Water
Quality Standards and Special Projects
Program
Permitting
The Restoration Planning and
Permitting Section (RPPS) is responsible for implementing the
Department’s technical, planning, and regulatory responsibilities for
restoration activities required by the Everglades Forever Act
(EFA; Section 373.4592, Florida Statutes (F.S.), the
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP; Section 373.1502,
F.S.), and the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Plan (NEEPP;
373.4595, F.S.). These functions involve close coordination with
the lead agencies implementing restoration activities, the
U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers (Corps) and the
South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD), as well as with
staff from the Department’s
South
and
Southeast District offices.
Everglades Forever Act (EFA;
Section 373.4592, FS)
The Everglades Forever Act (EFA),
Chapter 373.4592, F.S. was issued in 1994. The EFA recognizes that
the long-term water quality objective for the Everglades is to
implement the optimal combination of source controls, Stormwater
Treatment Areas (STAs), Advanced Treatment Technologies (ATTs), and
regulatory programs to ensure that all waters discharged to the
Everglades Protection Area (EPA) achieve water quality standards
consistent with the EFA. The EFA regulates the construction,
operation, and maintenance of the Everglades Construction Project.
The Everglades Construction project is a series of Stormwater
Treatment Areas (STAs), which are constructed wetlands designed to
remove excess nutrients and pollutants from watershed runoff. EFA
permits are in lieu of all other permits issued under Part IV of
Chapters 373, F.S., with the exception of NPDES permits.
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Regulation
Act (CERPRA;
Section 373.1502, F.S.)
The
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Regulation Act (CERPRA)
regulates CERP project components unless they are otherwise subject to
Section 373.4592 (EFA), Section 373.4595 (Northern Everglades and
Estuaries Protection Program), or the Department's rules on reuse of
reclaimed water. This regulatory act provides for the protection of
water quality and the reduction of the loss of fresh water from the
Everglades. These features are necessary to meet the other
water-related needs of the region, including flood control, the
enhancement of water supplies, and other objectives served by the
project. CERPRA permits are in lieu of all other permits issued under
Chapters 373 and 403, with the exception of NPDES permits.
Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection
Program
(NEEPP;
Section 373.4595, F.S.)
In 2007, the Florida Legislature passed
the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP),
Section 373.4595, F.S., which expanded the Lake Okeechobee Protection
Act (LOPA) to include the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and
estuaries. NEEPP is intended to protect and to restore surface-water
resources and to maintain compliance with water-quality standards in
these three watersheds and downstream receiving waters. These goals
are to be achieved through a phased, comprehensive, and innovative
protection program set forth in s. 373.4595, which includes long-term
solutions based upon the total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) established
in accordance with s. 403.067. Currently, NEEPP regulates the
construction, operation, and maintenance of the Lake Okeechobee
Watershed Construction Project (LOWCP) and structures discharging into
or from Lake Okeechobee. NEEPP permits are in lieu of all other
permits issued under Chapters 373 and 403, with the exception of NPDES
permits.
For more information contact:
Stacey Feken
at 850/245-8421.
Water Quality Standards and Special Projects Program
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road -
M.S. 3560
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-245-8417
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