House Bill 4071e1

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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to environmental protection;

  3         amending s. 373.4137, F.S.; requiring ongoing

  4         annual submissions, to the Department of

  5         Environmental Protection and water management

  6         districts, by the Department of Transportation

  7         of its adopted work program and inventory of

  8         impacted habitats; authorizing inclusion of

  9         habitat impacts of future transportation

10         projects; providing activities associated with

11         development of mitigation plans; requiring

12         water management districts to consult with

13         entities operating mitigation banks when

14         developing mitigation plans; providing that a

15         water management district's preliminary

16         approval of a mitigation plan does not

17         constitute a decision affecting substantial

18         interests; requiring mitigation plans to

19         include certain information; authorizing

20         exclusion of certain projects from the

21         environmental impact inventory; extending

22         certain mitigation funding through fiscal year

23         2004-2005; authorizing amendment of annual

24         mitigation plans for certain purposes;

25         providing for uses of funds not directed to

26         implement mitigation plans; deleting obsolete

27         language relating to a report; creating s.

28         373.4139, F.S.; providing legislative findings

29         and intent; providing for mitigation for mining

30         activities within certain areas; levying a

31         mitigation fee; providing for collection and


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1         disposition of such mitigation fees; providing

  2         duties of the Department of Revenue; providing

  3         for adjustment of the mitigation fee;

  4         specifying uses of fee proceeds; amending s.

  5         373.4149, F.S.; revising requirements for

  6         development of Phase II of the Lake Belt Plan;

  7         repealing s. 373.4149(10), F.S.; amending s.

  8         338.223, F.S.; requiring environmental

  9         feasibility review prior to advance

10         right-of-way purchases for a proposed turnpike

11         project; providing exceptions for hardship and

12         protective purchases; amending Ch. 93-213, Laws

13         of Florida; deleting the requirement for

14         certain repayment; providing an effective date.

15

16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

17

18         Section 1.  Section 373.4137, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         373.4137  Mitigation requirements.--

21         (1)  The Legislature finds that environmental

22  mitigation for the impact of transportation projects proposed

23  by the Department of Transportation can be more effectively

24  achieved by regional, long-range mitigation planning rather

25  than on a project-by-project basis.  It is the intent of the

26  Legislature that mitigation to offset the adverse effects of

27  these transportation projects be funded by the Department of

28  Transportation and be carried out by the Department of

29  Environmental Protection and the water management districts,

30  including the use of mitigation banks established pursuant to

31  this part.


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1         (2)  Environmental impact inventories for

  2  transportation projects proposed by the Department of

  3  Transportation shall be developed as follows:

  4         (a)  Each June 1 Beginning July 1996, the Department of

  5  Transportation shall submit annually to the Department of

  6  Environmental Protection and the water management districts a

  7  copy of its adopted work program and an inventory of habitats

  8  addressed in the rules adopted pursuant to this part and s.

  9  404 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. s. 1344, which may be

10  impacted by its plan of construction for transportation

11  projects in the next first 3 years of the adopted work

12  program. The Department of Transportation may also include in

13  its inventory the habitat impacts of any future transportation

14  project identified in the adopted work program. For the July

15  1996 submittal, The inventory may exclude those projects which

16  have received permits pursuant to this part and s. 404 of the

17  Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. s. 1344, projects for which

18  mitigation planning or design has commenced, or projects for

19  which mitigation has been implemented in anticipation of

20  future permitting needs.

21         (b)  The environmental impact inventory shall include a

22  description of these habitat impacts, including their

23  location, acreage, and type; state water quality

24  classification of impacted wetlands and other surface waters;

25  any other state or regional designations for these habitats;

26  and a survey of threatened species, endangered species, and

27  species of special concern affected by the proposed project.

28         (3)  To fund the mitigation plan for the projected

29  impacts identified in the inventory described in subsection

30  (2), beginning July 1, 1997, the Department of Transportation

31  shall identify funds quarterly in an escrow account within the


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  State Transportation Trust Fund established by the Department

