24224506 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services


Notice: 24224506
Notice of Meeting/Workshop Hearing

Department:	DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION


Overview



	The Department of Environmental Protection announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME:	February 25, 2021, 2:00 p.m. (EST)

PLACE:	https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2081650801747688717 DATE AND TIME: March 4, 2021, 2:00 p.m. (EST) PLACE: https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=%2F_%23%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%3Ameeting_MWYzMTgzZWMtOTY3YS00YTdiLWJhMDQtMTNkYzE5YjJjMjgw%40thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%2522679d4c83-aea2-4635-b4f1-9f5012551b6a%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%2522933a425b-0654-46e9-aa07-2ba3be56f2d0%2522%257d%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meetup-join&deeplinkId=6b515e6a-1e24-4f2a-a51b-30b803ab4e06&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true; Or call in (audio only): 1-850-629-7330; Phone Conference ID: 144 040 143#

Subject:	The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Watershed Assessment Section will hold public meetings to present updates on the implementation of a streamlined approach to assessing water quality statewide on a biennial (two-year) assessment cycle. There will be two viewing opportunities on February 25 and March 4, 2021. These meetings will provide stakeholders with an overview of the statewide biennial assessment process, schedule for publishing draft basin assessments lists and supporting documentation for the development of impaired waters lists. Draft basin assessment lists will not be presented at these meetings. Under the previous process, the department operated on a five-year cycle, assessing roughly 20 percent of the state's waters each year. The new biennial assessment approach will provide Floridians with a more up-to-date picture of Florida's overall water quality conditions. Stakeholders across the state will have current, actionable information that will promote more effective and timely water quality restoration. The department will hold subsequent public workshops during summer 2021 to present and receive feedback on the draft statewide assessments. The final basin assessments developed through the biennial assessment will be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act and shall serve to update the previously approved Section 303(d) list of Florida waters. Additional information on the biennial assessment, including a process document and frequently asked questions, is available at https://floridadep.gov/dear/watershed-assessment-section/content/statewide-biennial-assessment . Please note, the February 25, 2021 meeting will be held using GoToWebinar and registration is required. Registration is not required for the March 4, 2021 meeting, which will be held using Microsoft Teams. Identical information will be presented at both meetings and there is no need to attend both. Any comments or questions on the biennial assessment should be directed to Kevin O’Donnell, Watershed Assessment Section, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Rd, MS 3560, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 or by email at kevin.odonnell@floridadep.gov.


	A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Kevin O’Donnell, Watershed Assessment Section, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Rd, MS 3560, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 or by email at kevin.odonnell@floridadep.gov.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:	2/18/2021 Vol. 47/33


REFERENCE MATERIALS:	No reference(s).

Under Florida law, E-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your E-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Overview