Bill Text: FL S1684 | 2013 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Environmental Regulation
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-05-02 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 999 (Ch. 2013-92) [S1684 Detail]
Download: Florida-2013-S1684-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2013 CS for CS for SB 1684
By the Committees on Appropriations; and Environmental
Preservation and Conservation; and Senator Altman
576-04947-13 20131684c2
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to environmental regulation; amending
3 s. 20.255, F.S.; authorizing the Department of
4 Environmental Protection to adopt rules requiring or
5 incentivizing the electronic submission of certain
6 forms, documents, fees, and reports; amending ss.
7 125.022 and 166.033, F.S.; providing requirements for
8 the review of development permit applications by
9 counties and municipalities; amending s. 211.3103,
10 F.S.; revising the definition of the term “phosphate
11 related expenses” to include maintenance and
12 restoration of certain lands; amending s. 253.0345,
13 F.S.; revising provisions for the duration of leases
14 and letters of consent issued by the Board of Trustees
15 of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund for special
16 events; providing conditions for fees relating to such
17 leases and letters of consent; creating s. 253.0346,
18 F.S.; defining the term “first-come, first-served
19 basis”; providing conditions for the discount and
20 waiver of lease fees and surcharges for certain
21 marinas, boatyards, and marine retailers; providing
22 applicability; amending s. 253.0347, F.S.; providing
23 exemptions from lease fees for certain lessees;
24 amending s. 373.118, F.S.; deleting provisions
25 requiring the department to adopt general permits for
26 public marina facilities; deleting certain
27 requirements under general permits for public marina
28 facilities and mooring fields; limiting the number of
29 vessels for mooring fields authorized under such
30 permits; authorizing the department to issue certain
31 leases; amending s. 373.233, F.S.; clarifying
32 conditions for competing applications for consumptive
33 use of water permits; amending s. 373.236, F.S.;
34 prohibiting water management districts from reducing
35 certain allocations as a result of activities
36 involving a new seawater desalination plant that does
37 not receive funding from a water management district;
38 providing an exception; amending s. 373.246, F.S.;
39 allowing the governing board or the department to
40 notify a permittee by electronic mail of any change in
41 the condition of his or her permit during a declared
42 water shortage or emergency; amending s. 373.308,
43 F.S.; providing that issuance of well permits is the
44 sole responsibility of water management districts,
45 delegated local governments, and local county health
46 departments; prohibiting other local governmental
47 entities from imposing requirements and fees or
48 establishing programs for installation and abandonment
49 of groundwater wells; amending s. 373.323, F.S.;
50 providing that licenses issued by water management
51 districts are the only water well contractor licenses
52 required for location, construction, repair, or
53 abandonment of water wells; authorizing licensed water
54 well contractors to install equipment for all water
55 systems; amending s. 373.406, F.S.; exempting
56 specified ponds and wetlands from surface water
57 management and storage requirements; requiring that a
58 request for an exemption be made within a certain time
59 period and that activities not begin until such
60 exemption is made; exempting certain water control
61 districts from certain wetlands regulation; amending
62 s. 376.30713, F.S.; increasing maximum costs for
63 preapproved advanced cleanup in a fiscal year;
64 amending s. 376.313, F.S.; holding harmless a person
65 who discharges pollution pursuant to ch. 403, F.S.;
66 amending s. 403.031, F.S.; defining the term
67 “beneficiary”; amending s. 403.061, F.S.; authorizing
68 the department to adopt rules requiring or
69 incentivizing the electronic submission of certain
70 forms, documents, fees, and reports; amending s.
71 403.0872, F.S.; extending the payment deadline of
72 permit fees for major sources of air pollution and
73 conforming the date for related notice by the
74 department; revising provisions for the calculation of
75 such annual fees; amending s. 403.088, F.S.; revising
76 conditions for water pollution operation permits;
77 requiring the department to meet certain standards in
78 making determinations; amending s. 403.0893, F.S.;
79 authorizing stormwater utility fees to be charged to
80 the beneficiaries of the stormwater utility; amending
81 s. 403.7046, F.S.; providing requirements for the
82 review of recovered materials dealer registration
83 applications; providing that a recovered materials
84 dealer may seek injunctive relief or damages for
85 certain violations; amending s. 403.813, F.S.;
86 revising conditions under which certain permits are
87 not required for seawall restoration projects;
88 creating s. 403.8141, F.S.; requiring the Department
89 of Environmental Protection to establish permits for
90 special events; providing permit requirements;
91 amending s. 403.973, F.S.; authorizing expedited
92 permitting for natural gas pipelines, subject to
93 specified certification; providing that natural gas
94 pipelines are subject to certain requirements;
95 ratifying and approving certain leases approved by the
96 Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust
97 Fund; provided findings that the decision to authorize
98 the use of board of trustees-owned uplands and the use
99 of those lands as set forth in certain leases is not
100 contrary to the public interest; providing that
101 changes made by this act to ss. 403.031 and 403.0893,
102 F.S., apply only to stormwater utility fees billed on
103 or after July 1, 2013, to a stormwater utility’s
104 beneficiary for services provided on or after that
105 date; providing an effective date.
106
107 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
108
109 Section 1. Subsection (8) is added to section 20.255,
110 Florida Statutes, to read:
111 20.255 Department of Environmental Protection.—There is
112 created a Department of Environmental Protection.
