26780165, 62ER23-2 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Notice: 26780165

Notice of Emergency Rule

Department:

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Overview

RULE:

62ER23-2

Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program

SPECIFIC REASONS FOR FINDING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE:

Section 10, Chapter 2022-272, Laws of Florida (L.O.F.), “[a]n act relating to disaster relief” establishes the Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program for the purpose of providing financial assistance to mitigate coastal beach erosion for coastal homeowners whose property was significantly impacted by Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole in 2022. The legislation includes legislative findings that emergency rulemaking authority is necessary to address critical shoreline erosion which may result in the loss of property by homeowners in those areas of the state that sustained damage due to Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole during 2022.  Section 10, Chapter 2022-272, L.O.F., requires the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt emergency rules pursuant to subsections 120.54(1) and 120.54(4), Florida Statutes, for the purpose of implementing the grant program. This section also requires the creation of an application form to be used by eligible property owners seeking such financial assistance, which must be adopted no later than January 30, 2023, along with this rule chapter. Given the application period set out in the law, an emergency rule is the most appropriate and expedient means to provide eligible property owners the grant program’s requirements and grant application. This emergency rule incorporates, by reference, Form 1 DEP-62ER23-2, the Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program Application, effective as of the effective date of Chapter 62ER23-2, F.A.C.

REASON FOR CONCLUDING THAT THE PROCEDURE IS FAIR UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES:

The Legislature expressly authorized and required in Section 10, Chapter 2022-272, L.O.F., the promulgation of an emergency rule by the Department to implement the Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program for the purpose of providing financial assistance to mitigate coastal beach erosion for coastal homeowners whose property was significantly impacted by Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole in 2022. The promulgation of this emergency rule, incorporating by reference the form used to apply for financial assistance, ensures that the public is notified by the most appropriate and expedient means regarding the process to apply for a grant.

SUMMARY:

The rule provides the procedures, administration, and eligibility criteria for the Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program, which will distribute financial assistance to qualifying coastal homeowners to help remedy the damages from coastal erosion incurred after Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole. The grant program allows persons living in Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Nassau, Palm Beach, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, and Volusia Counties whose property was significantly impacted by Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole in 2022, and who meet eligibility requirements, to seek reimbursement to remedy coastal beach erosion and reimburse eligible construction costs. The grant program applies to single family homes, residential condominiums, and cooperatives. The emergency rule incorporates, by reference, Form 1 DEP-62ER23-2, the Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program Application, effective as of the effective date of Chapter 62ER23-2, F.A.C.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS:

Lainie Edwards, Deputy Director, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 235 Tallahassee, FL 32399, or Crystal Anderson, Assistant General Counsel, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS-35 Tallahassee, FL 32399.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

1/31/2023 Vol. 49/20

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE:

Joint Administrative Procedures Committee
Florida Administrative Law Central Online Network (F.A.L.C.O.N.)

RELATED COURT CASES:

Division of Administrative Hearings

FEDERAL eRULEMAKING
WEB PORTAL:

Regulations.gov

HOW TO LINK TO
THIS NOTICE:

http://flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=62ER23-2&PDate=1/31/2023&Section=4

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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