RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
18-21.0051: Delegation of Authority
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Rule 18-21.0051, F.A.C., sets limits on which projects for sovereign submerged land leases can be authorized locally by the Department of Environmental Protection Districts and Water Management Districts and which require review by the Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees. Amendments are proposed to delete the slip threshold and increase the preempted area threshold from 50,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet. Any projects of heightened public concern would continue to require final action by the Board of Trustees regardless of their size or preempted area.
One benefit will be to reduce the processing time by approximately 45 days, expediting and streamlining the process for the public and eliminating the cost of taking these leases to the Board of Trustees. It also will be a time and cost savings to agency staff, which includes local district review and staff review in Tallahassee. For the applicant, construction can begin sooner.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Increase the number of projects that can be authorized locally rather than require review by the Board of Trustees.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 253.002, 253.73 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 253.002, 253.67-.75, 597.010 FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Mary VanTassel, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Submerged Lands and Environmental Resources, MS 2500, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, telephone (850)245-8486, or e-mail: Mary.VanTassel@dep.state.fl.us. Further information and updates on this rule development also may be obtained from the Department’s Web Site at: www.dep.state.fl.us/water/rules_dr.htm#erp. (OGC No. 11-0594)

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE FROM THE CONTACT PERSON LISTED ABOVE.