113 (8) The department may adopt rules requiring or
114 incentivizing electronic submission of forms, documents, fees,
115 or reports required under chapter 161, chapter 253, chapter 373,
116 chapter 376, chapter 377, or chapter 403. The rules must
117 reasonably accommodate technological or financial hardship and
118 must provide procedures for obtaining an exemption due to such
119 hardship.
120 Section 2. Section 125.022, Florida Statutes, is amended to
121 read:
122 125.022 Development permits.—
123 (1) When reviewing an application for a development permit
124 that is certified by a professional listed in s. 403.0877, a
125 county may not request additional information from the applicant
126 more than three times, unless the applicant waives the
127 limitation in writing. Before a third request for additional
128 information, the applicant must be offered a meeting to attempt
129 to resolve outstanding issues. Except as provided in subsection
130 (4), if the applicant believes the request for additional
131 information is not authorized by ordinance, rule, statute, or
132 other legal authority, the county, at the applicant’s request,
133 shall proceed to process the application for approval or denial.
134 (2) When a county denies an application for a development
135 permit, the county shall give written notice to the applicant.
136 The notice must include a citation to the applicable portions of
137 an ordinance, rule, statute, or other legal authority for the
138 denial of the permit.
139 (3) As used in this section, the term “development permit”
140 has the same meaning as in s. 163.3164 but does not include
141 building permits.
142 (4) For any development permit application filed with the
143 county after July 1, 2012, a county may not require as a
144 condition of processing or issuing a development permit that an
145 applicant obtain a permit or approval from any state or federal
146 agency unless the agency has issued a final agency action that
147 denies the federal or state permit before the county action on
148 the local development permit.
149 (5) Issuance of a development permit by a county does not
150 in any way create any rights on the part of the applicant to
151 obtain a permit from a state or federal agency and does not
152 create any liability on the part of the county for issuance of
153 the permit if the applicant fails to obtain requisite approvals
154 or fulfill the obligations imposed by a state or federal agency
155 or undertakes actions that result in a violation of state or
156 federal law. A county may attach such a disclaimer to the
157 issuance of a development permit and may include a permit
158 condition that all other applicable state or federal permits be
159 obtained before commencement of the development.
160 (6) This section does not prohibit a county from providing
161 information to an applicant regarding what other state or
162 federal permits may apply.
163 Section 3. Section 166.033, Florida Statutes, is amended to
164 read:
165 166.033 Development permits.—
166 (1) When reviewing an application for a development permit
167 that is certified by a professional listed in s. 403.0877, a
168 municipality may not request additional information from the
169 applicant more than three times, unless the applicant waives the
170 limitation in writing. Before a third request for additional
171 information, the applicant must be offered a meeting to attempt
172 to resolve outstanding issues. Except as provided in subsection
173 (4), if the applicant believes the request for additional
174 information is not authorized by ordinance, rule, statute, or
175 other legal authority, the municipality, at the applicant’s
176 request, shall proceed to process the application for approval
177 or denial.
178 (2) When a municipality denies an application for a
179 development permit, the municipality shall give written notice
180 to the applicant. The notice must include a citation to the
181 applicable portions of an ordinance, rule, statute, or other
182 legal authority for the denial of the permit.
183 (3) As used in this section, the term “development permit”
184 has the same meaning as in s. 163.3164 but does not include
185 building permits.
186 (4) For any development permit application filed with the
187 municipality after July 1, 2012, a municipality may not require
188 as a condition of processing or issuing a development permit
189 that an applicant obtain a permit or approval from any state or
190 federal agency unless the agency has issued a final agency
191 action that denies the federal or state permit before the
192 municipal action on the local development permit.
193 (5) Issuance of a development permit by a municipality does
194 not in any way create any right on the part of an applicant to
195 obtain a permit from a state or federal agency and does not
196 create any liability on the part of the municipality for
197 issuance of the permit if the applicant fails to obtain
198 requisite approvals or fulfill the obligations imposed by a
199 state or federal agency or undertakes actions that result in a
200 violation of state or federal law. A municipality may attach
201 such a disclaimer to the issuance of development permits and may
202 include a permit condition that all other applicable state or
203 federal permits be obtained before commencement of the
204 development.
205 (6) This section does not prohibit a municipality from
206 providing information to an applicant regarding what other state
207 or federal permits may apply.
208 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of section
209 211.3103, Florida Statutes is amended to read:
210 211.3103 Levy of tax on severance of phosphate rock; rate,
211 basis, and distribution of tax.—
212 (6)
213 (c) For purposes of this section, “phosphate-related
214 expenses” means those expenses that provide for infrastructure
215 or services in support of the phosphate industry, including
216 environmental education, reclamation or restoration of phosphate
217 lands, maintenance and restoration of reclaimed lands and county
218 owned environmental lands which were formerly phosphate lands,
219 community infrastructure on such reclaimed lands and county
220 owned environmental lands which were formerly phosphate lands,
221 and similar expenses directly related to support of the
222 industry.
