The Program Development and Support Section is responsible for developing and amending the regulatory and proprietary rules that are used to implement the Environmental Resource / Wetland Resource Permit Program and that govern authorizations to use submerged lands owned by the State of Florida. These programs are authorized under Chapters 253, 258, and 373, of the Florida Statutes. In addition, Chapter 403 of the Florida Statutes is used as part of this program to govern activities which may pollute Florida's ground and surface waters, including wetlands. Currently, approximately 30 separate rules of the Department and the water management districts have been adopted to implement this program. For more information, go to Guide to the Rules used by the Department of Environmental Protection to Implement the Environmental Resource Permit program. Rulemaking to adopt these rules is done in accordance with Chapter 120 of the Florida Statutes.  For more information on current rules under development and the status of the rules, visit our On-going Rule Development page.

In addition to developing these rules, staff of the Program and Development Support Section coordinate the interpretation and implementation of these rules with the public, staff in six different district offices of the Department, and with staff of the water management districts. The staff also are responsible for insuring the consistent implementation of the program through training and development of program guidance.

Internet Publication of Official Notices
 The Department of State publishes a statement in the FAW that indicates this website address as the Official Notices site for the Department. Notices published on this site will be permanently maintained in an electronic form accessible to and searchable by the public.

For more information on these responsibilities, please call (850) 245-8486.