January 21, 2010
The purpose of this email is to update you on recent news
regarding the development of numeric nutrient criteria in Florida and the
proposed
revisions to the surface water classification system.
In response to public comments received at the January 7, 2010 public workshop
on the proposed revisions to the surface water classification system, the
Department has decided to extend the public comment period on the proposed
revisions to February 4 and to hold one additional public workshop, which
is tentatively scheduled for February 22 (time and location to be decided).
We have extended the comment period to ensure that interested parties have
sufficient time to review the Technical Support Document ("Requirements
for Reclassifying the Designated Uses of Florida Surface Waters"),
which will be incorporated by reference into the rule.
Please note that there will be an additional public
comment period following the February workshop, but comments received by
February 4 will be addressed in the draft rule and TSD presented at the
workshop. You will be notified of the time and location for the February 22
public workshop once it gets finalized.
For a copy of the proposed rule revisions as well as the draft Technical Support
Document, please see the Department's website at:
_http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/designateduse.htm_
(http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/designateduse.htm).
The Department intends to present proposed rule revisions
to the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC) at a public
hearing in either April or May, 2010. You will be notified when this
rule is scheduled for ERC approval.
Regarding the development of numeric nutrient criteria, we wanted to make sure
that everyone was aware that last week the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency published its proposed numeric nutrient criteria for
fresh waters in Florida. Please see EPA's website for further information:
_http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/florida/_
(http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/florida/).
EPA has scheduled three public meetings to discuss
this proposal:
* February 16, 2010: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and
7:00 p.m. to 10:00
p.m. at the Holiday Inn Capitol East, 1355 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee,
FL 32301
* February 17, 2010: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and
7:00 p.m. to 10:00
p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Orlando Universal, 7800 Universal Boulevard,
Orlando, FL 32819
* February 18, 2010: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and
7:00 p.m. to 10:00
p.m. at the Holiday Inn Palm Beach Airport, 1301 Belvedere Road, West Palm
Beach, FL 33405
Please refer to the website above regarding public participation in any of
the above meetings. Note that preregistration is NOT required for participation
in any of the public meetings. Preregistration is encouraged but
not required.
In a related yet separate matter, the Department has initiated the
development of numeric nutrient criteria for estuarine waters and plans to
hold public meetings to gather information and data on various estuarine
systems throughout Florida. Attached is a letter from Secretary Sole to
water quality scientists and managers requesting their participation in the
criteria development effort. The Department is seeking to gather information
on individual marine systems that will serve to support statewide criteria
development and provide a solid foundation to establish nutrient criteria appropriate
for each specific area. The initial effort consists of identifying currently
available data and soliciting local area expertise, including members of
the Numeric Nutrient Criteria Technical Advisory Committee (Nutrients TAC).
The purpose of these meetings is to solicit and discuss information regarding
nutrients and documented associations between nutrients and ecological
conditions within the estuaries. While not intended as a meeting of the
Nutrients TAC, one or more members of the Nutrients TAC may participate and
provide comments at this meeting. Currently, four public meetings have
been scheduled as follows:
* February 4, 2010: 9:00 a.m. ? 5:00 p.m., Florida
Fish and
Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg,
Florida
(estuaries and coastal waters from Tampa Bay to Estero Bay along the
southwest coast of Florida)
* February 10, 2010: 9:00 a.m. ? 5:00 p.m.,
Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, 160 Government Street, Room 502, Pensacola,
Florida (Perdido Bay, Pensacola Bay, Choctawhatchee Bay, and St. Andrews
Bay)
* February 11, 2010: 9:00 a.m. ? 5:00 p.m.,
Apalachicola City Hall,
Conference Room, 1 Bay Avenue, Apalachicola, Florida (St. Joe Bay,
Apalachicola Bay (including St. Vincent Sound, East Bay, St. George
Sound),
Alligator Harbor/Ochlockonee Bay, and Apalachee Bay east to the
Fenholloway River)
* February 23, 2010: 9:00 a.m. ? 5:00 p.m.,
Crystal River Preserve
State Park Conference Room, 3266 N. Sailboat Ave., Crystal River, Florida
(Big Bend from Dekle Beach to Crystal River, Kings Bay/Crystal River, Springs Coast
from Crystal River to Anclote Keys)
You will be notified of additional meetings in other
estuarine systems as they are scheduled.
If you have any questions about either the development of numeric nutrient
criteria in Florida or the proposed revisions to the surface water
classification system, please don't hesitate to contact Eric Shaw at
850-245-8429 or _eric.shaw@dep.state.fl.us_
(mailto:eric.shaw@dep.state.fl.us).
Beth Alvi
Environmental Consultant
Watershed Planning & Coordination Section
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 3565
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Ph: (850) 245-8559
Fax: (850) 245-8434