223 Section 5. Section 253.0345, Florida Statutes, is amended
224 to read:
225 253.0345 Special events; submerged land leases.—
226 (1) The trustees may are authorized to issue leases or
227 letters of consent consents of use or leases to riparian
228 landowners, special and event promoters, and boat show owners to
229 allow the installation of temporary structures, including docks,
230 moorings, pilings, and access walkways, on sovereign submerged
231 lands solely for the purpose of facilitating boat shows and
232 displays in, or adjacent to, established marinas or government
233 owned government owned upland property. Riparian owners of
234 adjacent uplands who are not seeking a lease or letter of
235 consent of use shall be notified by certified mail of any
236 request for such a lease or letter of consent before of use
237 prior to approval by the trustees. The trustees shall balance
238 the interests of any objecting riparian owners with the economic
239 interests of the public and the state as a factor in determining
240 whether if a lease or letter of consent of use should be
241 executed over the objection of adjacent riparian owners. This
242 section does shall not apply to structures for viewing motorboat
243 racing, high-speed motorboat contests, or high-speed displays in
244 waters where manatees are known to frequent.
245 (2) A lease or letter of consent for a Any special event
246 under provided for in subsection (1):
247 (a) Shall be for a period not to exceed 45 30 days and a
248 duration not to exceed 10 consecutive years.
249 (b) Shall include a lease fee, if applicable, based solely
250 on the period and actual size of the preemption and conditions
251 to allow reconfiguration of temporary structures within the
252 lease area with notice to the department of the configuration
253 and size of preemption within the lease area.
254 (c) The lease or letter of consent of use may also contain
255 appropriate requirements for removal of the temporary
256 structures, including the posting of sufficient surety to
257 guarantee appropriate funds for removal of the structures should
258 the promoter or riparian owner fail to do so within the time
259 specified in the agreement.
260 (3) Nothing in This section does not shall be construed to
261 allow any lease or letter of consent of use that would result in
262 harm to the natural resources of the area as a result of the
263 structures or the activities of the special events agreed to.
264 Section 6. Section 253.0346, Florida Statutes, is created
265 to read:
266 253.0346 Lease of sovereignty submerged lands for marinas,
267 boatyards, and marine retailers.—
268 (1) For purposes of this section, the term “first-come,
269 first-served basis” means the facility operates on state-owned
270 submerged land for which:
271 (a) There is not a club membership, stock ownership, equity
272 interest, or other qualifying requirement.
273 (b) Rental terms do not exceed 12 months and do not include
274 automatic renewal rights or conditions.
275 (2) For marinas that are open to the public on a first
276 come, first-served basis and for which at least 90 percent of
277 the slips are open for rent to the public, a discount of 30
278 percent on the annual lease fee shall apply if dockage rate
279 sheet publications and dockage advertising clearly state that
280 slips are open for rent to the public on a first-come, first
281 served basis.
282 (3) For a facility designated by the department as a Clean
283 Marina, Clean Boatyard, or Clean Marine Retailer under the Clean
284 Marina Program:
285 (a) A discount of 10 percent on the annual lease fee shall
286 apply if the facility:
287 1. Actively maintains designation under the program.
288 2. Complies with the terms of the lease.
289 3. Does not change use during the term of the lease.
290 (b) Extended-term lease surcharges shall be waived if the
291 facility:
292 1. Actively maintains designation under the program.
293 2. Complies with the terms of the lease.
294 3. Does not change use during the term of the lease.
295 4. Is available to the public on a first-come, first-served
296 basis.
297 (c) If the facility is in arrears on lease fees or fails to
298 comply with paragraph (b), the facility is not eligible for the
299 discount or waiver under this subsection until arrears have been
300 paid and compliance with the program has been met.
301 (4) This section applies to new leases or amendments to
302 leases effective after July 1, 2013.
303 Section 7. Paragraphs (e) and (f) are added to subsection
304 (2) of section 253.0347, Florida Statutes, to read:
305 253.0347 Lease of sovereignty submerged lands for private
306 residential docks and piers.—
307 (2)
308 (e) A lessee of sovereignty submerged land for a private
309 residential single-family dock designed to moor up to four boats
310 is not required to pay lease fees for a preempted area equal to
311 or less than 10 times the riparian shoreline along sovereignty
312 submerged land on the affected waterbody or the square footage
313 authorized for a private residential single-family dock under
314 rules adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Internal
315 Improvement Trust Fund for the management of sovereignty
316 submerged lands, whichever is greater.
317 (f) A lessee of sovereignty submerged land for a private
318 residential multifamily dock designed to moor boats up to the
319 number of units within the multifamily development is not
320 required to pay lease fees for a preempted area equal to or less
321 than 10 times the riparian shoreline along sovereignty submerged
322 land on the affected waterbody times the number of units with
323 docks in the private multifamily development.
324 Section 8. Subsection (4) of section 373.118, Florida
325 Statutes, is amended to read:
326 373.118 General permits; delegation.—
327 (4) The department shall adopt by rule one or more general
328 permits for local governments to construct, operate, and
329 maintain public marina facilities, public mooring fields, public
330 boat ramps, including associated courtesy docks, and associated
331 parking facilities located in uplands. Such general permits
332 adopted by rule shall include provisions to ensure compliance
333 with part IV of this chapter, subsection (1), and the criteria
334 necessary to include the general permits in a state programmatic
335 general permit issued by the United States Army Corps of
336 Engineers under s. 404 of the Clean Water Act, Pub. L. No. 92
337 500, as amended, 33 U.S.C. ss. 1251 et seq. A facility
338 authorized under such general permits is exempt from review as a
339 development of regional impact if the facility complies with the
340 comprehensive plan of the applicable local government. Such
341 facilities shall be consistent with the local government manatee
342 protection plan required pursuant to chapter 379 and shall
343 obtain Clean Marina Program status prior to opening for
344 operation and maintain that status for the life of the facility.
