Senate Bill sb2634

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634

    By Senator Smith





    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to establishment of a

  3         performance-based environmental permitting

  4         system; creating s. 403.0874, F.S.; providing

  5         an act name; providing legislative findings;

  6         providing purposes; providing definitions;

  7         providing compliance incentives for certain

  8         environmental permitting activities; providing

  9         requirements and limitations; requiring the

10         Department of Environmental Protection to adopt

11         certain rules; providing for consequences for

12         certain noncompliance with certain permitting

13         decisions; providing for agency consideration

14         of an applicant's compliance history for

15         certain purposes; providing limitations;

16         providing for consideration of civil or

17         criminal violations; providing for permit

18         application denials under certain

19         circumstances; providing for limited

20         application approval under certain

21         circumstances; providing for limited permit

22         approvals; providing for reporting forms;

23         providing form information and structure

24         requirements; providing rulemaking authority

25         for the department; requiring agency

26         notification of formal enforcement actions;

27         providing notice requirements; providing

28         construction relating to existing agency

29         authority; specifying nonapplication to certain

30         general permits; amending ss. 403.087,

31         403.0872, 403.088, and 403.707, F.S.; revising

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1         criteria for department permit issuance to

 2         conform; amending s. 403.703, F.S.; correcting

 3         a cross-reference; amending ss. 373.413 and

 4         161.041, F.S.; specifying application of

 5         Performance-based Permitting Program

 6         provisions; providing an effective date.

 7  

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

 9  

10         Section 1.  Section 403.0874, Florida Statutes, is

11  created to read:

12         403.0874  Performance-based Permitting Program.--

13         (1)  SECTION NAME.--This section is named the "Florida

14  Performance-based Permitting Act.

15         (2)  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PUBLIC PURPOSE.--

16         (a)  The Legislature finds and declares that a permit

17  applicant's history of compliance or noncompliance with

18  environmental laws and permit conditions is a factor that

19  should be considered by the department when the department

20  determines whether to issue or reissue a permit to an

21  applicant.

22         (b)  Permit applicants with a history of compliance

23  with the environmental laws and permit conditions should be

24  eligible for longer permits, expedited permit reviews,

25  short-form permit renewals, and other incentives to reward and

26  encourage such applicants.

27         (c)  Permit applicants with a history of noncompliance

28  with the environmental laws and permit conditions should be

29  subject to more stringent requirements and, in some cases,

30  such applicants should be denied permits for a period of time

31  until their good standing can be reestablished.

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1         (d)  It is therefore declared to be the purpose of this

 2  act to provide the department with clear and specific

 3  authority to consider the compliance history of permit

 4  applicants and, in some cases, those who control the

 5  applicants when evaluating whether the applicant has provided

 6  reasonable assurance that the applicant can and will comply

 7  with applicable laws, rules, and permit conditions applicable

 8  to the regulated activity.

 9         (3)  DEFINITIONS.--For purposes of this section:

10         (a)  "Applicant" means the proposed permittee or

11  transferee, owner, or operator of a regulated activity seeking

12  an agency permit. If an applicant has not held an agency

13  permit during at least 4 of the 5 years preceding submittal of

14  the permit application, the term also includes any person who

15  has the legal or actual authority to control the proposed

16  permittee, transferee, owner, or operator.

17         (b)  "Agency" means the Department of Environmental

18  Protection.

19         (c)  "Agency laws" means chapter 161, part IV of

20  chapter 373, and chapter 403.

21         (d)  "Environmental laws" means any state or federal

22  law that regulates activities for the purpose of protecting

23  the environment, or for the purpose of protecting the public

24  health from pollution or contaminants, but does not include

25  any law that regulates activities only for the purpose of

26  zoning, growth management, or land use.

