Notice of Development of Rulemaking

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Departmental
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
62-699: TREATMENT PLANT CLASSIFICATION AND STAFFING
62-699.200: Definitions.
62-699.310: Classification and Staffing of Plants
62-699.311: Additional Classification and Staffing Requirements
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Department is establishing classification and staffing requirements for water distribution systems. The Department also is making clarifications and changes to existing classification and staffing requirements for water or domestic wastewater treatment plants.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Rule 62-699.200 is being added to define words, phrases, and terms used in Chapter 62-699. Rule 62-699.310 is being amended to add classification and staffing requirements for water distribution systems; to clarify, change, and expand the list of treatment processes included under the various categories of domestic wastewater or water treatment plants; to increase staffing from ½ hour/day to 1 hour/day for Category I, Class C, wastewater plants with a capacity less than 0.05 million gallons per day (MGD); to specify that the cumulative time spent each week visiting a Category III, Class C, water plant with a capacity less than 0.25 MGD shall be equal to an average of at least 30 minutes per visit; and to specify that the cumulative time spent each week visiting a Category IV, Class C or D, water plant with a capacity less than 1.0 MGD or a Category V, Class C or D, water plant with a capacity less than 3.0 MGD shall be equal to an average of at least 15 minutes per visit. Rule 62-699.311 is being amended to add classification and staffing requirements for water distribution systems; to allow Class D plant operators to be the lead/chief operator of up to five water or wastewater plants if the plants are under the same ownership; to establish approval criteria governing staffing reductions for plants under an electronic surveillance system, automatic control system, or electronic control system, for plants operating at less than permitted capacity, and for multiple Category V water plants connected to the same distribution system; to allow the Department to require increased staffing where necessary to ensure compliance; and to require that Class C plants be visited by their lead/chief operator at least twice per month and that Class D plants be visited by their lead/chief operator at least once per month.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 403.869, 403.88(4) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 403.852, 403.862, 403.866, 403.867, 403.875(1)(f), 403.88(1), (2), (3) FS.
A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: 3 workshops
1. Monday, October 2, 2006, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Twin Towers Office Building, Room 609, Tallahassee, Florida.
2. Wednesday, October 4, 2006, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Department of Environmental Protection, Southeast District Office, 400 North Congress Avenue, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, Florida.
3. Thursday, October 5, 2006, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest District Office, 13051 North Telecom Parkway, Temple Terrace, Florida.
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 7 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Virginia Harmon, Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3520, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, (850)245-8630. 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 DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Virginia Harmon, Department of Environmental Protection, at 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3520, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, (850)245-8630; and is on-line at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/drinkingwater/docs/602-699PublicWorkshopDraftRulesAug06.pdf

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