30200579 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services


Notice: 30200579
Notice of Meeting/Workshop Hearing

Department:	DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION


Overview



	The Siting Coordination Office announces a hearing to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME:	January 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. and continuing to January 16, 2026, as necessary. Testimony from the Public will be received on January 12, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

PLACE:	City of Umatilla Community Building, 4 Cassady Street, Umatilla, FL 32784

Subject:	Duke Energy Florida (DEF) filed an application (Siting Application No. TA25-20, OGC Case No. 25-1510) for certification with the Department of Environmental Protection on August 22, 2025 to authorize the construction, operation, and maintenance of a new 230 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line that will extend from the existing DeLand West substation in Volusia County to the existing Dona Vista substation in Lake County. The case is pending before the Division of Administrative Hearings, Case No 25-004655TL, prior to action by the Governor and Cabinet, or the Secretary, pursuant to the Florida Electric Transmission Line Siting Act, Chapter 403, Part II, Florida Statutes (F.S.). Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early will conduct a hearing to take written or oral testimony on the environmental effects and any other matters appropriate to the consideration of the corridor and whether to approve the site certification of the proposed DEF DeLand West to Dona Vista 230 kV Electric Transmission Line pursuant to the Florida Electric Transmission Line Siting Act, sections 403.52-.5365, F.S. The Public Service Commission has previously determined the need for the facility at a separate hearing, and the need determination will not be an issue at this hearing. Following the hearing, Judge E. Gary Early will prepare a Recommended Order for submission to and final action by the Governor and Cabinet acting as the Siting Board. Pursuant to section 403.527(2)(a), F.S., parties to the proceeding shall include the applicant, the Public Service Commission, the Department of Commerce, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, Lake County, Volusia County, the City of Umatilla, and the City of Eustis. The Site Certification Application is available for public inspection electronically at this website https://floridadep.gov/water/siting-coordination-office/content/def-deland-west-dona-vista-230kv-transmission-line-project and during normal business hours at the following physical locations: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Siting Coordination Office at 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400; Central District Office, 3319 Maguire Blvd, Suite 232 Orlando FL, 32803; Duke Energy Florida 3300 Exchange Place Lake Mary FL 32746; Eustis Memorial Library, 120 N Center Street Eustis FL, 32726; Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfield Drive Umatilla FL, 32784; DeLand Regional Library, 130 E Howry Avenue DeLand FL, 32724. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Project Analysis Report will be available for public inspection at https://floridadep.gov/water/siting-coordination-office/content/def-deland-west-dona-vista-230kv-transmission-line-project. Any party listed in section 403.527(2)(a), F.S., other than the Department of Environmental Protection or the applicant may waive its right to participate in these proceedings if such party fails to file a notice of its intent to be a party on or before the 30th day prior to the certification hearing. In addition, notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 120, F.S., upon the filing with the administrative law judge of a notice of intent to be a party no later than 30 days before the certification hearing, the following shall also be parties to the proceeding: any agency not listed in section 403.527(2)(a), F.S., as to matters within its jurisdiction; any domestic nonprofit corporation or association formed, in whole or in part, to promote conservation or natural beauty, to protect the environment, personal health, or other biological values; to preserve historical sites; to promote consumer interests; to represent labor, commercial, or industrial groups; or to promote comprehensive planning or orderly development of the area in which the proposed electric transmission line is to be located. Other parties may include any person, including those persons listed herein who have failed to timely file a notice of intent to be a party, whose substantial interests are affected and being determined by the proceeding and who timely file a motion to intervene pursuant to Chapter 120, F.S., and applicable rules. Intervention pursuant to section 403.527(2)(c), F.S., may be granted at the discretion of the designated administrative law judge and upon such conditions as he or she may prescribe any time prior to 30 days before the commencement of the certification hearing. Motions to intervene must be filed (received) with Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early, Division of Administrative Hearings, The DeSoto Building, 1230 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3060, at least 30 days prior to commencement of the certification hearing, and must contain the following: reference to the application number; the case number of the Division of Administrative Hearings; the name, address, and telephone number of the person filing the motion; and, allegations sufficient to demonstrate that the person filing the motion is entitled to participate in the hearing. Copies must be sent by mail to the applicant and all parties. A list of parties may be obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Siting Coordination Office at Bob Martinez Center, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3500, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400, SCO@FloridaDEP.gov. Those wishing to intervene in these proceedings, unless appearing on their own behalf, must be represented by an attorney or other person who can be determined to be qualified to appear in administrative proceedings pursuant to Chapter 120, F.S., or Rule 28-106.106, F.A.C. The certification hearing may be cancelled in accordance with section 403.527(6)(a), F.S.: “No later than 29 days before the certification hearing, the department or the applicant may request that the administrative law judge cancel the certification hearing and relinquish jurisdiction to the department if all parties to the proceeding stipulate that there are no disputed issues of material fact or law to be raised at the certification hearing, and if sufficient time remains for the applicant and the department to publish public notices of the cancellation of the hearing at least 3 days prior to the scheduled date of the hearing..” If the Administrative Law Judge grants the request, the Department will prepare and issue a final order in accordance with section 403.529(1)(a), F.S.


	A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Nate Senn, Siting Coordination Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martinez Center, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3500, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400, 850-717-9111, SCO@FloridaDEP.gov.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:	11/7/2025 Vol. 51/218


REFERENCE MATERIALS:	No reference(s).

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Overview