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TALLAHASSEE – As part of an ongoing commitment to improve services to the
public and reduce burdensome paperwork and wait time, the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP), in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers has expanded the existing online self-certification process for
certain small, private single-family docks. Now in addition to the state
authorization, the public can receive authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers in the form of a Self-Certification State Programmatic General Permit
(SPGP) or receive immediate confirmation that a qualifying proposed
single-family structure is exempt from permit requirements.
“The Department has expanded the online single- family dock
self-certification process to enable the public to obtain both federal and state
authorizations electronically at one time,” said DEP Deputy Secretary Mimi Drew.
“Having applications available electronically is one way the agency is
furthering our commitment to improving customer service and expanding online
access to information.”
The application can be used only one time per parcel of land and cannot be
used in environmentally sensitive areas such as manatee protection zones, some
aquatic preserves, and the Florida Keys. The application must receive a state
self-certification authorization to be eligible for the federal authorization.
To receive an exemption letter through self-certification, users log into the
system, type in their address and identify the location of the proposed dock
using provided GIS mapping software and aerial photography. Once the location is
identified, the system presents the user with the appropriate state building
criteria. When the user agrees to build in accordance with the dock criteria, a
certification is emailed to the user, which must be printed out and displayed on
the dock during construction. Then, if available in the indicated location, the
user can proceed to the federal section, review and agree to follow the
appropriate federal criteria, and receive a SPGP certification by email as well.
DEP will continue to inspect single-family docks statewide for compliance.
To report illegal dock construction contact the appropriate DEP District
Regulatory Office as shown at
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/dist/default.htm.
For more information on environmental resource permitting, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/erp/index.htm. To log into the self-certification Web site, visit
http://appprod.dep.state.fl.us/erppa/.
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