NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on July 22, 2010, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued an order.
The Order denies a petition submitted by Nick Taylor for a temporary 3-year variance from portions of the Manatee County manatee protection rule (Rule 68C-22.014, Florida Administrative Code). The petition sought authorization for the applicant or others associated with the applicant to operate personal watercraft (PWC) at speeds greater than Slow Speed (up to 20 MPH) in 14 shallow water areas while wakeskating. The FWC received the petition on March 10, 2010, and a notice of petition was published in the Florida Administrative Weekly on April 2, 2010. One letter was submitted within 14 days following publication of the notice. The petition was denied because issuance of the variance would not meet the purposes of the underlying statute, Section 379.2431(2), Florida Statutes, and because the petitioner failed to demonstrate substantial hardship or that application of the rule would violate principles of fairness.
A copy of the Order may be obtained by contacting: Scott Calleson, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Imperiled Species Management Section (Mail Station 6A), 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600.