  2  of Transportation for the benefit of the Department of

  3  Environmental Protection.  Any interest earnings from the

  4  escrow account shall be returned to the Department of

  5  Transportation.  The Department of Environmental Protection

  6  shall request a transfer of funds from the escrow account to

  7  the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund no sooner

  8  than 30 days prior to the date the funds are needed to pay for

  9  activities contained in the mitigation programs.  The amount

10  transferred each year by the Department of Transportation

11  shall correspond to a cost per acre of $75,000 multiplied by

12  the projected acres of impact identified in the inventory

13  described in subsection (2) within the water management

14  district for that year.  The water management district may

15  draw from the trust fund no sooner than 30 days prior to the

16  date funds are needed to pay for activities associated with

17  development or implementation of the mitigation plan described

18  in subsection (4). Activities associated with the development

19  of the mitigation plan include, but are not limited to,

20  design, engineering, production, and staff support. Each July

21  1, beginning in 1998, the cost per acre shall be adjusted by

22  the percentage change in the average of the Consumer Price

23  Index issued by the United States Department of Labor for the

24  most recent 12-month period ending September 30, compared to

25  the base year average, which is the average for the 12-month

26  period ending September 30, 1996.  At the end of each year,

27  the projected acreage of impact shall be reconciled with the

28  acreage of impact of projects as permitted pursuant to this

29  part and s. 404 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. s. 1344, and

30  the following year's transfer of funds shall be adjusted

31  accordingly to reflect the overtransfer or undertransfer of


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  funds from the preceding year. The Department of Environmental

  2  Protection is authorized to transfer such funds from the

  3  Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund to the water

  4  management districts to carry out the mitigation programs.

  5         (4)  Prior to December 1 of each year 31, 1996, each

  6  water management district, in consultation with the Department

  7  of Environmental Protection, the United States Army Corps of

  8  Engineers, and other appropriate federal, state, and local

  9  governments, and entities operating mitigation banks which

10  have obtained a permit pursuant to s. 373.4136, shall develop

11  a plan for the primary purpose of complying with the

12  mitigation requirements adopted pursuant to this part and 33

13  U.S.C. s. 1344.  This plan shall also address significant

14  aquatic and exotic plant problems within wetlands and other

15  surface waters.  In developing such plans, the districts shall

16  utilize sound ecosystem management practices to address

17  significant water resource needs focusing on department or

18  water management district activities such as surface water

19  improvement and management projects and lands identified for

20  potential acquisition or restoration, to the extent such

21  activities comply with the mitigation requirements adopted

22  pursuant to this part and 33 U.S.C. s. 1344. In determining

23  the activities to be included in such plans, the districts

24  shall also consider the purchase of credits from public or

25  private mitigation banks permitted under this part and shall

26  include such purchase as a part of the mitigation plan when

27  such purchase would offset the impact of the transportation

28  project, provide equal benefits to the water resources than

29  other mitigation options being considered, and provide the

30  most cost-effective mitigation option.  The mitigation plan

31  shall be preliminarily approved by the water management


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  district governing board and shall be submitted to the

  2  secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection for

  3  review and final approval. The preliminary approval by the

  4  water management district governing board does not constitute

  5  a decision that affects substantial interests as provided by

  6  s. 120.569. At least 30 days prior to preliminary approval,

  7  the water management district shall provide a copy of the

  8  draft mitigation plan to any person who has requested a copy.

  9         (a)  Each mitigation plan shall include a brief

10  explanation of why a mitigation bank was or was not chosen as

11  a mitigation option for each transportation project addressed

12  in the plan, including an estimation and description of

13  identifiable costs of the mitigation bank and nonmitigation

14  bank option to the extent practicable.

15         (b)(a)  If the Department of Environmental Protection

16  and water management districts are unable to identify

17  mitigation that would offset the impacts of a project included

18  in the inventory, either due to the nature of the impact or

19  the amount of funds available, that project shall not be

20  addressed in the mitigation plan and the project shall not be

21  subject to the provisions of this section.

22         (c)(b)  Specific projects may be excluded from the

23  environmental impact inventory and the mitigation plan and

24  shall not be subject to this section upon the agreement of the

25  Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental

26  Protection, and the appropriate water management district that

27  the inclusion of such projects would hamper the efficiency or

28  timeliness of the mitigation planning and permitting process.

29         (d)(c)  Those transportation projects that are proposed

30  to commence in fiscal year 1996-1997 shall not be addressed in

31  the mitigation plan, and the provisions of subsection (7)


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  shall not apply to these projects.  The Department of

  2  Transportation may enter into interagency agreements with the

  3  Department of Environmental Protection or any water management

  4  district to perform mitigation planning and implementation for

  5  these projects.

