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Publication #FE616

Handbook of Florida Water Regulation: Contact Agencies1

Michael T. Olexa, Luke D'Isernia, Laura Minton, Dulcy Miller, and Sarah Corbett2

Preface

This handbook is designed to provide an accurate, current, and authoritative summary of the principle Federal and Florida laws that directly or indirectly relate to agriculture. This handbook should provide a basic overview of the many rights and responsibilities that farmers and farmland owners have under both Federal and Florida laws as well as the appropriate contact information to obtain more detailed information. However, the reader should be aware that because the laws, administrative rulings, and court decisions on which this handbook is based are subject to constant revision, portions of this publication could become outdated at anytime. Several details of cited laws are also left out due to space limitations.

This handbook is distributed with the understanding that the authors are not engaged in rendering legal or other professional advice, and the information contained herein should not be regarded as a substitute for professional advice. This handbook is not all inclusive in providing information to achieve compliance with the Federal and Florida laws and regulations governing water protection. For these reasons, the use of these materials by any person constitutes an agreement to hold harmless the authors, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and the University of Florida for any liability claims, damages, or expenses that may be incurred by any person as a result of reference to or reliance on the information contained in this handbook.

Florida Agencies

S-1. Florida Water Management Districts

Southwest Florida Water Management District
2379 Broad Street
Brooksville, FL 34609
(352)796-7211
South Florida Water Management District
3301 Gun Club Road
Post Office Box 24680
West Palm Beach, Fl 33416-4680
(561) 686-8800
St. Johns River Water Management District
4049 Reid Street (Highway 100 West)
Post Office Box 1429
Palatka, FL 32178
(386) 329-4500
Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 County Road 49
Live Oak, FL 32060
(386) 362-1001
Northwest Florida Water Management District
81 Water Management Drive
Havana, FL 32333-4712
(850) 539-5999

S-2. Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Blvd
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
(850) 245-2011
Division of Administrative Services
3900 Commonwealth Blvd
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
(850) 245-2307
Division of Air Resources Management
2600 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400
(850) 488-0114
Division of Environmental Resource Permitting
2600 Blairstone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400
(850) 245-8474
Division of Waste Management
2600 Blairstone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-4500
(850) 245-8705
Division of Water Resource Management
2600 Blairstone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
(850) 245-8336

S-3. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
101 Marathon Building
2574 Seagate Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32301-1600
(850) 488-4676

S-4. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The Capitol, Plaza Level Ten
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
Toll free (800) 435-7352
(850) 488-3022
Division of Standards
3125 Conner Boulevard, Suite E
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
(850) 488-0645
Division of Forestry
3125 Conner Boulevard, Suite J
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
(850) 488-4274
Division of Agriculture and Environmental Services
3125 Conner Boulevard, Suite F
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
(850) 488-3731
Division of Administration
1203 Governors Square Blvd, Suite 200
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 488-6249
Office of Agricultural Water Policy
1203 Governors Square Blvd, Suite 200
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 488-6249

S-5. Florida Department of Health

Florida Department of Health Bureau of Onsite Sewage Programs
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Suite 240
Building 4042 (Bin#A08)
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1713
(850) 245-4070
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/ostds/

S-6. Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security

The Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security was abolished effective June 30, 2002, and its divisions/units have been transitioned to other Agencies. For further information about the transition and contact numbers for the receiving Agencies, please go online to http://www2.myflorida.com/les

S-7. Florida Department of Community Affairs

Florida Department of Community Affairs
2555 Shumard Oak Blvd
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 488-2356

S-8. Florida State Emergency Response Commission / State Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Commission

Florida State Emergency Response Commission
Florida State Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Commission
2555 Shumard Oak Blvd
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-2100
Toll free (800) 635-7179

EPA National Offices and Telephone Numbers

F-1. Safe Drinking Water Hotline

Provides information on EPA drinking water regulations and programs
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, EST
Toll free (800) 426-4791

F-2. RCRA/CERCLA (Superfund) Hotline

Provides information on RCRA and CERCLA and responds to document requests
Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, EST
Toll free (800) 424-9346

F-3. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA)

Provides information about planning and preparation involving accidental releases of toxic chemicals
Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, EST
Toll free (800) 424-9346

F-4. TSCA Assistance Information Service

Provides information about toxic substances and compliance with TSCA regulations, and supplies publications and other materials to aid in compliance
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, EST
(202) 554-1404

F-5. National Pesticide Institution Network

Provides information on pesticides and pesticide poisonings
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Toll free (800) 858-7378

F-6. Florida Administrator of EPA Pesticide Registration

Bureau of Pesticides/Division of Inspection
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
3125 Conner Blvd., Building 6
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
(850) 487-2130

Numbers Within EPA Region 4 (Includes Florida)

L-1. General Information for Region 4

United States Environmental Protection Agency
61 Forsyth St SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(800) 241-1754
(Written questions may be sent to this address)

L-2. Hazardous Waste Compliance Section

United States Environmental Protection Agency
RCRA Enforcement, Tenth Floor
61 Forsyth St SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 562-8579
Supervising compliance with RCRA and resolving citizen problems dealing with hazardous waste management

L-3. Groundwater Section

Dealing with Groundwater Pollution, including violations of SDWA
(404) 562-9424

L-4. Emergency Superfund Branch

Handling response to spills and other CERCLA/RCRA issues
(800) 424-9346 (National EPCRA Hotline)
(404) 562-8700 for spills

L-5. Clean Water Act Facilities and Performance

Branch/Compliance Section
Dealing with compliance to Clean Water Act
(404) 562-9345
Water Permit and Enforcement Section
Permitting: (404) 562-9304
Enforcement: (404) 562-9770

Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to the personnel of both state and federal agencies who provided their time and advice in the preparation of this handbook. The authors are especially indebted to Richard Budell of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for providing funds for the development of this publication.

Footnotes

1.

This is EDIS document FE616, a publication of the Food and Resource Economics Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Published December 2005. Please visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Michael T. Olexa, Professor, Food and Resource Economics Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Director, Agricultural Law Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; and Chair, Agricultural Law Committee of The Florida Bar. Luke D'Isernia, former student (graduated cum laude in 2005), Levin College of Law, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Laura Minton, Attorney, Dean, Mead, Egerton, Bloodworth, Capouano, and Bozarth, Orlando, FL. Dulcy Miller, attorney, Foley and Lardner, LLP, Orlando, FL. Sarah Corbett, Attorney, Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Lakeland, FL.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.