345 Marinas and mooring fields authorized under any such general
346 permit shall not exceed an area of 50,000 square feet over
347 wetlands and other surface waters. Mooring fields authorized
348 under such general permits may not exceed 100 vessels. All
349 facilities permitted under this section shall be constructed,
350 maintained, and operated in perpetuity for the exclusive use of
351 the general public. The Board of Trustees of the Internal
352 Improvement Trust Fund may delegate to the department authority
353 to issue leases for mooring fields that meet the requirements of
354 permits issued under this subsection. The department shall
355 initiate the rulemaking process within 60 days after the
356 effective date of this act.
357 Section 9. Subsection (1) of section 373.233, Florida
358 Statutes, is amended to read:
359 373.233 Competing applications.—
360 (1) If two or more applications that which otherwise comply
361 with the provisions of this part are pending for a quantity of
362 water that is inadequate for both or all, or that which for any
363 other reason are in conflict, and the water management district
364 or department has deemed the applications complete, the
365 governing board or the department has shall have the right to
366 approve or modify the application that which best serves the
367 public interest.
368 Section 10. Subsection (4) of section 373.236, Florida
369 Statutes, is amended to read:
370 373.236 Duration of permits; compliance reports.—
371 (4) Where necessary to maintain reasonable assurance that
372 the conditions for issuance of a 20-year permit can continue to
373 be met, the governing board or department, in addition to any
374 conditions required pursuant to s. 373.219, may require a
375 compliance report by the permittee every 10 years during the
376 term of a permit. The Suwannee River Water Management District
377 may require a compliance report by the permittee every 5 years
378 through July 1, 2015, and thereafter every 10 years during the
379 term of the permit. This report shall contain sufficient data to
380 maintain reasonable assurance that the initial conditions for
381 permit issuance are met. Following review of this report, the
382 governing board or the department may modify the permit to
383 ensure that the use meets the conditions for issuance. Permit
384 modifications pursuant to this subsection are shall not be
385 subject to competing applications, provided there is no increase
386 in the permitted allocation or permit duration, and no change in
387 source, except for changes in source requested by the district.
388 In order to promote the sustainability of natural systems
389 through the diversification of water supplies through the
390 development of seawater desalination plants, a water management
391 district shall not reduce an existing permitted allocation of
392 water during the permit term as a result of planned future
393 construction of, or additional water becoming available from, a
394 new seawater desalination plant that does not receive funding
395 from a water management district. Except as expressly provided
396 herein, nothing in this subsection may shall not be construed to
397 alter a district’s limit the existing authority of the
398 department or the governing board to modify or revoke a
399 consumptive use permit pursuant to chapter 373.
400 Section 11. Subsection (6) of section 373.246, Florida
401 Statutes, is amended to read:
402 373.246 Declaration of water shortage or emergency.—
403 (6) The governing board or the department shall notify each
404 permittee in the district by electronic mail or regular mail of
405 any change in the condition of his or her permit or any
406 suspension of his or her permit or of any other restriction on
407 the permittee’s use of water for the duration of the water
408 shortage.
409 Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 373.308, Florida
410 Statutes, is amended to read:
411 373.308 Implementation of programs for regulating water
412 wells.—
413 (1) The department shall authorize the governing board of a
414 water management district to implement a program for the
415 issuance of permits for the location, construction, repair, and
416 abandonment of water wells. Upon authorization from the
417 department, issuance of well permits will be the sole
418 responsibility of the water management district, delegated local
419 government, or local county health department. Other local
420 governmental entities may not impose additional or duplicate
421 requirements or fees or establish a separate program for the
422 permitting of the location, abandonment, boring, or other
423 activities reasonably associated with the installation and
424 abandonment of a groundwater well.
425 Section 13. Subsections (1) and (10) of section 373.323,
426 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
427 373.323 Licensure of water well contractors; application,
428 qualifications, and examinations; equipment identification.—
429 (1) Every person who wishes to engage in business as a
430 water well contractor shall obtain from the water management
431 district a license to conduct such business. Licensure under
432 this part by a water management district shall be the only water
433 well contractor license required for the location, construction,
434 repair, or abandonment of water wells in the state or any
435 political subdivision thereof.
436 (10) Water well contractors licensed under this section may
437 install, repair, and modify pumps and tanks in accordance with
438 the Florida Building Code, Plumbing; Section 612—Wells pumps and
439 tanks used for private potable water systems. In addition,
440 licensed water well contractors may install pumps, tanks, and
441 water conditioning equipment for all water well systems.
442 Section 14. Subsections (13) through (15) are added to
443 section 373.406, Florida Statutes, to read:
444 373.406 Exemptions.—The following exemptions shall apply:
445 (13) Nothing in this part, or in any rule, regulation, or
446 order adopted pursuant to this part, applies to the
447 construction, alteration, operation, or maintenance of any
448 wholly owned, manmade, excavated farm ponds, as defined in s.