  6         (e)  Surface water improvement and management or

  7  aquatic or exotic plant control projects undertaken using the

  8  $12 million advance transferred from the Department of

  9  Transportation to the Department of Environmental Protection

10  in fiscal year 1996-1997 shall remain available for mitigation

11  until the $12 million is fully credited up to and including

12  fiscal year 2004-2005.  When these projects are used as

13  mitigation, the $12 million advance shall be reduced by

14  $75,000 per acre of impact mitigated.  For any fiscal year

15  through and including fiscal year 2004-2005, to the extent the

16  cost of developing and implementing the mitigation plans is

17  less than the amount transferred from the Department of

18  Transportation to the Department of Environmental Protection

19  pursuant to subsection (3), the difference shall be credited

20  towards the $12 million advance.

21         (d)  On July 1, 1996, the Department of Transportation

22  shall transfer to the Department of Environmental Protection

23  $12 million from the State Transportation Trust Fund for the

24  purposes of the surface water improvement management program

25  and to address statewide aquatic and exotic plant problems

26  within wetlands and other surface waters.  Such funds shall be

27  considered an advance upon funds that the Department of

28  Transportation would provide for statewide mitigation during

29  the 1997-1998, 1998-1999, and 1999-2000 fiscal years.  This

30  use of mitigation funds for surface water improvement

31  management projects or aquatic and exotic plant control may be


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  utilized as mitigation for transportation projects to the

  2  extent that it complies with the mitigation requirements

  3  adopted pursuant to this part and 33 U.S.C. s. 1344.  To the

  4  extent that such activities result in mitigation credit for

  5  projects permitted in fiscal year 1996-1997, all or part of

  6  the $12 million funding for surface water improvement

  7  management projects or aquatic and exotic plant control in

  8  fiscal year 1996-1997 shall be drawn from Department of

  9  Transportation mitigation funding for fiscal year 1996-1997

10  rather than from mitigation funding for fiscal years

11  1997-1998, 1998-1999, and 1999-2000, in an amount equal to the

12  cost per acre of impact described in subsection (3), times the

13  acreage of impact that is mitigated by such plant control

14  activities.  Any part of the $12 million that does not result

15  in mitigation credit for projects permitted in fiscal year

16  1996-1997 shall remain available for mitigation credit during

17  fiscal years 1997-1998, 1998-1999, or 1999-2000.

18         (5)  The water management district shall be responsible

19  for ensuring that mitigation requirements pursuant to 33

20  U.S.C. s. 1344 are met for the impacts identified in the

21  inventory described in subsection (2), by implementation of

22  the approved plan described in subsection (4) to the extent

23  funding is provided as funded by the Department of

24  Transportation.  During the federal permitting process, the

25  water management district may deviate from the approved

26  mitigation plan in order to comply with federal permitting

27  requirements.

28         (6)  The mitigation plan shall be updated annually to

29  reflect the most current Department of Transportation work

30  program, and may be amended throughout the year to anticipate

31  schedule changes or additional projects which may arise.  Each


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  update and amendment of the mitigation plan shall be submitted

  2  to the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection

  3  for approval as described in subsection (4). However, such

  4  approval shall not be applicable to a deviation as described

  5  in subsection (5).

  6         (7)  Upon approval by the secretary of the Department

  7  of Environmental Protection, the mitigation plan shall be

  8  deemed to satisfy the mitigation requirements under this part

  9  and any other mitigation requirements imposed by local,

10  regional, and state agencies for impacts identified in the

11  inventory described in subsection (2).  The approval of the

12  secretary shall authorize the activities proposed in the

13  mitigation plan, and no other state, regional, or local permit

14  or approval shall be necessary.

15         (8)  This section shall not be construed to eliminate

16  the need for the Department of Transportation to comply with

17  the requirement to implement practicable design modifications,

18  including realignment of transportation projects, to reduce or

19  eliminate the impacts of its transportation projects on

20  wetlands and other surface waters as required by rules adopted

21  pursuant to this part, or to diminish the authority under this

22  part to regulate other impacts, including water quantity or

23  water quality impacts, or impacts regulated under this part

24  that are not identified in the inventory described in

25  subsection (2).

26         (9)  The recommended mitigation plan shall be annually

27  submitted to the Executive Office of the Governor and the

28  Legislature through the legislative budget request of the

29  Department of Environmental Protection in accordance with

30  chapter 216.  Any funds not directed to implement the

31  mitigation plan should, to the greatest extent possible, be


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  directed to fund department or water management district

  2  activities such as surface water improvement and management

  3  projects and lands identified for potential acquisition or

  4  restoration aquatic and exotic plant problems within the

  5  wetlands and other surface waters.

