Compliance Assistance Pilot Project

     The Compliance Assistance Pilot Project (CAPP) is an annual certification of compliance by individual companies to increase evaluation, environmental performance, and accountability. Through CAPP, automotive repair shop owners and operators are receiving personal assistance in their efforts to meet state environmental standards. DEP is launching a new approach to environmental compliance through this certification program, which may later expand to other industries. As Florida’s population grows, reliance upon consumer oriented, small businesses such as auto and boat repair facilities, dry cleaning, and paint and body shops increases. The program augments DEP's traditional compliance inspection and compliance assistance efforts, and uses various tools designed to enhance and measure industry’s environmental performance. These tools include free DEP workshops and easy-to-understand compliance workbooks. The pilot currently being implemented in North Florida was developed in partnership with the Florida Automotive Trades Association, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and individual business owners. For more information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/hazardous/pages/autocert.htm.


The Northeast District Has a New Director

     Mario L. Taylor was appointed January 28, 2003, as DEP's new Director of District Management for Northeast Florida. Taylor has more than 30 years experience in state and local government. Taylor began his career with the Florida House of Representatives in 1973. He spent over ten years as Senior Staff Director for the Committee on Community Affairs, planning and directing local government affairs for the State of Florida. Taylor moved to Jacksonville in 1997 to become Deputy Director of Planning and Development for the City of Jacksonville. After two years, he was appointed by Mayor John A. Delaney as the Neighborhoods Department Deputy Director and, in 2001, was chosen to lead the Regulatory and Environmental Services Department where he managed Jacksonville's cable franchise and regulatory programs including air and water quality, consumer affairs, and human rights. The Northeast District encompasses a 20 county area from the Georgia border, south to Gainesville and west to include the eastern half of Jefferson County. Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelors Degree in Government from Florida State University. He began his new position as DEP's Northeast District Director on March 3, 2003.


Everglades Water Quality Standard

     On February 20, 2003, the Department announced the proposed numeric water quality standard for phosphorus in America’s Everglades. Decades of scientific research and biological analyses provide the basis for the standard. The proposed rule 62-302.540, F.A.C., establishes a phosphorus standard of 10 parts per billion for the entire freshwater area of the Everglades Protection Area. Over 90 percent of the 2.4 million-acre area already meets this stringent water standard. The primary tools for reducing phosphorus in the remaining ten percent are continued implementation of Best Management Practices by farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area and the optimization of 42,000 acres of new wetland filters, known as Stormwater Treatment Areas. The proposed rule requires the use of best available technologies (BAT) to ultimately achieve the water quality standard. An estimated $450 million will be invested over the next decade to implement a detailed, enforceable, long-term plan to ensure continued water quality improvements and protection of America’s Everglades. The Environmental Regulation Commission is reviewing the proposed rule and met to consider its adoption on February 27-28 and March 26, 2003, with one more ERC meeting focused on this topic scheduled on April 24, 2003. The 1994 Everglades Forever Act requires DEP to adopt a numeric phosphorus standard by December 2003 (see Section 373.4592(4)(d), F.S.).

New Air Rules

     Several air rules have been amended over the past 3 months, including changes to Title V Definitions in Chapter 62-210.200, F.A.C., effective February 19, 2003. The amended rule conforms Florida’s definition of Major Source of Air Pollution, a.k.a. “Title V Source,” to the recently amended federal definition. A rule for Citrus Juice Processing Facilities was also created, effective December 17, 2002, and can be found in Chapter 62-210.340, F.A.C. As required by Section 403.08725, F.S. (2000), this rule addresses air pollution limitations and compliance requirements at citrus juice processing facilities with peel dryers. The main emissions of concern from these facilities are volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Additionally, the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) / National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Quarterly Adoption By Reference rules (3rd Quarter, 2002) in Chapter 62-204.800, F.A.C., became effective on January 1, 2003. Summaries of all recent Air rule changes can be found at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/air/rules/recent.htm.


Quality Assurance Rule

     Rule 62-160, F.A.C., is the Department’s Quality Assurance Rule for sampling procedures. It was adopted in April, 2002, and the Standard Operating Procedures portion of the rule will be reviewed on a yearly basis to consider advancements and improvements in sampling procedures. The Bureau of Laboratories will be accepting comments from stakeholders until May, 2003, and hold public workshops explaining the revisions in June. We anticipate the process will be complete and the Rule finalized in July, 2003.


Waste Rule Workshops

     The Department held a public workshop on February 13, 2003, to discuss proposed modifications and amendments to Rule 62-777, F.A.C., Contaminant Cleanup Target Levels, and the associated program rules that are affected by this rule. The associated rules include Chapters 62-770, F.A.C. (petroleum), 62-782, F.A.C. (drycleaning solvents), and 62-785 F.A.C. (brownfields). Written comments were due on March 7, 2003. The rules are scheduled to be presented to the Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC) on May 29, 2003, and August 28, 2003, with final passage of the rules anticipated in late 2003.