62-304.705: St. Lucie Basin TMDLs
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule is to adopt Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), and their allocations, for fecal coliform in the St. Lucie Basin.
SUMMARY: These TMDLs address fecal coliform impairments in the St. Lucie Basin. Specifically, the TMDL rules being proposed for adoption are for the St. Lucie River (North Fork) and Tenmile Creek. These waterbodies were verified as impaired using the methodology established in Chapter 62-303, F.A.C., Identification of Impaired Surface Waters. The methodology used to develop these TMDLs was the percent reduction method. This rulemaking has been given an OGC case number 11-0654.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:
The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has been prepared by the agency.
While Section 120.541, F.S., does not necessitate the preparation of a SERC in such instance, the Department has chosen to prepare a SERC for all proposed TMDLs to assist in the determination of whether any costs are incurred as a result of the TMDL, and if so, how much. The adoption of these rules will not adversely impact the local economy or competitiveness of businesses in the State of Florida.
The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein:
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 403.061, 403.067 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 403.061, 403.062, 403.067 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE,TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW(IF NOT REQUESTED, THIS HEARING WILL NOT BE HELD):
DATE AND TIME: March 1, 2012, 1:30 p.m.
PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martinez Center, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Room 609, Tallahassee, FL
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Ms. Pat Waters at (850)245-8449. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Jan Mandrup-Poulsen, Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Bureau of Watershed Restoration, Mail Station 3555, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, telephone (850)245-8448
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
62-304.705 St. Lucie Basin TMDLs.
(1) through (9) No change.
(10) St. Lucie River (North Fork). The TMDL for the St. Lucie River (North Fork) is 400 counts/100mL for fecal coliform, and is allocated as follows:
(a) The WLA for wastewater sources is not applicable.
(b) The WLA for discharges subject to the Department’s NPDES Municipal Stormwater Permitting Program is to address anthropogenic sources in the basin such that in-stream concentrations meet the fecal coliform criteria which, based on the measured concentrations from the 2003 to 2007 period, will require a 66 percent reduction of sources contributing to exceedances of the criteria.
(c) The LA for nonpoint sources is to address anthropogenic sources in the basin such that in-stream concentrations meet the fecal coliform criteria which, based on the measured concentrations from the 2003 to 2007 period, will require a 66 percent reduction of sources contributing to exceedances of the criteria.
(d) The Margin of Safety is implicit.
(e) While the LA and WLA for fecal coliform have been expressed as the percent reductions needed to attain the applicable Class III criteria, it is the combined reductions from both anthropogenic point and nonpoint sources that will result in the required reduction of in-stream fecal concentration. However, it is not the intent of the TMDL to abate natural background conditions.
(11) Tenmile Creek. The TMDL for the Tenmile Creek is 400 counts/100mL for fecal coliform, and is allocated as follows:
(a) The WLA for wastewater sources is not applicable.
(b) The WLA for discharges subject to the Department’s NPDES Municipal Stormwater Permitting Program is to address anthropogenic sources in the basin such that in-stream concentrations meet the fecal coliform criteria which, based on the measured concentrations from the 2005 and 2007 period, will require a 81 percent reduction of sources contributing to exceedances of the criteria.
(c) The LA for nonpoint sources is to address anthropogenic sources in the basin such that in-stream concentrations meet the fecal coliform criteria which, based on the measured concentrations from the 2005 and 2007 period, will require a 81 percent reduction of sources contributing to exceedances of the criteria.
(d) The Margin of Safety is implicit.
(e) While the LA and WLA for fecal coliform have been expressed as the percent reductions needed to attain the applicable Class III criteria, it is the combined reductions from both anthropogenic point and nonpoint sources that will result in the required reduction of in-stream fecal concentration. However, it is not the intent of the TMDL to abate natural background conditions.
Rulemaking Authority 403.061, 403.067 FS. Law Implemented 403.061, 403.062, 403.067 FS. History–New 3-26-09, Amended________.