27         (e)  "Formal enforcement action" means that the agency

28  fully and finally adjudicated a civil action. The term also

29  includes criminal charges filed against the applicant,

30  including those officers, directors, trustees, partners, or

31  employees of the applicant who have legal or actual

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  operational control over a department-regulated activity, for

 2  an environmental offense that the applicant has been convicted

 3  of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of whether

 4  adjudication is withheld.

 5         (f)  "Knowing" means awareness of the nature of a

 6  person's acts, not awareness that such acts violate the law.

 7  The term does not include conduct that is the result of an act

 8  of God, mechanical failure, events beyond the control of the

 9  applicant, an accident or a mistake of fact. Knowing

10  violations by an applicant include, but are not limited to,

11  violations knowingly committed by those officers, directors,

12  trustees, partners, or employees of the applicant who have

13  legal or actual operational control over department-regulated

14  activity.

15         (g)  "Reasonable assurance" means the existence of a

16  substantial likelihood, although not an absolute guarantee,

17  that the proposed activity and applicant will comply with

18  agency rules, laws, orders, and permit conditions.

19         (h)  "Regulated activity" means any activity,

20  including, but not limited to, the construction or operation

21  of a facility, installation, system, or project, for which a

22  permit or certification is required under an agency law.

23         (i)  "Site" means a single parcel, or multiple

24  contiguous or adjacent parcels, of land on which the applicant

25  proposes to conduct, or has conducted, a regulated activity. A

26  site is a new site if the applicant has not held an agency

27  permit for a regulated activity at that location for at least

28  4 of the 5 years preceding submission of an application.

29         (4)  COMPLIANCE INCENTIVES.--In order to obtain a

30  compliance incentive, the applicant must affirmatively request

31  it as part of the permit application. Unless otherwise

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  prohibited by state or federal law, agency rule, or federal

 2  regulation, and provided the applicant meets all other

 3  applicable criteria for the issuance of a permit, any

 4  applicant who meets the criteria set forth in this subsection

 5  is entitled to the following incentives:

 6         (a)  Tier 1.--

 7         1.  An applicant shall be entitled to incentives

 8  pursuant to this paragraph at a site if the applicant

 9  conducted the regulated activity for at least 4 of the 5 years

10  preceding submittal of the permit application or, if the

11  activity is a new regulated activity, the applicant conducted

12  a similar regulated activity under an agency permit for at

13  least 4 of the 5 years at a different site in this state

14  preceding submittal of the permit application. However, an

15  applicant shall not be entitled to incentives under this

16  paragraph if the applicant has a relevant compliance history

17  at the subject site that includes any of the following

18  violations that resulted in formal enforcement action:

19         a.  A knowing violation of any agency law, rule,

20  consent order, final order, or final judgment;

21         b.  An environmental crime; or

22         c.  Two or more knowing violations of the permit

23  occurring on two or more separate occasions and resulting in

24  two or more formal enforcement actions, in which the violation

25  resulted in significant harm to human health or the

26  environment.

27         2.  Tier 1 incentives may include:

28         a.  Automatic renewal of permit. A renewal of an

29  operation or closure permit shall be issued for a period of 5

30  years and shall, after notice and an opportunity for public

31  comment, be automatically renewed for one additional 5-year

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  term without agency action unless the agency determines, based

 2  on information submitted by the applicant or resulting from

 3  the public comments or its own records, that the applicant has

 4  committed violations or crimes during the relevant review

 5  period that disqualify the applicant from receiving the

 6  requested extension.

 7         b.  Expedited permit review. The processing time

 8  following receipt of a completed application shall be 45 days

 9  for the issuance of the agency action.

10         c.  Short-form renewals. Renewals of operation or

11  closure permits not involving substantial construction or

12  expansion may be made upon a shortened application form

13  specifying only the changes in the regulated activity or a

14  certification by the applicant that no changes in the

15  regulated activity are proposed if that is the case.

16  Applicants for short-form renewals shall complete and submit

17  the prescribed compliance form with the application and shall

18  remain subject to the compliance history review of this

19  section. All other procedural requirements for renewal

20  applications remain unchanged. This provision shall supplement

21  any expedited review processes found in agency rules.