  6         (10)  By December 1, 1997, the Department of

  7  Environmental Protection, in consultation with the water

  8  management districts, shall submit a report to the Governor,

  9  the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

10  Representatives describing the implementation of this section,

11  including the use of public and private mitigation banks and

12  other types of mitigation approved in the mitigation plan.

13  The report shall also recommend any amendments to this section

14  necessary to improve the process for developing and

15  implementing mitigation plans for the Department of

16  Transportation.  The report shall also include a specific

17  section on how private and public mitigation banks are

18  utilized within the mitigation plans.

19         Section 2.  Section 373.4139, Florida Statutes, is

20  created to read:

21         373.4139  Dade County Lake Belt Mitigation Plan;

22  mitigation for mining activities within the Dade County Lake

23  Belt.--

24         (1)  The Legislature finds that the impact of mining

25  within the Dade County Lake Belt Area can best be offset by a

26  mitigation plan that is designated the "Lake Belt Mitigation

27  Plan."  The per-ton mitigation fee assessed on limestone sold

28  from the Dade County Lake Belt Area shall be used for

29  acquiring environmentally sensitive lands and for restoration,

30  maintenance, and other environmental purposes.  Further, the

31  Legislature finds that the public benefit of a sustainable


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  supply of limestone construction materials for public and

  2  private projects requires a coordinated approach to permitting

  3  activities on wetlands within the Dade County Lake Belt in

  4  order to provide the certainty necessary to encourage

  5  substantial and continued investment in the limestone

  6  processing plant and equipment required to efficiently extract

  7  the limestone resource.  It is the intent of the Legislature

  8  that the Lake Belt Mitigation Plan satisfy all local, state,

  9  and federal requirements for mining activity with the Dade

10  County Lake Belt Area.

11         (2)  To provide for the mitigation of wetland resources

12  lost to mining activities within the Dade County Lake Belt

13  Area, effective October 1, 1998, a mitigation fee is imposed

14  on each ton of limerock and sand extracted by any person who

15  engages in the business of extracting limerock or sand from

16  within the Dade County Lake Belt Area.  The mitigation fee

17  shall be at the initial rate of 5 cents for each ton of

18  limerock and sand sold from within the Dade County Lake Belt

19  Area in raw, processed, or manufactured form, including, but

20  not limited to, sized aggregate, asphalt, cement, concrete,

21  and other limerock and concrete products.  Any limerock or

22  sand that is used within the mine from which the limerock or

23  sand is extracted is exempt from the mitigation fee. The

24  amount of the mitigation fee imposed under this section must

25  be stated separately on the invoice provided to the purchaser

26  of the limerock product from the limerock miner, or its

27  subsidiary or affiliate, for which the mitigation fee applies.

28  The limerock miner, or its subsidiary or affiliate, who sells

29  the limerock product shall collect the mitigation fee and

30  forward the proceeds to the Department of Revenue on or before

31


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  the 20th day of the month following the calendar month in

  2  which the sale occurs.

  3         (3)  The mitigation fee imposed by this section must be

  4  reported to the Department of Revenue.  Payment of the

  5  mitigation fee must be accompanied by a form prescribed by the

  6  Department of Revenue.  The proceeds of the mitigation fee,

  7  less administrative costs, must be transferred by the

  8  Department of Revenue to the South Florida Water Management

  9  District and deposited into the Lake Belt Mitigation Trust

10  Fund.  As used in this section, the term "proceeds of the

11  mitigation fee" means all funds collected and received by the

12  Department of Revenue under this section, including interest

13  and penalties on delinquent mitigation fees.  The amount

14  deducted for administrative costs may not exceed 3 percent of

15  the total revenues collected under this section and may equal

16  only those administrative costs reasonably attributable to the

17  mitigation fee.

18         (4)(a)  The Department of Revenue shall administer,

19  collect, and enforce the mitigation fee authorized under this

20  section in accordance with the procedures used to administer,

21  collect, and enforce the general sales tax imposed under

22  chapter 212.  The provisions of chapter 212 with respect to

23  the authority of the Department of Revenue for auditing and

24  making assessments, the keeping of books and records, and the

25  interest and penalties imposed on delinquent mitigation fees

26  apply to this section.  The mitigation fee may not be included

27  in computing estimated taxes under s. 212.11 and the dealer's

28  credit for collecting taxes or fees provided for in s. 212.12

29  does not apply to the mitigation fee imposed by this section.

