of impacts to state-assumed waters identified in any completed Environmental Documents and the Quality Enhancement Strategies (QES) (effective date), incorporated by reference herein (https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12075), shall be submitted with the permit application prior to verification of this general permit.

(g) Prior to the verification of qualification for this general permit; the applicant shall provide the Agency with copies of the concurrence documents from the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) in Tallahassee and the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) where applicable.

(h) Cultural Resources and/or Historic Properties. In addition to the conditions for general permits in Rule 62-331.200, F.A.C., the following shall apply:

1. No structure or work shall adversely affect, impact, or disturb properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), or those eligible for listing in the NRHP where the adverse effect, impact, or disturbance has not been resolved through consultation with the SHPO.

2. The applicant shall determine and document, in consultation with SHPO, the scope of identification efforts for cultural resources within the undertaking’s area of potential effect and establish a determination of effects based upon these efforts. Documentation of this scope of identification efforts and determination shall be provided in summary form to the Agency along with the concurrence documents from SHPO.

3. If an archaeological monitor is required. A professional archeologist who meets the “Archeology and Historic Preservation: Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines” shall be onsite during the initial ground-disturbing activities. The professional archeologist shall be responsible for monitoring the spoil and ground disturbance for archaeological deposits. Should potential significant archaeological deposits (which shall include, but not be limited to: pottery, modified shell, flora, fauna, human remains, ceramics, stone tools or metal implements, dugout canoes, evidence of structures or any other physical remains that could be associated with Native American cultures or early colonial or American settlement), recovery be encountered, all work and ground disturbing activities must cease within a 100-meter diameter of the discovery to allow for proper assessment, recording, and recovery of the cultural deposits in a professional manner. The archeologist on site shall notify the Permittee, SHPO, and the Agency the same business day to assess the significance of the discovery and devise appropriate actions, including salvage operations, coordination with the SHPO/THPO, Tribes, and other consulting parties, as appropriate and in compliance with applicable historic preservation laws. Upon completion of the monitoring activities, an archaeological letter must be submitted to the Director of Florida’s Division of Historical Resources (who also serves as the SHPO), along with an updated Florida Master Site File form and, as appropriate, a monitoring report.

(i) Compensatory Mitigation.

1. Mitigation may be accomplished by one or more of the following mechanisms and preference hierarchy.

a. Securing appropriate number and resource type of credits from approved mitigation bank within the project’s service area;

b. Payment of mitigation fees to an approved in-lieu program within the project’s service area;

c. Through a “permittee-responsible” mitigation, including those mitigation projects that are part of the FDOT Mitigation Program in Section 373.4137, F.S.; on-site and in-kind mitigation; or off-site or out-of-kind compensatory mitigation.

d. It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate to the Agency that the mitigation proposal is the environmentally preferable option to replace the ecological functions and services that would be lost though the implementation of any work proposed. All mitigation proposals must be approved prior to verification of this general permit.

2. Prior to proceeding with the activity authorized in this general permit, a final mitigation plan must be approved by the Agency. If the approved mitigation plan is the purchase of mitigation bank or in lieu fee credits, the credits must be purchased or in-lieu fees paid prior to proceeding.

3. When the purchase of mitigation credits is applicable, the Permittee shall provide verification to the Agency indicating the number and type of credits purchased and the specific federal mitigation bank from which credits have been purchased. When payment of in-lieu fees is applicable, evidence of fee payment shall be provided to the Agency. The above-described verification or notification shall be provided to the Agency before commencement of the activities authorized by this general permit.

4. If the general permit verification includes permittee-responsible mitigation, the mitigation plan shall address the components of a complete mitigation plan as described in Rule 62-331.130, F.A.C.

(j) Prior to the verification of projects pursuant to this general permit, the applicant (FDOT, FTE, FHWA, or others) shall provide the Agency with a copy of either a concurrence document (May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect determinations) or a finalized biological opinion (for May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect determinations) written by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), These documents demonstrate that project consultation for federally listed species has been completed.