22         (b)  Tier 2.--An applicant shall be entitled to

23  incentives pursuant to this paragraph if the applicant meets

24  the requirements for Tier 1 and the applicant takes other

25  actions not otherwise required by law that significantly

26  reduce threats or impacts to the environment or public health.

27  Such actions may include reductions in actual or permitted

28  discharges or emissions, reductions in the impacts of

29  regulated activities on public lands or natural resources,

30  waste reduction or reuse, implementation of a voluntary

31  environmental management system, or other similar actions as

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  determined by department rule. Tier 2 incentives may include

 2  all Tier 1 incentives and may also include:

 3         1.  Ten-year permits, provided the applicant has

 4  conducted a regulated activity at the site for at least 5

 5  years.

 6         2.  Fewer routine inspections than other regulated

 7  activities similarly situated.

 8         3.  Expedited review of requests for permit

 9  modifications.

10         4.  Agency recognition, program-specific incentives, or

11  certifications in lieu of renewal permits.

12         5.  No more than two requests for additional

13  information.

14         (c)  Within 6 months after the effective date of this

15  act, the department shall initiate rulemaking to implement

16  Tier 2 incentives. The rule shall specify what incentives will

17  be made available, how applicants may qualify for incentives,

18  how extended permits may be transferred and the limitations on

19  transfer, and how incentives may be removed or revoked if the

20  applicant's compliance history changes. Until an implementing

21  rule is adopted, Tier 2 incentives shall not be available to

22  permit applicants under this act.

23         (5)  CONSEQUENCES OF NONCOMPLIANCE ON AGENCY PERMITTING

24  DECISIONS.--The agency shall consider the applicant's relevant

25  compliance history, as described in this subsection, when

26  determining whether a permit applicant has provided reasonable

27  assurance of future compliance with applicable agency laws,

28  rules, and conditions of the requested permit. Nothing in this

29  subsection is intended to conflict with any requirement of any

30  federally delegated or approved program.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1         (a)  The applicant's relevant compliance history shall

 2  consist of the applicant's knowing civil and criminal

 3  violations of environmental laws, rules, consent orders, final

 4  orders, or final judgments, with the following limitations:

 5         1.  Each criminal violation must have occurred during

 6  the 5 years preceding submission of the permit application to

 7  the agency.

 8         2.  Each knowing civil violation must have resulted in

 9  formal enforcement action during the 3 years preceding the

10  submission of the permit application to the agency.

11         3.  If the application is for the renewal of an agency

12  permit, except for a permit for a relocatable facility,

13  source, or activity or a permit at any site other than a new

14  site, the agency shall only consider the applicant's knowing

15  violations at that site and the applicant's environmental

16  felony offenses at any site in the country.

17         4.  If the application is for a new permit at a new

18  site or any permit for a relocatable facility or source, the

19  agency shall consider the applicant's knowing violations at

20  any site conducting the same activity regulated by the

21  department in this state and the applicant's environmental

22  felony offenses at any site in the country.

23         (b)  The agency may consider any full and finally

24  adjudicated civil violations as authorized in this subsection.

25         (c)  If the applicant's relevant compliance history

26  does include knowing civil or criminal violations as specified

27  in paragraph (a), the agency shall consider and weigh the

28  following factors in order to evaluate such violations in the

29  context of the applicant's overall compliance history and to

30  determine whether the applicant has provided, on balance,

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  reasonable assurance of future compliance with agency laws,

 2  rules, and the proposed permit:

 3         1.  The number of knowing violations and the

 4  seriousness of such violations in relation to the industry

 5  norm and history for the activity regulated by the department.

 6         2.  The number of other similar facilities controlled

 7  by the applicant.

 8         3.  The number and complexity of any permits held by

 9  the applicant and the statistical potential for violations to

10  occur.

