NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on October 31, 2006, the St. Johns River Water Management District, received a petition for variance from Florida Department of Transportation, District 5. Under Section 120.542 of the Florida Statutes, the petitioner is seeking a variance from subparagraph 40C-41.063 (1)(c)1., F.A.C., and Section 11.1.3 of the Applicant’s Handbook: Management and Storage of Surface Waters (February 1, 2005) (A.H.), with respect to Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) Application 4-009-98863-1. The permit applicant is proposing to widen a segment of I-95 to six lanes by adding pavement and shoulders in the median, rebuilding the Wickham Road interchange, and widening the overpass at Lake Washington Road, as well as expanding the existing surface water management system, including wet detention ponds that discharge into the Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District canal system, in Brevard County. Subparagraph 40C-41.063 (1)(c)1., F.A.C., and Section 11.1.3., A.H., prohibit the construction, operation, and maintenance of a surface water management system in the Upper St. Johns River Hydrologic Basin that results in an increase in the amount of water being diverted from the Basin to coastal receiving waters. These rules are intended to protect the water resources of the State by limiting discharges of fresh water to estuarine waters and curtailing interbasin diversion.
Comments on this petition should be filed with: Robert Nawrocki, District Clerk, St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529, within 14 days of publication of this notice. The petition has been assigned F.O.R. Number 2006-101.
A copy of the Petition for Variance or Waiver may be obtained by contacting: Timothy A. Smith, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529, (386)312-2347.