30         (b)  In administering this section, the Department of

31  Revenue may employ persons and incur expenses for which funds


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  are appropriated by the Legislature.  The Department of

  2  Revenue shall adopt rules and prescribe and publish forms

  3  necessary to administer this section.  The Department of

  4  Revenue shall establish audit procedures and may assess

  5  delinquent fees.

  6         (5)  Beginning January 1, 2000, and each January 1,

  7  thereafter, the per-ton mitigation fee shall be increased by

  8  1.9 percentage points plus a cost growth index.  The cost

  9  growth index shall be the percentage change in the weighted

10  average of the Employment Cost Index For All Civilian Workers

11  (ecu 10001I) issued by the United States Department of Labor

12  for the most recent 12-month period ending on September 30,

13  and the percentage change in the Producer Price Index For All

14  Commodities (WPU 00000000), issued by the United States

15  Department of Labor for the most recent 12-month period ending

16  on September 30, compared to the weighted average of these

17  indices for the previous year.  The weighted average shall be

18  calculated as 0.6 times the percentage change in the

19  Employment Cost Index For All Civilian Workers (ecu 10001I)

20  plus 0.4 times the percentage change in the Producer Price

21  Index For All Commodities (WPU 00000000).  If either index is

22  discontinued, it shall be replaced by its successor index as

23  identified by the United States Department of Labor.

24         (6)(a)  The proceeds of the mitigation fee must be used

25  to conduct mitigation activities that are appropriate to

26  offset the loss of the value and functions of wetlands as a

27  result of mining activities in the Dade County Lake Belt Area

28  and must be used in a manner consistent with the

29  recommendations contained in the reports submitted to the

30  Legislature by the Dade County Lake Belt Plan Implementation

31  Committee and adopted under s. 373.4149.  Such mitigation may


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  include the purchase, enhancement, restoration, and management

  2  of wetlands and uplands, the purchase of mitigation credit

  3  from a permitted mitigation bank, and any structural

  4  modifications to the existing drainage system to enhance the

  5  hydrology of the Dade County Lake Belt Area.  Funds may also

  6  be used to reimburse other funding sources, including the Save

  7  Our Rivers Land Acquisition program and the Internal

  8  Improvement Trust Fund, for the purchase of lands that were

  9  acquired in areas appropriate for mitigation due to rock

10  mining and to reimburse governmental agencies that exchanged

11  land under s. 373.4149 for mitigation due to rock mining.

12         (b)  Expenditures must be approved by an interagency

13  committee that consists of a representative from each of the

14  following:  the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental

15  Resource Management, the Department of Environmental

16  Protection, the South Florida Water Management District, and

17  the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.  In addition, the

18  limerock mining industry shall select a representative to

19  serve as a nonvoting member of the interagency committee.  At

20  the discretion of the committee, additional members may be

21  added to represent federal regulatory, environmental, and fish

22  and wildlife agencies.

23         (7)  Payment of the mitigation fee imposed by this

24  section satisfies the mitigation requirements imposed under

25  ss. 373.403-373.439 and any applicable county ordinance for

26  loss of the value and functions of the wetlands mined.  In

27  addition, it is the intent of the Legislature that the payment

28  of the mitigation fee imposed by this section satisfy all

29  federal mitigation requirements for the wetlands mined.

30         (8)  If a general permit by the United States Army

31  Corps of Engineers, or an appropriate long-term permit for


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  mining consistent with the Dade County Lake Belt Plan, this

  2  section, and ss. 378.4115, 373.4149, and 373.4415, is not

  3  issued on or before September 30, 2000, the mitigation fee

  4  imposed by this section is suspended until reenacted by the

  5  Legislature.

  6         (9)(a)  The interagency committee established pursuant

  7  to this section shall, on an annual basis, prepare and submit

  8  to the governing board of the South Florida Water Management

  9  District a report evaluating the mitigation costs and revenues

10  generated by the mitigation fee.

11         (b)  No sooner than January 31, 2010, and no more

12  frequently than every 10 years thereafter, the interagency

13  committee shall submit to the Legislature a report

14  recommending any needed adjustments to the mitigation fee to

15  ensure that the revenue generated reflects the actual costs of

16  the mitigation.