11         4.  Whether the knowing violations involved regulatory

12  programs that are the same as, or similar to, the regulatory

13  program from which the permit is being requested.

14         5.  Whether the knowing violations involved activities

15  that are the same as, similar to, or related to the regulated

16  activity for which a permit is being requested.

17         6.  Whether the knowing violations resulted in harm to

18  human health or the environment and the extent of such harm.

19         7.  Whether the applicant has implemented an approach

20  or remedial measures that are effectively designed to prevent

21  a recurrence of the knowing violations or crimes.

22         8.  Whether the facility for which a permit is being

23  requested provides or proposes to provide utility services to

24  the public or serves a similar public purpose.

25         9.  What effect denying a permit application would have

26  on the applicant and the public at large.

27         (d)  If the applicant's relevant compliance history

28  includes one or more of the knowing violations or offenses

29  described in this paragraph, the agency may determine, subject

30  to the notification requirements in subsection (8), that the

31  applicant has not provided reasonable assurance and may deny

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  the permit application and the applicant shall not be entitled

 2  to apply for a permit for that regulated activity for a period

 3  of 1 year from the time a final order denying the permit has

 4  been entered:

 5         1.  A felony criminal violation of any environmental

 6  law in the United States;

 7         2.  A knowing violation of an agency law, rule, consent

 8  order, final order, or final judgment that would constitute a

 9  felony if prosecuted as a crime;

10         3.  A knowing violation of an agency law, rule, consent

11  order, final order, or final judgment that would constitute a

12  misdemeanor if prosecuted as a crime;

13         4.  A violation involving the intentional circumvention

14  of pollution control equipment required by agency rules, laws,

15  orders, or permit conditions;

16         5.  A violation involving the knowing failure to

17  install, maintain, or operate any monitoring device or method

18  required to be maintained by agency rules, laws, orders, or

19  permit conditions;

20         6.  A violation involving the knowing submittal of any

21  false statement, representation, or certification in any

22  application, record, report, plan, or other document filed or

23  required to be maintained by agency rules, laws, orders, or

24  permit conditions; or

25         7.  A violation involving falsifying, tampering with,

26  or knowingly rendering inaccurate any monitoring device or

27  method required to be maintained by agency rules, laws,

28  orders, or permit conditions.

29         (e)  If the applicant's relevant compliance history

30  demonstrates a pattern of noncompliance, the agency may, in

31  its discretion, issue a permit, not to exceed 1 year in

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  duration, if the applicant satisfies all other reasonable

 2  assurance requirements. A pattern of noncompliance exists when

 3  the applicant is responsible for two or more environmental

 4  crimes, knowing civil violations, or a combination thereof,

 5  occurring on two or more separate occasions and resulting in

 6  two or more formal enforcement actions in which the violation

 7  resulted in a significant harm to human health or the

 8  environment within a 5-year period. Any civil violation

 9  specifically identified in the Environmental Litigation Reform

10  Act, as set forth in s. 403.121, shall not be considered,

11  unless the violation was also a knowing violation.

12         1.  The agency shall include a statement in the formal

13  enforcement action that the agency has determined that the

14  applicant has a pattern of noncompliance and that this

15  determination has formed the basis for issuing subsequent

16  permits for a period not to exceed 1 year. This probationary

17  and limited duration permit shall cease and a standard

18  duration permit issued upon a demonstration that the applicant

19  has implemented an approach, program, or remedial measures

20  that is effectively designed to prevent a recurrence of the

21  non-compliance. The agency shall also include a notification

22  in its notice of intended agency action following a

23  determination of a pattern of noncompliance that the permit

24  could be revoked or an application to renew the permit could

25  be denied if the pattern of noncompliance continues.