449 403.927, constructed entirely in uplands. Alteration or
450 maintenance may not involve any work to connect the farm pond
451 to, or expand the farm pond into, other wetlands or other
452 surface waters.
453 (14) Nothing in this part, or in any rule, regulation, or
454 order adopted pursuant to this part, may require a permit for
455 activities affecting wetlands created solely by the unauthorized
456 flooding or interference with the natural flow of surface water
457 caused by an unaffiliated adjoining landowner. Requests to
458 qualify for this exemption must be made within 7 years after the
459 cause of such unauthorized flooding or unauthorized interference
460 with the natural flow of surface water and must be submitted in
461 writing to the district or department. Such activities may not
462 begin without a written determination from the district or
463 department confirming that the activity qualifies for the
464 exemption. This exemption does not expand the jurisdiction of
465 the department or water management districts and does not apply
466 to activities that discharge dredged or fill material into
467 waters of the United States, including wetlands, subject to
468 federal jurisdiction under section 404 of the Clean Water Act,
469 33 U.S.C. s. 1344.
470 (15) Any independent water control district created before
471 July 1, 2013, and operating pursuant to chapter 298 for which a
472 valid environmental resource permit has been issued pursuant to
473 this part is exempt from further wetlands regulations imposed
474 pursuant to chapters 125, 163, and 166.
475 Section 15. Subsection (4) of section 376.30713, Florida
476 Statutes, is amended to read:
477 376.30713 Preapproved advanced cleanup.—
478 (4) The department is authorized to enter into contracts
479 contract for a total of up to $15 $10 million of preapproved
480 advanced cleanup work in each fiscal year. However, no facility
481 shall be preapproved for more than $5 million $500,000 of
482 cleanup activity in each fiscal year. For the purposes of this
483 section the term “facility” shall include, but not be limited
484 to, multiple site facilities such as airports, port facilities,
485 and terminal facilities even though such enterprises may be
486 treated as separate facilities for other purposes under this
487 chapter.
488 Section 16. Subsection (3) of section 376.313, Florida
489 Statutes, is amended to read:
490 376.313 Nonexclusiveness of remedies and individual cause
491 of action for damages under ss. 376.30-376.317.—
492 (3) Except as provided in s. 376.3078(3) and (11), nothing
493 contained in ss. 376.30-376.317 prohibits any person from
494 bringing a cause of action in a court of competent jurisdiction
495 for all damages resulting from a discharge or other condition of
496 pollution covered by ss. 376.30-376.317 which was not authorized
497 pursuant to chapter 403. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit
498 or diminish a party’s right to contribution from other parties
499 jointly or severally liable for a prohibited discharge of
500 pollutants or hazardous substances or other pollution
501 conditions. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) or
502 subsection (5), in any such suit, it is not necessary for such
503 person to plead or prove negligence in any form or manner. Such
504 person need only plead and prove the fact of the prohibited
505 discharge or other pollutive condition and that it has occurred.
506 The only defenses to such cause of action shall be those
507 specified in s. 376.308.
508 Section 17. Subsection (22) is added to section 403.031,
509 Florida Statutes, to read:
510 403.031 Definitions.—In construing this chapter, or rules
511 and regulations adopted pursuant hereto, the following words,
512 phrases, or terms, unless the context otherwise indicates, have
513 the following meanings:
514 (22) “Beneficiary” means any person, partnership,
515 corporation, business entity, charitable organization, not-for
516 profit corporation, state, county, district, authority, or
517 municipal unit of government or any other separate unit of
518 government created or established by law.
519 Section 18. Subsection (43) is added to section 403.061,
520 Florida Statutes, to read:
521 403.061 Department; powers and duties.—The department shall
522 have the power and the duty to control and prohibit pollution of
523 air and water in accordance with the law and rules adopted and
524 promulgated by it and, for this purpose, to:
525 (43) Adopt rules requiring or incentivizing the electronic
526 submission of forms, documents, fees, or reports required under
527 chapter 161, chapter 253, chapter 373, chapter 376, chapter 377,
528 or this chapter. The rules must reasonably accommodate
529 technological or financial hardship and provide procedures for
530 obtaining an exemption due to such hardship.
531
532 The department shall implement such programs in conjunction with
533 its other powers and duties and shall place special emphasis on
534 reducing and eliminating contamination that presents a threat to
535 humans, animals or plants, or to the environment.
536 Section 19. Paragraph (a) of subsection (11) of section
537 403.0872, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
538 403.0872 Operation permits for major sources of air
539 pollution; annual operation license fee.—Provided that program
540 approval pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s. 7661a has been received from
541 the United States Environmental Protection Agency, beginning
542 January 2, 1995, each major source of air pollution, including
543 electrical power plants certified under s. 403.511, must obtain
544 from the department an operation permit for a major source of
545 air pollution under this section. This operation permit is the
546 only department operation permit for a major source of air
547 pollution required for such source; provided, at the applicant’s
548 request, the department shall issue a separate acid rain permit
549 for a major source of air pollution that is an affected source
550 within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. s. 7651a(1). Operation permits
551 for major sources of air pollution, except general permits
552 issued pursuant to s. 403.814, must be issued in accordance with
553 the procedures contained in this section and in accordance with
554 chapter 120; however, to the extent that chapter 120 is
555 inconsistent with the provisions of this section, the procedures
556 contained in this section prevail.