17         Section 3.  Subsection (10) of section 373.4149,

18  Florida Statutes, is hereby repealed and subsections (5) and

19  (6) of said section are amended to read:

20         373.4149  Dade County Lake Belt Plan.--

21         (5)  The committee shall develop Phase II of the Lake

22  Belt Plan which shall:

23         (a)  Include a detailed master plan to further

24  implementation;

25         (b)  Further address compatible land uses,

26  opportunities, and potential conflicts;

27         (c)  Provide for additional wellfield protection;

28         (d)  Provide measures to prevent the reclassification

29  of the Northwest Dade County wells as groundwater under the

30  direct influence of surface water;.

31         (e)  Secure additional funding sources; and


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1         (f)  Consider the need to establish a land authority;

  2  and.

  3         (g)  Analyze the hydrological impacts resulting from

  4  the future mining included in the Lake Belt Plan and recommend

  5  appropriate mitigation measures, if needed, to be incorporated

  6  into the Lake Belt Mitigation Plan.

  7         (6)  The committee shall remain in effect until January

  8  1, 2002 2001, and shall meet as deemed necessary by the chair.

  9  The committee shall monitor and direct progress toward

10  developing and implementing the plan. The committee shall

11  submit progress reports to the governing board of the South

12  Florida Water Management District and the Legislature by

13  December 31 of each year. These reports shall include a

14  summary of the activities of the committee, updates on all

15  ongoing studies, any other relevant information gathered

16  during the calendar year, and the committee recommendations

17  for legislative and regulatory revisions. The committee shall

18  submit a Phase II report and plan to the governing board of

19  the South Florida Water Management District and the

20  Legislature by December 31, 2000, to supplement the Phase I

21  report submitted on February 28, 1997. The Phase II report

22  must include the detailed master plan for the Dade County Lake

23  Belt Area together with the final reports on all studies, the

24  final recommendations of the committee, the status of

25  implementation of Phase I recommendations and other relevant

26  information, and the committee's recommendation for

27  legislative and regulatory revisions.

28         Section 4.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section

29  338.223, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

30         338.223  Proposed turnpike projects.--

31         (2)


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                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1         (b)  In accordance with the legislative intent

  2  expressed in s. 337.273, and after the requirements of

  3  paragraph (1)(c) have been met, the department may acquire

  4  lands and property before making a final determination of the

  5  economic feasibility of a project. The requirements of

  6  paragraph (1)(c) shall not apply to hardship and protective

  7  purchases of advance right-of-way by the department. The cost

  8  of advance acquisition of right-of-way may be paid from bonds

  9  issued under s. 337.276 or from turnpike revenues.  For

10  purposes of this paragraph, "hardship purchase" means purchase

11  from a property owner of a residential dwelling of not more

12  than four units who is at a disadvantage due to health

13  impairment, job loss, or significant loss of rental income.

14  For purposes of this subsection, "protective purchase" means a

15  purchase to limit development, building, or other

16  intensification of land uses within the area right-of-way

17  needed for transportation facilities.  The department shall

18  give written notice to the Department of Environmental

19  Protection 30 days prior to final agency acceptance as set

20  forth in s. 119.07(3)(n), which notice shall allow the

21  Department of Environmental Protection to comment.  Hardship

22  and protective purchases of right-of-way shall not influence

23  the environmental feasibility of the project, including the

24  decision relative to the need to construct the project or the

25  selection of a specific location.  Costs to acquire and

26  dispose of property acquired as hardship and protective

27  purchases are considered costs of doing business for the

28  department and shall not be considered in the determination of

29  environmental feasibility for the project.

30         Section 5.  Chapter 93-213, Laws of Florida, Section 86

31  is amended as follows:


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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






                                       CS/HB 4071, First Engrossed



  1  Section 86.  The Department of Environmental Regulation is

  2  authorized 54 career service positions for administering the

  3  state NPDES program.  Twenty-five career service positions are

  4  authorized for startup of the program beginning July 1, 1993,

  5  and the remaining 29 career service positions beginning

  6  January 1, 1994.  The state NPDES program staffing shall start

  7  July 1, 1993, with completion targeted for 6 months following

  8  United States Environmental Protection Agency authorization to

  9  administer the National Pollutant Discharge System program.

10  Implementation of positions is subject to review and final

11  approval by the secretary of the Department of Environmental

12  Regulation.  The sum of $3.2 million is hereby appropriated

13  from the Pollution Recovery Trust Fund to cover program

14  startup costs.  Such funds are to be repaid from a fund the

15  legislature deems appropriate, no later than July 1, 2000.

16         Section 6.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

17  law.

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