This Monday, April 15, 2019, Waterkeepers Florida (WKFL) will meet with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) about the federally-required Triennial Review of state Water Quality Standards. As Suwannee Riverkeeper, I ask you our members of WWALS and the public what you think I should ask FDEP in that meeting.

WKFL meets FDEP

FYI, so far I mainly plan to ask about water quality monitoring: the need for more of it, more frequently, and published more quickly, so as to find out when our rivers are clean and when they are not, and to help find the sources of contamination so we can all do something about them. While it would be convenient if Valdosta were the only culprit, it’s not. I applaud the dozen Florida counties of the Rivers Task Force for their recent meeting with Valdosta as a good start.

So far, from my reading of Florida rules, it appears that all our rivers in Florida are already classified as Recreational by default. This makes our task in Florida easier than in Georgia, where we are asking to upgrade all our rivers and major swamps and lakes from Fishing to Recreational. But we need improved water quality monitoring so we can tell when standards are being met and when they are not.

Specifically, we are meeting from noon to 2PM Monday in Orlando with Tom Frick, Director, Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Department of Environmental Protection. Some of you may recall he spoke at the March 20, 2019 meeting of the Florida Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. According to recent correspondence, there are new developments in FDEP water quality monitoring since then. I will report back after Monday.

This Monday meeting is not a public meeting, but there are public meetings about the Triennial Review coming up in May; see below.

Notice of Development of Rulemaking

Found in Florida Rule 62-302.530 is Rule: 62-302.200, which announces the 2019 Florida Triennial Review. It includes schedules for three public meetings, on 14, 15, and 16 May 2019, in Tallahassee (Leon County), in Hobe Sound (Martin County), and in Orlando (Orange County). FDEP also lists those meetings in a Water Quality Standards Meeting Calendar. I’ve collected a bit more information on the WWALS website.

---

Notice of Development of Rulemaking

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

RULE NOS: RULE TITLES:

62-302.200 Definitions

62-302.300 Findings, Intent, and Antidegradation Policy for Surface Water Quality

62-302.400 Classification of Surface Waters, Usage, Reclassification, Classified Waters

62-302.500 Surface Waters: Minimum Criteria, General Criteria

62-302.520 Thermal Surface Water Criteria

62-302.530 Table: Surface Water Quality Criteria

62-302.531 Numeric Interpretations of Narrative Nutrient Criteria

62-302.532 Estuary-Specific Numeric Interpretations of the Narrative Nutrient Criterion

62-302.533 Dissolved Oxygen Criteria for Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class III-Limited Waters

62-302.540 Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus Within the Everglades Protection Area

62-302.700 Special Protection, Outstanding Florida Waters, Outstanding National Resource Waters

62-302.800 Site Specific Alternative Criteria

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: As required by the Federal Clean Water Act, the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is initiating the Triennial Review of state surface water quality standards. All surface water quality standards in Chapter 62-4, Chapter 62-302, Chapter 62-303, and Chapter 62-304, F.A.C., are under review and may be revised as part of the Triennial Review.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: The Department will consider amendments to all surface water quality standards, including those within Chapter 62-302, F.A.C. (there are separate notices for Chapters 62-4, 62-302, 62-303, and 62-304, F.A.C.).

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 373.043, 373.4592, 403.061, 403.062, 403.087, 403.088, 403.504, 403.704, 403.804, 403.805 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 373.016, 373.026, 373.414, 373.4592, 403.021, 403.021(11), 403.031, 403.061, 403.062, 403.067, 403.085, 403.086, 403.087, 403.088, 403.101, 403.141, 403.161, 403.182, 403.201 403.502, 403.504, 403.702, 403.708, 403.802 FS.

A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP/HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, May 14, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martinez Center, Room 609, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, May 15, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center Auditorium, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound, Florida

DATE AND TIME: Thursday, May 16, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Central District Office, 3319 Maguire Boulevard, Suite 232, Conference Rooms A/B/C, Orlando, Florida

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/hearing is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/hearing by contacting: Kaitlyn Sutton at (850)245-8819. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Kaitlyn Sutton, Water Quality Standards Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 6511, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400; telephone (850)245-8819, email Kaitlyn.Sutton@dep.state.fl.us.

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE.

---

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Short Link: