The Department of Environmental Protection gives notice that pursuant to Section 403.067(4), F.S., and Chapter 62-303, F.A.C., a final order was entered on December 12, 2007, adopting a Verified List of Impaired Waters and Delisting certain waters within the Group 5 basins. The Group 5 basins for which Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) shall be established include the following hydrologic units: Perdido Bay; Upper East Coast; Springs Coast; Indian River Lagoon; Everglades; and Florida Keys. However, due to continuing efforts, the Group 5 verified list for the Florida Keys will be adopted by the Department at a later date. These lists and revisions will be submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the Department’s 2008 submission, pursuant to Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, and shall serve to amend the 1998 Section 303(d) statewide list of Florida waters  maintained by the EPA. Waters within the Group 5 basins verified as impaired waters are set forth in Exhibit 1 to the final order. Waters that the Department will request EPA to remove from the 1998 List for the Group 5 Basins are also listed on  Exhibit 1  as waters subject to de-listing.

A copy of the above-referenced final order may be obtained by contacting: Ms. Pat Waters, Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Watershed Assessment, MS 3555, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 or by calling (850)245-8449 or at www.dep.state.fl.us/legal/final_orders/finalorders.htm.