Florida Senate - 2007                      COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
    Bill No. SB 1486
                        Barcode 193558
                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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       03/29/2007 11:18 AM         .                    
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11  The Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation
12  (Gaetz) recommended the following amendment:
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14         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 
15         Delete everything after the enacting clause
16  
17  and insert:  
18         Section 1.  Part IV of chapter 369, Florida Statutes,
19  consisting of sections 369.401, 369.402, 369.403, and 369.407,
20  is created to read:
21         369.401  Short title.--This part may be cited as the
22  "Florida Springs Protection Act."
23         369.402  Legislative intent.--
24         (1)  The Legislature recognizes that the springs in
25  this state are a precious and fragile natural resource that
26  must be protected. Florida's springs provide recreational and
27  tourism opportunities and are a great financial benefit to
28  local economies. In addition, springs provide critical habitat
29  for endangered or threatened species of plants and animals and
30  serve as indicators of the quality of groundwater resources in
31  general.
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Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1486 Barcode 193558 1 (2) The Legislature recognizes that a spring is only 2 as healthy as the water resources in its springshed. The 3 groundwater that supplies springs is recharged by seepage from 4 the surface and through direct conduits such as sinkholes. As 5 a result, the health of spring systems is directly influenced 6 by activities and land uses within the springshed. 7 (3) The Legislature recognizes that springsheds and 8 areas of high vulnerability within springsheds are not clearly 9 delineated and that, as the first step in adequately 10 protecting springs, the springsheds must be delineated and 11 characterized using the best available data. 12 (4) The Legislature recognizes that the Department of 13 Environmental Protection, the water management districts, the 14 United States Geological Survey, and others have initiated 15 efforts to delineate the springsheds of this state's 33 16 first-magnitude springs. 17 (5) The Legislature recognizes that springshed 18 delineations and the location of areas of high vulnerability 19 within springsheds are critical information needed by local 20 governments in the preparation of comprehensive plans and plan 21 amendments in order to provide for land uses and protection 22 strategies that are compatible with protection of quantity and 23 quality of groundwater recharge within a springshed. 24 369.403 Definitions.--As used in this part, the term: 25 (1) "High vulnerability zone" means the geographic 26 area within a springshed delineated by the Department of 27 Environmental Protection and the appropriate water management 28 district which contributes most directly to the water quantity 29 and quality of the spring. 30 (2) "Spring" means a point where groundwater is 31 discharged onto the earth's surface, including under any 2 3:09 PM 03/27/07 s1486d-ep04-b01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1486 Barcode 193558 1 surface water of the state, excluding seeps. 2 (3) "Springshed" means those areas within the 3 groundwater and surface water basins which contribute to the 4 discharge of a spring. 5 367.407 Delineation of springsheds and high 6 vulnerability zones.-- 7 (1) The Department of Environmental Protection, in 8 coordination with the water management districts and the 9 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, shall create 10 a priority list and schedule for delineation of the springshed 11 and high vulnerability zones within each springshed for this 12 state's 33 first-magnitude springs. The priority list and 13 schedule shall include a consideration of: 14 (a) Work already completed; 15 (b) The degree of threat to the spring based on 16 existing water quality and water quantity impacts. 17 (c) Projected development patterns; and 18 (d) Existing and reasonably expected funding and 19 resources available to complete the work. 20 (2) The Department of Environmental Protection, in 21 coordination with the water management districts and the 22 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, shall develop 23 criteria for the delineation of high vulnerability zones 24 within a springshed. 25 (3) By January 30, 2008, the Department of 26 Environmental Protection shall submit a report to the 27 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 28 House of Representatives on the status of springshed 29 delineation which includes: 30 (a) The status of the delineation of the springshed 31 and high vulnerability areas within each springshed for each 3 3:09 PM 03/27/07 s1486d-ep04-b01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1486 Barcode 193558 1 of the 33 first-magnitude springs. 2 (b) The priority list and schedule developed under 3 subsection (1). 4 (c) The criteria developed for the delineation of high 5 vulnerability zones within a springshed developed under 6 subsection (2). 7 (d) Identification of any additional funding and 8 resources needed to complete the delineation of the 9 springsheds and high vulnerability areas within each 10 springshed. 11 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007. 12 13 14 ================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T =============== 15 And the title is amended as follows: 16 Delete everything before the enacting clause 17 18 and insert: 19 A bill to be entitled 20 An act relating to springs; creating the 21 "Florida Springs Protection Act"; creating s. 22 369.402, F.S.; providing legislative intent; 23 creating s. 369.403, F.S.; defining terms; 24 creating s. 369.407, F.S.; prescribing duties 25 of the Department of Environmental Protection, 26 alone and in coordination with other 27 governmental entities, with respect to 28 protection of springs and surrounding lands; 29 requiring a report; providing an effective 30 date. 31 4 3:09 PM 03/27/07 s1486d-ep04-b01