REDUCED PERMIT FEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION OR ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES


The South Florida Water Management District has initiated rule making to reduce the permit fee to one hundred dollars for new individual or standard general permits or individual or standard general permit modifications associated with certain environmental resource permits. The reduced fee will be available only for permits that are limited to environmental restoration or enhancement activities. These activities may include incidental passive recreation and facilities to provide public access to the environmental restoration or enhancement site.

The reduced fee is not available for activities associated with a mitigation bank. Additionally, it may not be utilized in conjunction with permits for mitigation activities associated with other activities that require a permit under Part IV of Chapter 373, Florida Statutes.

The reduced fee is expected to serve as an incentive to encourage certain environmental restoration and enhancement projects.

The rule is expected to be effective in April.