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TALLAHASSEE – To protect public health and
safety, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Secretary Colleen M. Castille today signed an Emergency
Final Order in response to Hurricane Wilma. The Order
provides relief from many of the Department’s regulatory
requirements to minimize environmental hazards and
accelerate restoration in areas of South Florida
impacted by the storm, which swept across the state
yesterday.
“Affected counties need relief so that communities
can quickly repair and restore damaged areas,” said DEP
Secretary Castille. “These challenging circumstances
make it necessary to reduce regulatory process and
expand flexibility to restore essential services quickly
as South Florida recovers from Hurricane Wilma.”
The emergency authorization applies to governments,
businesses and property owners in Brevard, Broward,
Collier, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Lake, Lee,
Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm
Beach, St. Lucie and Volusia counties, allowing
immediate repair of certain damaged structures without
prior Department notification. The Order will expedite
the repair of any damaged drinking water and wastewater
facilities, along with cleanup of hurricane-generated
debris and the restoration of natural areas such as dune
systems, waterways and wetlands.
Field authorizations will be required to replace
destroyed structures; alter mangroves; restore uplands,
wetlands and submerged lands unless by a local, regional
or State government; and for other DEP-authorized
activities not specified in the Order.
The emergency authorization will expire on December
18, 2005 unless modified or extended by further order.
For a copy of the Emergency Final Order, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/mainpage/em/default.htm.
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