(k) No authorizations under this general permit shall be made for projects that jeopardize the continued existence of a threatened or endangered species or destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat.

(l) No authorizations under this general permit shall be made for projects resulting in any direct, indirect, or cumulative effect on very rare species, specifically the endangered Perdido Key beach mouse, Choctawhatchee beach mouse, and the St. Andrew beach mouse.

(m) All terms and conditions provided by the USFWS and/or the FWC shall be included as a special condition of any projects verified under this general permit.

(n) This general permit does not authorize stream channelization or the bank-to-bank filling and relocating and/or culverting of more than 300 linear feet of perennial or intermittent natural stream systems. Ditches, canals, swales or other non-natural channelized systems are not included in this restriction. The authorized activities shall not increase flooding, or negatively impact the pre-project hydrologic flow characteristics or water quality of any affected stream. This permit does not authorize severance of connections to upstream or downstream waters.

(o) To the maximum extent practicable, the pre-construction course, condition, capacity, and location of open waters shall be maintained for each activity, including stream channelization and stormwater management activities, except as provided below. The activity shall be constructed to withstand expected high flows. The activity shall not restrict nor impede the passage of normal or high flows, unless the primary purpose of the activity is to impound water or manage high flows. The activity may alter the pre-construction course, condition, capacity, and location of open water if it benefits the aquatic environment (e.g., stream restoration or relocation activities).

(p) This general permit does not authorize fill activities which would sever hydrologic connection between wetlands or other surface waters.

(q) Best management practices for erosion and sediment control shall be used to prevent water quality violations during and after construction. These shall include a construction-phase stormwater management and erosion control plan that is designed and implemented to include site-specific measures adapted from practices and procedures described in “The State of Florida Erosion and Sediment Control Designer and Reviewer Manual, FDOT and FDEP” (June 2007), incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-330.050(9)(b)5., F.A.C. (https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02530).

(r) Authorization under this general permit is void at any time if the information provided by the applicant in support of the permit application proves to have been false, incomplete, or inaccurate.

(s) The permittee shall comply with USFWS “Standard Protection Measures for the Eastern Indigo Snake” (Aug. 12, 2013), incorporated by reference herein (https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12076).

(t) For projects accessible to manatees, the Permittee shall comply with the “Standard Manatee Conditions for In-Water Work” (2011), incorporated by reference in paragraph 62-331.201(4)(n), F.A.C.

(u) As-Built Certification. Within 60 days of completion of the work authorized by this permit, the Permittee shall submit to the Agency as-built drawings of the authorized work and a completed Form 62-331.248(1) “As-Built Certification By Professional Engineer”, incorporated by reference herein (https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12077). The as-built drawings shall be signed and sealed by a registered professional engineer and include the following:

1. A plan view drawing of the location of the authorized work footprint, as shown on the permit drawings, with transparent overlay of the work as constructed in the same scale as the permit drawings on 8½-inch by 11-inch sheets. The plan view drawing should show all “earth disturbance,” including wetland impacts and water management structures.

2. A list of any deviations between the work authorized by this permit and the work as constructed. In the event that the completed work deviates, in any manner, from the authorized work, describe on the attached “As-Built Certification By Professional Engineer” form the deviations between the work authorized by this permit and the work as constructed. Clearly indicate on the as-built drawings any deviations that have been listed. Please note that the depiction and/or description of any deviations on the drawings and/or “As-Built Certification By Professional Engineer” form does not constitute approval of any deviations by the Agency.

3. Include the permit number on all sheets submitted.

Editor notes: The effective date of the rule will be the effective date of assumption, which is the date identified by EPA as published in the Federal Register §373.4146, F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 373.026(7), 373.043, 373.118(1), 373.4131, 373.414(9), 373.4145, 373.4146(2), 403.805(1) FS. Law Implemented 373.118, 373.129, 373.136, 373.413, 373.4131, 373.414, 373.4145, 373.4146, 373.416, 373.422, 373.423, 373.429 FS. History–New 12-22-20.