557 (11) Each major source of air pollution permitted to
558 operate in this state must pay between January 15 and April
559 March 1 of each year, upon written notice from the department,
560 an annual operation license fee in an amount determined by
561 department rule. The annual operation license fee shall be
562 terminated immediately in the event the United States
563 Environmental Protection Agency imposes annual fees solely to
564 implement and administer the major source air-operation permit
565 program in Florida under 40 C.F.R. s. 70.10(d).
566 (a) The annual fee must be assessed based upon the source’s
567 previous year’s emissions and must be calculated by multiplying
568 the applicable annual operation license fee factor times the
569 tons of each regulated air pollutant actually emitted, as
570 calculated in accordance with the department’s emissions
571 computation and reporting rules. The annual fee shall apply only
572 to those regulated pollutants, except carbon monoxide and
573 greenhouse gases, for which an allowable numeric emission
574 limiting standard is specified in (except carbon monoxide)
575 allowed to be emitted per hour by specific condition of the
576 source’s most recent construction or operation permit, times the
577 annual hours of operation allowed by permit condition; provided,
578 however, that:
579 1. The license fee factor is $25 or another amount
580 determined by department rule which ensures that the revenue
581 provided by each year’s operation license fees is sufficient to
582 cover all reasonable direct and indirect costs of the major
583 stationary source air-operation permit program established by
584 this section. The license fee factor may be increased beyond $25
585 only if the secretary of the department affirmatively finds that
586 a shortage of revenue for support of the major stationary source
587 air-operation permit program will occur in the absence of a fee
588 factor adjustment. The annual license fee factor may never
589 exceed $35.
590 2. For any source that operates for fewer hours during the
591 calendar year than allowed under its permit, the annual fee
592 calculation must be based upon actual hours of operation rather
593 than allowable hours if the owner or operator of the source
594 documents the source’s actual hours of operation for the
595 calendar year. For any source that has an emissions limit that
596 is dependent upon the type of fuel burned, the annual fee
597 calculation must be based on the emissions limit applicable
598 during actual hours of operation.
599 3. For any source whose allowable emission limitation is
600 specified by permit per units of material input or heat input or
601 product output, the applicable input or production amount may be
602 used to calculate the allowable emissions if the owner or
603 operator of the source documents the actual input or production
604 amount. If the input or production amount is not documented, the
605 maximum allowable input or production amount specified in the
606 permit must be used to calculate the allowable emissions.
607 4. For any new source that does not receive its first
608 operation permit until after the beginning of a calendar year,
609 the annual fee for the year must be reduced pro rata to reflect
610 the period during which the source was not allowed to operate.
611 5. For any source that emits less of any regulated air
612 pollutant than allowed by permit condition, the annual fee
613 calculation for such pollutant must be based upon actual
614 emissions rather than allowable emissions if the owner or
615 operator documents the source’s actual emissions by means of
616 data from a department-approved certified continuous emissions
617 monitor or from an emissions monitoring method which has been
618 approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
619 under the regulations implementing 42 U.S.C. ss. 7651 et seq.,
620 or from a method approved by the department for purposes of this
621 section.
622 2.6. The amount of each regulated air pollutant in excess
623 of 4,000 tons per year allowed to be emitted by any source, or
624 group of sources belonging to the same Major Group as described
625 in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987, may not
626 be included in the calculation of the fee. Any source, or group
627 of sources, which does not emit any regulated air pollutant in
628 excess of 4,000 tons per year, is allowed a one-time credit not
629 to exceed 25 percent of the first annual licensing fee for the
630 prorated portion of existing air-operation permit application
631 fees remaining upon commencement of the annual licensing fees.
632 3.7. If the department has not received the fee by March 1
633 February 15 of the calendar year, the permittee must be sent a
634 written warning of the consequences for failing to pay the fee
635 by April March 1. If the fee is not postmarked by April March 1
636 of the calendar year, the department shall impose, in addition
637 to the fee, a penalty of 50 percent of the amount of the fee,
638 plus interest on such amount computed in accordance with s.
639 220.807. The department may not impose such penalty or interest
640 on any amount underpaid, provided that the permittee has timely
641 remitted payment of at least 90 percent of the amount determined
642 to be due and remits full payment within 60 days after receipt
643 of notice of the amount underpaid. The department may waive the
644 collection of underpayment and shall not be required to refund
645 overpayment of the fee, if the amount due is less than 1 percent
646 of the fee, up to $50. The department may revoke any major air
647 pollution source operation permit if it finds that the
648 permitholder has failed to timely pay any required annual
649 operation license fee, penalty, or interest.
650 4.8. Notwithstanding the computational provisions of this
651 subsection, the annual operation license fee for any source
652 subject to this section shall not be less than $250, except that
653 the annual operation license fee for sources permitted solely
654 through general permits issued under s. 403.814 shall not exceed
655 $50 per year.
656 5.9. Notwithstanding the provisions of s.
657 403.087(6)(a)5.a., authorizing air pollution construction permit
658 fees, the department may not require such fees for changes or
659 additions to a major source of air pollution permitted pursuant
660 to this section, unless the activity triggers permitting
661 requirements under Title I, Part C or Part D, of the federal
662 Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7470-7514a. Costs to issue and
663 administer such permits shall be considered direct and indirect
664 costs of the major stationary source air-operation permit
665 program under s. 403.0873. The department shall, however,
666 require fees pursuant to the provisions of s. 403.087(6)(a)5.a.