26         2.  If, at the time of permit renewal following notice

27  of a determination of a pattern of noncompliance, the agency

28  determines that the applicant committed one or more relevant

29  violations enumerated in this paragraph resulting in a

30  continuing pattern of noncompliance, the agency shall deny the

31  permit application, and the applicant shall not be entitled to

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  apply for a permit for that regulated activity for a period of

 2  6 months from the time a final order denying the permit has

 3  been entered. This probationary and limited duration permit

 4  shall cease and a standard duration permit issued upon a

 5  demonstration that the applicant has implemented an approach,

 6  program, or remedial measures that is effectively designed to

 7  prevent a recurrence of the noncompliance.

 8         (f)  If the agency denies a permit application in

 9  accordance with this subsection for a permit that includes

10  closure, post-closure, or corrective action requirements, the

11  agency may deny that portion of the permit authorizing

12  operation and may issue a permit that contains only the

13  closure, post-closure, or corrective action requirements and

14  conditions.

15         (6)  REPORTING FORM.--The department shall establish a

16  form, by rule, to be used for the purpose of implementing this

17  section. Every permit application subject to this section that

18  is submitted to the agency shall be accompanied by this

19  completed form in order to be considered complete. During the

20  permit review process, the information on the form shall be

21  updated by the applicant to reflect any changes until such

22  time as the agency takes final action on the application. The

23  form shall include the following:

24         (a)  A section requiring every applicant to report the

25  relevant criminal history of the applicant, including the

26  nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the court

27  having jurisdiction in the case, the date of conviction or

28  other disposition, and the disposition of the offense.

29         (b)  A section requiring every applicant which is a

30  business entity and which has not held an agency permit during

31  4 of the 5 years preceding submittal of the permit application

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  to identify those persons having legal or actual authority to

 2  control the owner, operator, or permittee. The form may

 3  specify categories of persons having such authority and other

 4  relevant information that must be reported. The form may not

 5  require an applicant to report violations or offenses that are

 6  not part of the relevant compliance history specified in

 7  paragraph (4)(a).

 8         (7)  RULEMAKING.--In addition to the rulemaking

 9  necessary to adopt the form identified in subsection (6), and

10  to implement the Tier 2 incentives of subsection (4), the

11  department is authorized, but not required, to adopt such

12  other rules as are necessary to implement this section,

13  including rules providing for appropriate public notice and

14  comment.

15         (8)  NOTIFICATION.--The agency is encouraged to work

16  with permittees and permit applicants prior to taking any of

17  the actions authorized under this section in order to

18  encourage compliance and avoid overly burdensome consequences

19  of noncompliance. In each case in which the agency initiates a

20  formal enforcement action and prior to implementing the

21  sanctions outlined in this section, the agency shall clearly

22  and specifically:

23         (a)  Inform the alleged violator if the provisions of

24  this section have been triggered.

25         (b)  Put the alleged violator on notice of the

26  consequences of the violations and the potential consequences

27  of continuing noncompliance.

28         (9)  EXISTING AUTHORITY.--Nothing in this section shall

29  be construed to limit the agency's existing authority to

30  consider factors other than an applicant's compliance history,

31  such as the technical merits of the proposed project or the

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  applicant's financial and human resources, when determining

 2  whether the applicant has provided the reasonable assurance

 3  necessary to receive the requested permit.

 4         (10)  INAPPLICABLE TO GENERAL PERMITS.--This section

 5  shall not apply to general permits issued in accordance with

 6  s. 403.814. However, the agency may continue to use its

 7  existing authority to consider the compliance history of those

 8  wishing to use general permits.

 9         Section 2.  Subsection (5) of section 403.087, Florida

10  Statutes, is amended to read:

11         403.087  Permits; general issuance; denial; revocation;

12  prohibition; penalty.--

13         (5)  The department shall issue permits to construct,

14  operate, maintain, expand, or modify an installation which may

15  reasonably be expected to be a source of pollution only if the

16  applicant affirmatively provides the department with

17  reasonable assurance that the proposed activity and applicant

18  will comply with department rules, laws, orders, and permit

19  conditions when it determines that the installation is

20  provided or equipped with pollution control facilities that

21  will abate or prevent pollution to the degree that will comply

22  with the standards or rules adopted by the department, except

23  as provided in s. 403.088 or s. 403.0872. The compliance

24  history of the applicant shall be one factor that the

25  department shall consider in determining whether the applicant

26  has provided such reasonable assurance. However, separate

27  construction permits shall not be required for installations

28  permitted under s. 403.0885, except that the department may

29  require an owner or operator proposing to construct, expand,

30  or modify such an installation to submit for department

31  review, as part of application for permit or permit

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  modification, engineering plans, preliminary design reports,

 2  or other information 90 days prior to commencing construction.

