Section 62-570.200 - General Program Requirements(1) This chapter implements Section 403.0617, F.S., and provides procedures and criteria for participation in the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction and Conservation Pilot Project Program.(2) The Department shall solicit proposals at least once a year, in years which funding is appropriated by the legislature for innovative projects to receive grant funding under this chapter. Any solicitation for proposals by the Department shall specify the weight to be given to the criteria set forth in subsection 62-550.300(2), F.A.C., for purposes of ranking proposals that are received by the Department.(3) If the Department is soliciting proposals for projects, an interested applicant may apply for grant funding under this chapter by submitting a Pilot Project Proposal Application, Form 62-570.200(1), effective July, 2017, hereby adopted and incorporated by reference. Copies of the form may be obtained by writing to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Restoration Assistance, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 3600, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 or the form can be obtained at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08460.(4) To receive grant funding, projects must be determined by the Department to not be harmful to the ecological resources in the area. Project information to be evaluated to determine whether projects are harmful can include: addition of chemical or biological substances, alteration of the topography, changes to flora and fauna, habitat loss, and history of environmental impacts during other applications of a similar technology.(5) The general effectiveness of nutrient or sediment reduction technology or water conservation technology, or the particular application or scalability of such technologies, to be employed through the project must be considered innovative, but be capable of reasonable measurement.(6) All projects must include effectiveness monitoring to determine the actual nutrient or sediment reduction or water savings associated with implementation of the project. The results of the effectiveness monitoring and any other water quality or quantity monitoring required in the funding agreement, shall be provided annually to the Department, unless otherwise specified in the funding agreement between the applicant and the Department.(7) The Department will evaluate and rank projects using the criteria in Rule 62-570.300, F.A.C. Once notified of selection, the applicant must provide the Department with a proposed scope of work and budget to enable the Department to prepare and negotiate an agreement with the selected applicant.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-570.200
Rulemaking Authority 403.0617 FS. Law Implemented 403.0617 FS.
Adopted by Florida Register Volume 43, Number 129, July 5, 2017 effective 7/17/2017.