667 for the construction of a new major source of air pollution that
668 will be subject to the permitting requirements of this section
669 once constructed and for activities triggering permitting
670 requirements under Title I, Part C or Part D, of the federal
671 Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7470-7514a.
672 Section 20. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
673 403.088, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
674 403.088 Water pollution operation permits; conditions.—
675 (2)
676 (b)1. If the department finds that the proposed discharge
677 will reduce the quality of the receiving waters below the
678 classification established for them, it shall deny the
679 application and refuse to issue a permit. The department may not
680 use the results from a field procedure or laboratory method to
681 make such a finding or to determine facility compliance unless
682 the field procedure or laboratory method has been adopted by
683 rule or noticed and approved by department order pursuant to
684 department rule. Field procedures and laboratory methods must
685 satisfy the quality assurance requirements of department rule
686 and must produce data of known and verifiable quality. The
687 results of field procedures and laboratory methods shall be
688 evaluated for sources of uncertainty to assure suitability for
689 the intended purposes as properly documented with each procedure
690 or method.
691 2. If the department finds that the proposed discharge will
692 not reduce the quality of the receiving waters below the
693 classification established for them, it may issue an operation
694 permit if it finds that such degradation is necessary or
695 desirable under federal standards and under circumstances which
696 are clearly in the public interest.
697 Section 21. Section 403.0893, Florida Statutes, is amended
698 to read:
699 403.0893 Stormwater funding; dedicated funds for stormwater
700 management.—In addition to any other funding mechanism legally
701 available to local government to construct, operate, or maintain
702 stormwater systems, a county or municipality may:
703 (1) Create one or more stormwater utilities and adopt
704 stormwater utility fees sufficient to plan, construct, operate,
705 and maintain stormwater management systems set out in the local
706 program required pursuant to s. 403.0891(3). Stormwater utility
707 fees adopted pursuant to this subsection may be charged to the
708 beneficiaries of a stormwater utility. If stormwater utility
709 fees charged to a beneficiary of a stormwater utility are not
710 paid when due, the county or municipality may file suit in a
711 court of competent jurisdiction or utilize any lawful method to
712 collect delinquent fees;
713 (2) Establish and set aside, as a continuing source of
714 revenue, other funds sufficient to plan, construct, operate, and
715 maintain stormwater management systems set out in the local
716 program required pursuant to s. 403.0891(3); or
717 (3) Create, alone or in cooperation with counties,
718 municipalities, and special districts pursuant to the Interlocal
719 Cooperation Act, s. 163.01, one or more stormwater management
720 system benefit areas. All property owners within said area may
721 be assessed a per acreage fee to fund the planning,
722 construction, operation, maintenance, and administration of a
723 public stormwater management system for the benefited area. Any
724 benefit area containing different land uses which receive
725 substantially different levels of stormwater benefits shall
726 include stormwater management system benefit subareas which
727 shall be assessed different per acreage fees from subarea to
728 subarea based upon a reasonable relationship to benefits
729 received. The fees shall be calculated to generate sufficient
730 funds to plan, construct, operate, and maintain stormwater
731 management systems called for in the local program required
732 pursuant to s. 403.0891(3). For fees assessed pursuant to this
733 section, counties or municipalities may use the non-ad valorem
734 levy, collection, and enforcement method as provided for in
735 chapter 197.
736 Section 22. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
737 403.7046, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is
738 added to that section, to read:
739 403.7046 Regulation of recovered materials.—
740 (3) Except as otherwise provided in this section or
741 pursuant to a special act in effect on or before January 1,
742 1993, a local government may not require a commercial
743 establishment that generates source-separated recovered
744 materials to sell or otherwise convey its recovered materials to
745 the local government or to a facility designated by the local
746 government, nor may the local government restrict such a
747 generator’s right to sell or otherwise convey such recovered
748 materials to any properly certified recovered materials dealer
749 who has satisfied the requirements of this section. A local
750 government may not enact any ordinance that prevents such a
751 dealer from entering into a contract with a commercial
752 establishment to purchase, collect, transport, process, or
753 receive source-separated recovered materials.
754 (b) Before Prior to engaging in business within the
755 jurisdiction of the local government, a recovered materials
756 dealer must provide the local government with a copy of the
757 certification provided for in this section. In addition, the
758 local government may establish a registration process whereby a
759 recovered materials dealer must register with the local
760 government before prior to engaging in business within the
761 jurisdiction of the local government. Such registration process
762 is limited to requiring the dealer to register its name,
763 including the owner or operator of the dealer, and, if the
764 dealer is a business entity, its general or limited partners,
765 its corporate officers and directors, its permanent place of
766 business, evidence of its certification under this section, and
767 a certification that the recovered materials will be processed
768 at a recovered materials processing facility satisfying the
769 requirements of this section. A local government may not use the
770 registration information to compete with the recovered materials
771 dealer until 90 days after the registration information is
772 submitted. All counties, and municipalities whose population
773 exceeds 35,000 according to the population estimates determined
774 pursuant to s. 186.901, may establish a reporting process which
775 shall be limited to the regulations, reporting format, and
776 reporting frequency established by the department pursuant to
777 this section, which shall, at a minimum, include requiring the
778 dealer to identify the types and approximate amount of recovered
779 materials collected, recycled, or reused during the reporting
780 period; the approximate percentage of recovered materials
781 reused, stored, or delivered to a recovered materials processing
782 facility or disposed of in a solid waste disposal facility; and
783 the locations where any recovered materials were disposed of as
784 solid waste. Information reported under this subsection which,
785 if disclosed, would reveal a trade secret, as defined in s.
