NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on August 02, 2006, the Department of Environmental Protection, Underground Injection Control Program, received a petition for variance received from Collier County Utilities, on March 8, 2006. Notice of receipt of this petition was published on the Department’s Internet site on March 24, 2006. No public comment was received. The petition requested a variance from the two-year limit for operational testing of Underground Injection Control wells under paragraph 62-528.450(3)(e), F.A.C. Specifically, the variance requested that operational testing of injection wells IW-1 and IW-2 be allowed to continue beyond the two-year limit until May 22, 2007. Approval of operational testing of injection well IW-1 was granted on May 24, 2004. Approval of operational testing of injection well IW-2 was granted on January 25, 2005. The additional monitoring data collected during this extended time frame, along with the monitoring data previously collected, will be evaluated and used to apply for an operation permit in early October 2006. The additional data will help evaluate water quality changes within both zones of the dual-zone monitor well before continuing on with an operation permitting process. The final order, OGC File No.: 06-0730, granted a variance from the two-year limit of operational testing until May 22, 2007, and contained conditions. The conditions required that: operational testing of these wells must be in accordance with the Department-approved construction permits; and operational testing of the injection wells shall cease on May 22, 2007.
A copy of the Petition for Variance or Waiver may be obtained by contacting: Cathy McCarty, Department of Environmental Protection, Underground Injection Control Section, MS 3530, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, (850)245-8654.