 3  The department may also require the engineer of record or

 4  another registered professional engineer, within 30 days after

 5  construction is complete, to certify that the construction was

 6  completed in accordance with the plans submitted to the

 7  department, noting minor deviations which were necessary

 8  because of site-specific conditions.

 9         Section 3.  Subsection (2) of section 403.0872, Florida

10  Statutes, is amended to read:

11         403.0872  Operation permits for major sources of air

12  pollution; annual operation license fee.--Provided that

13  program approval pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s. 7661a has been

14  received from the United States Environmental Protection

15  Agency, beginning January 2, 1995, each major source of air

16  pollution, including electrical power plants certified under

17  s. 403.511, must obtain from the department an operation

18  permit for a major source of air pollution under this section.

19  This operation permit is the only department operation permit

20  for a major source of air pollution required for such source;

21  provided, at the applicant's request, the department shall

22  issue a separate acid rain permit for a major source of air

23  pollution that is an affected source within the meaning of 42

24  U.S.C. s. 7651a(1). Operation permits for major sources of air

25  pollution, except general permits issued pursuant to s.

26  403.814, must be issued in accordance with the procedures

27  contained in this section and in accordance with chapter 120;

28  however, to the extent that chapter 120 is inconsistent with

29  the provisions of this section, the procedures contained in

30  this section prevail.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1         (2)  An application for an operation permit for a major

 2  source of air pollution must be submitted in accordance with

 3  rules of the department governing permit applications. The

 4  department shall adopt rules defining the timing, content, and

 5  distribution of an application for a permit under this

 6  section. A permit application processing fee is not required.

 7  The department may issue an operation permit for a major

 8  source of air pollution only if the applicant affirmatively

 9  provides the department with reasonable assurance that the

10  proposed activity and applicant are in compliance with and

11  will continue to comply with department rules, laws, orders,

12  and permit conditions when it has reasonable assurance that

13  the source applies pollution control technology, including

14  fuel or raw material selection, necessary to enable it to

15  comply with the standards or rules adopted by the department

16  or the permit contains an approved compliance plan that

17  provides such reasonable assurance for that source. The

18  compliance history of the applicant shall be one factor that

19  the department shall consider in determining whether the

20  applicant has provided such reasonable assurance. If two or

21  more major air pollution sources that belong to the same Major

22  Group as described in the Standard Industrial Classification

23  Manual, 1987, are operated at a single site, the owner may

24  elect to receive a single operation permit covering all such

25  sources at the site.

26         (a)  An application for a permit under this section is

27  timely and complete if it is submitted in accordance with

28  department rules governing the timing of applications and

29  substantially addresses the information specified in

30  completeness criteria determined by department rule in

31  accordance with applicable regulations of the United States

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  Environmental Protection Agency governing the contents of

 2  applications for permits under 42 U.S.C. s. 7661b(d). Unless

 3  the department requests additional information or otherwise

 4  notifies the applicant of incompleteness within 60 days after

 5  receipt of an application, the application is complete.

 6         (b)  Any permitted air pollution source that submits a

 7  timely and complete application for a permit under this

 8  section is entitled to operate in compliance with its existing

 9  air permit pending the conclusion of proceedings associated

10  with its application. Notwithstanding the timing requirements

11  of paragraph (c) and subsection (3), the department may

12  process applications received during the first year of permit

13  processing under this section, in a manner consistent with 42

14  U.S.C. s. 7661b(c).

15         (c)  The department may request additional information

16  necessary to process a permit application subsequent to a

17  determination of completeness in accordance with s.