786 812.081(1)(c), is confidential and exempt from the provisions of
787 s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and s. 119.07(1). The
788 local government may charge the dealer a registration fee
789 commensurate with and no greater than the cost incurred by the
790 local government in operating its registration program.
791 Registration program costs are limited to those costs associated
792 with the activities described in this paragraph. Any reporting
793 or registration process established by a local government with
794 regard to recovered materials shall be governed by the
795 provisions of this section and department rules adopted
796 promulgated pursuant thereto.
797 (4) A recovered materials dealer, or an association whose
798 members include recovered materials dealers, may initiate an
799 action for injunctive relief or damages for alleged violations
800 of this section. The court may award to the prevailing party or
801 parties reasonable attorney fees and costs.
802 Section 23. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
803 403.813, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
804 403.813 Permits issued at district centers; exceptions.—
805 (1) A permit is not required under this chapter, chapter
806 373, chapter 61-691, Laws of Florida, or chapter 25214 or
807 chapter 25270, 1949, Laws of Florida, for activities associated
808 with the following types of projects; however, except as
809 otherwise provided in this subsection, nothing in this
810 subsection relieves an applicant from any requirement to obtain
811 permission to use or occupy lands owned by the Board of Trustees
812 of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund or any water management
813 district in its governmental or proprietary capacity or from
814 complying with applicable local pollution control programs
815 authorized under this chapter or other requirements of county
816 and municipal governments:
817 (e) The restoration of seawalls at their previous locations
818 or upland of, or within 18 inches 1 foot waterward of, their
819 previous locations. However, this shall not affect the
820 permitting requirements of chapter 161, and department rules
821 shall clearly indicate that this exception does not constitute
822 an exception from the permitting requirements of chapter 161.
823 Section 24. Section 403.8141, Florida Statutes, is created
824 to read:
825 403.8141 Special event permits.—The department shall issue
826 permits for special events under s. 253.0345. The permits must
827 be for a period that runs concurrently with the lease or letter
828 of consent issued pursuant to s. 253.0345 and must allow for the
829 movement of temporary structures within the footprint of the
830 lease area.
831 Section 25. Paragraph (b) of subsection (14) and paragraph
832 (b) of subsection (19) of section 403.973, Florida Statutes, are
833 amended, and paragraph (g) is added to subsection (3) of that
834 section, to read:
835 403.973 Expedited permitting; amendments to comprehensive
836 plans.—
837 (3)
838 (g) Projects to construct interstate natural gas pipelines
839 subject to certification by the Federal Energy Regulatory
840 Commission are eligible for the expedited permitting process.
841 (14)
842 (b) Projects identified in paragraph (3)(f) or paragraph
843 (3)(g) or challenges to state agency action in the expedited
844 permitting process for establishment of a state-of-the-art
845 biomedical research institution and campus in this state by the
846 grantee under s. 288.955 are subject to the same requirements as
847 challenges brought under paragraph (a), except that,
848 notwithstanding s. 120.574, summary proceedings must be
849 conducted within 30 days after a party files the motion for
850 summary hearing, regardless of whether the parties agree to the
851 summary proceeding.
852 (19) The following projects are ineligible for review under
853 this part:
854 (b) A project, the primary purpose of which is to:
855 1. Effect the final disposal of solid waste, biomedical
856 waste, or hazardous waste in this state.
857 2. Produce electrical power, unless the production of
858 electricity is incidental and not the primary function of the
859 project or the electrical power is derived from a fuel source
860 for renewable energy as defined in s. 366.91(2)(d).
861 3. Extract natural resources.
862 4. Produce oil.
863 5. Construct, maintain, or operate an oil, petroleum,
864 natural gas, or sewage pipeline.
865 Section 26. (1) The Legislature ratifies and approves the
866 actions of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement
867 Trust Fund regarding lease numbers 1447, 1971S, 3420, 3433, and
868 3543, and lease numbers 3422 and 1935/1935-S as approved on
869 January 23, 2013, subject to the terms and conditions
870 established by the board of trustees as approved on January 23,
871 2013.
872 (2) The Legislature finds that the decision to authorize
873 the use of board of trustees-owned uplands and the use of those
874 lands as set forth in the leases is not contrary to the public
875 interest; that it is in the public interest to waive the
876 competitive bid process; that the leases are not standard
877 agricultural leases; and that such leases should be amended on
878 the terms and conditions as approved by the board of trustees.
879 (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
880 Legislature finds that the lease amendments and extensions
881 approved by the board of trustees are necessary for Everglades
882 restoration purposes, are in the public interest, and provide
883 the greatest combination of benefits to the public.
884 Section 27. The changes made by this act to ss. 403.031 and
885 403.0893 apply only to stormwater utility fees billed on or
886 after July 1, 2013, to a beneficiary of a stormwater utility for
887 services provided on or after that date.
888 Section 28. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.
