Adoption
of the Impaired Waters Rule
We
are pleased to inform you that on April 26, the
Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC) adopted the
Department’s Proposed Impaired Waters Rule (IWR, Chapter
62-303, F.A.C.), with amendments. The IWR had been in
development for almost two years, with Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC) meetings starting in July, 1999. The TAC,
comprised of experts in specific scientific fields, was
invaluable in developing the scientific basis for the rule.
The Department is confident that the IWR sets a significant
precedent for the country in bringing sound science to the
303(d) listing process.
Beginning the week of July 22,
the Department is presenting to the public, through a series of public
meetings and by way of this web page, a more complete picture of all the
waterbodies within the watersheds being evaluated for possible placement
on the 2002 list of impaired waters. Waters in these Group 1 basins that
are determined to be impaired using the methodology in the rule
"Identification of Impaired Surface Waters," Chapter 62-303,
Florida Administrative Code and adopted by Secretarial Order at the end of
August, will be submitted to EPA for approval as Florida's 2002 303(d)
list. Using the links provided below, the public can access both the draft
Master Lists and Verified Lists for the 6 Group 1 waters.
For
more information, send e-mail to
Jan
Mandrup-Poulsen (Jan.Mandrup-Poulsen@dep.state.fl.us)
Total
Maximum Daily Load Program
2600 Blair Stone Road - Mail Station 3555
Tallahassee, FL, 32399-2400
Phone: (850) 245-8449
