Florida Senate - 2023 SB 880
By Senator Brodeur
10-01091-23 2023880__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to biosolids; amending s. 403.0673,
3 F.S.; authorizing the Department of Environmental
4 Protection, subject to appropriation, to provide
5 grants within the wastewater grant program for
6 projects that convert wastewater residuals to
7 biosolids; providing for the prioritization of such
8 projects; amending s. 403.0855, F.S.; prohibiting the
9 department from authorizing land application site
10 permits for Class B biosolids unless a certain
11 demonstration can be made; requiring the department to
12 publish and annually update maps of protected
13 subwatersheds; requiring land application site permits
14 to meet certain requirements by specified dates;
15 amending s. 403.1835, F.S.; requiring that department
16 water pollution control financial assistance be
17 administered to provide a specified percentage of
18 available funding to projects that convert wastewater
19 residuals to biosolids; providing an effective date.
20
21 WHEREAS, the Legislature encourages the highest levels of
22 treatment, quality, and use for biosolids, and
23 WHEREAS, the Legislature encourages the beneficial use of
24 biosolids in a manner that will foster public acceptance, as
25 well as innovative and alternative uses for biosolids, NOW,
26 THEREFORE,
27
28 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30 Section 1. Present subsections (4) and (5) of section
31 403.0673, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
32 and (6), respectively, a new subsection (4) is added to that
33 section, and subsection (2) of that section is amended, to read:
34 403.0673 Wastewater grant program.—A wastewater grant
35 program is established within the Department of Environmental
36 Protection.
37 (2) In allocating such funds pursuant to subsection (1),
38 priority must be given to projects that subsidize the connection
39 of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems to wastewater
40 treatment facilities. First priority must be given to subsidize
41 the connection of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems
42 to existing infrastructure. Second priority must be given to any
43 expansion of a collection or transmission system that promotes
44 efficiency by planning the installation of wastewater
45 transmission facilities to be constructed concurrently with
46 other construction projects occurring within or along a
47 transportation facility right-of-way. Third priority must be
48 given to all other connections of onsite sewage treatment and
49 disposal systems to wastewater treatment facilities. The
50 department shall consider the estimated reduction in nutrient
51 load per project; project readiness; the cost-effectiveness of
52 the project; the overall environmental benefit of a project; the
53 location of a project; the availability of local matching funds;
54 and projected water savings or quantity improvements associated
55 with a project.
56 (4) Subject to the appropriation of funds by the
57 Legislature, the department may provide grants throughout this
58 state for projects that convert wastewater residuals to class A
59 and class AA biosolids. In allocating such grants, the
60 department shall prioritize projects by considering the cost
61 effectiveness of a project and the overall environmental benefit
62 of a project.
63 Section 2. Subsections (7) and (8) are added to section
64 403.0855, Florida Statutes, to read:
65 403.0855 Biosolids management.—
66 (7) The department may not authorize a land application
67 site permit for a Class B biosolid within the subwatershed of a
68 waterbody designated as impaired for either nitrogen or
69 phosphorus or within an adjoining upstream subwatershed
70 containing surface waters that flow to a waterbody designated as
71 impaired for either nitrogen or phosphorus unless the applicant
72 affirmatively demonstrates that the phosphorus and nitrogen in
73 the biosolids will not add to the nutrient load in the impaired
74 subwatershed. This demonstration must be based on achieving a
75 net balance between nutrient imports relative to exports on the
76 permitted land application site. Exports may include only
77 nutrients removed from the subwatershed through products
78 generated on the permitted land application site. Beginning
79 August 1, 2023, and each August 1 thereafter, the department
80 shall publish updated maps designating the subwatersheds of
81 waterbodies protected under this subsection.
82 (8) New or renewed Class B biosolid land application site
83 permits issued after July 1, 2023, must meet the requirements of
84 this section by July 1, 2024. All permits for biosolid land
85 application sites must meet the requirements of this section by
86 July 1, 2025.
87 Section 3. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (3) of
88 section 403.1835, Florida Statutes, to read:
89 403.1835 Water pollution control financial assistance.—
90 (3) The department may provide financial assistance through
91 any program authorized under 33 U.S.C. s. 1383, as amended,
92 including, but not limited to, making grants and loans,
93 providing loan guarantees, purchasing loan insurance or other
94 credit enhancements, and buying or refinancing local debt. This
95 financial assistance must be administered in accordance with
96 this section and applicable federal authorities.
97 (e) The department shall administer financial assistance so
98 that at least 15 percent of the funding made available each year
99 under this section is reserved for projects that convert
100 wastewater residuals to Class A and Class AA biosolids during
101 the year such funding is reserved.
102 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.