Preface
This handbook is designed to provide an accurate, current, and authoritative summary of the principal federal and state (Florida) laws that directly or indirectly relate to agriculture. This handbook provides a basic overview of the many rights and responsibilities that farmers and farmland owners have under both federal and state 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decisions on which this handbook is based are subject to constant revision, portions of this publication could become outdated at any time. Several details of cited laws are also left out due to space limitations. This handbook is provided as an educational text for those interested in water use and water resource issues in Florida.
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 state 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 UF/IFAS Center for Agricultural and Natural Resource Law, and UF/IFAS Extension 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. Note: UF/IFAS is the acronym for University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Florida Agencies
S-1. Florida Water Management Districts
Southwest Florida Water Management District
2379 Broad Street
Brooksville, FL 34604
(352) 796-7211
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/
South Florida Water Management District
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
(561) 686-8800
St. Johns River Water Management District
4049 Reid Street (Highway 100 West)
Palatka, FL 32178
(386) 329-4500
Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 County Road 49
Live Oak, FL 32060
(386) 362-1001
https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/
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 M.S. 49
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 245-2018
S-3. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Farris Bryant Building
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
(850) 488-4676
S-4. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The Capitol, Plaza Level Ten
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
1-800-435-7352
FDACS – Division of Agricultural Environmental Services
3125 Conner Boulevard, Suite E
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
(850) 617-7900
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Agricultural-Environmental-Services
FDACS—Florida Forest Service
3125 Conner Boulevard, Suite J
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
(850) 681-5800
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service
FDACS—Office of Agricultural Water Policy
The Mayo Building
407 South Calhoun Street, Mail Stop E1
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
(850) 617-1700
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Agricultural-Water-Policy
S-5. Florida Department of Health
Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Environmental Health, Onsite Sewage Programs
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin#A08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1710
(850) 245-4250
http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage/index.html
S-6. Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
Caldwell Building
107 East Madison Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-4120
(850) 245-7105
S-7. Florida State Emergency Response Commission for Hazardous Materials
Florida Division of Emergency Management
2555 Shumard Oak Blvd
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-2100
(850) 815-4000
EPA National Offices and Telephone Numbers
F-1. Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Hotline provides information on EPA drinking water regulations and programs, including local drinking water quality, drinking water standards, large capacity residential septic systems, etc.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, EST
Toll free (800) 426-4791
F-2. Environmental Emergency—National Response Center
NRC is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for reporting spills and environmental violations.
Toll free (800) 424-8802
F-3. Toxic Chemical Release Emergencies (EPCRA)
EPCRA Hotline is for reporting toxic chemical releases into the environment.
Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, EST
Toll free (800) 424-9346
F-4. TSCA Assistance Information Service
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) provides information about toxic substances and compliance with TSCA regulations.
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, EST
(202) 554-1404
F-5. National Pesticide Information Center
Hotline provides information on pesticides and pesticide poisonings, and spills and exposure.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM, EST
Toll free (800) 858-7378
In case of an immediate emergency, call 911
Numbers within EPA Region 4 (includes Florida)
L-1. General Information for Region 4
United States Environmental Protection Agency
61 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Toll free (800) 241-1754
L-2. Hazardous Waste Enforcement and Compliance Section
United States Environmental Protection Agency
RCRA Enforcement, Tenth Floor
61 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 562-8594
Supervises compliance with RCRA and resolves citizen problems dealing with hazardous waste management.
L-3. Groundwater and SDWA Enforcement Section
US EPA Region 4 Ground Water and SDWA Enforcement Section
Safe Drinking Water Branch
61 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303-8960
(404) 562-9399
L-4. Emergency Superfund Branch
Handles response to spills and other CERCLA/RCRA issues.
Toll free (800) 424-8802 (National Response Center)
(404) 562-8700 (EPA Region 4)
L-5. Water Protection Division
Compliance with Clean Water Act and groundwater programs
(404) 562-9345
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. We acknowledge Carol Fountain and Susan Gildersleeve at the University of Florida for their assistance in editing this handbook. We also acknowledge funding received for updating this publication from the James S. and Dorothy F. Wershow Agricultural Law Endowment.