18  403.0876(1).

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

20  403.088, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

21         403.088  Water pollution operation permits;

22  conditions.--

23         (2)

24         (b)  The department may issue a permit only if the

25  applicant affirmatively provides the department with

26  reasonable assurance that the proposed activity and applicant

27  will comply with department rules, laws, orders, and permit

28  conditions. The compliance history of the applicant shall be

29  one factor that the department shall consider in determining

30  whether the applicant has provided such reasonable assurance.

31  If the department finds that the proposed discharge will

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  reduce the quality of the receiving waters below the

 2  classification established for them, it shall deny the

 3  application and refuse to issue a permit. If the department

 4  finds that the proposed discharge will not reduce the quality

 5  of the receiving waters below the classification established

 6  for them, it may issue an operation permit if it finds that

 7  such degradation is necessary or desirable under federal

 8  standards and under circumstances which are clearly in the

 9  public interest.

10         Section 5.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (17) of section

11  403.703, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

12         403.703  Definitions.--As used in this act, unless the

13  context clearly indicates otherwise, the term:

14         (17)  "Construction and demolition debris" means

15  discarded materials generally considered to be not

16  water-soluble and nonhazardous in nature, including, but not

17  limited to, steel, glass, brick, concrete, asphalt roofing

18  material, pipe, gypsum wallboard, and lumber, from the

19  construction or destruction of a structure as part of a

20  construction or demolition project or from the renovation of a

21  structure, and including rocks, soils, tree remains, trees,

22  and other vegetative matter that normally results from land

23  clearing or land development operations for a construction

24  project, including such debris from construction of structures

25  at a site remote from the construction or demolition project

26  site. Mixing of construction and demolition debris with other

27  types of solid waste will cause it to be classified as other

28  than construction and demolition debris. The term also

29  includes:

30         (b)  Except as provided in s. 403.707(11)(12)(j),

31  unpainted, nontreated wood scraps from facilities

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1  manufacturing materials used for construction of structures or

 2  their components and unpainted, nontreated wood pallets

 3  provided the wood scraps and pallets are separated from other

 4  solid waste where generated and the generator of such wood

 5  scraps or pallets implements reasonable practices of the

 6  generating industry to minimize the commingling of wood scraps

 7  or pallets with other solid waste; and

 8         Section 6.  Subsection (8) of section 403.707, Florida

 9  Statutes, is amended, and subsections (9)-(16) are renumbered

10  as subsections (8)-(15), respectively, to read:

11         403.707  Permits.--

12         (8)  The department may refuse to issue a permit to an

13  applicant who by past conduct in this state has repeatedly

14  violated pertinent statutes, rules, or orders or permit terms

15  or conditions relating to any solid waste management facility

16  and who is deemed to be irresponsible as defined by department

17  rule. For the purposes of this subsection, an applicant

18  includes the owner or operator of the facility, or if the

19  owner or operator is a business entity, a parent of a

20  subsidiary corporation, a partner, a corporate officer or

21  director, or a stockholder holding more than 50 percent of the

22  stock of the corporation.

23         Section 7.  Subsection (6) is added to section 373.413,

24  Florida Statutes, to read:

25         373.413  Permits for construction or alteration.--

26         (6)  The provisions of s. 403.0874, the

27  Performance-based Permitting Program, shall apply to

28  individual and conceptual permits issued under this part.

29         Section 8.  Subsection (5) is added to section 161.041,

30  Florida Statutes, to read:

31         161.041  Permits required.--

                                  19

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2634
    14-9A-03                                           See HB 1525




 1         (5)  The provisions of s. 403.0874, the

 2  Performance-based Permitting Program, shall apply to all

 3  permits issued under this chapter.

 4         Section 9.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2004.

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