BUREAU OF GEOLOGY


Community Affairs has jurisdiction over Developments of Regional
Impact (DRI).

 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

 A peat mining operation falls under DER jurisdiction only if either of
two conditions are met. These criteria are: 1) the operation is located in
or would affect surface "Waters of the State", or 2) there is water
discharged off the property or to groundwater. If neither of these condi-
tions apply, then DER does not require a permit (Mark Latch, DER, per-
sonal communication, 1984).
 The procedure involved is as follows: A site plan is submitted to DER.
DER makes a determination as to whether there is jurisdiction and per-
mits are required. If DER does have jurisdiction, the next step is to apply
for the applicable permits. Any or all of the following permits may be
required by DER depending on the specific site conditions and the site
plan proposed: Dredge and Fill, Stormwater, Groundwater, Industrial
Waste Water Discharge, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
certification, Power Plant Siting and Air Quality.

 WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

 Four of the five Water Management Districts in Florida have peat mines
located within their boundaries. They are the Suwannee River, St. Johns
River, Southwest Florida and South Florida Water Management Districts.
The permitting required by each management district is discussed below.

 Suwannee River Water Management District

 Any wells drilled for water withdrawal or monitoring purposes require
well construction permits. Water use permits are required for all uses of
water whether the withdrawal is through wells or from surface water
bodies. A water use permit is not required for monitor wells (Ron Ceryak,
SRWMD, personal communication, 1984).

 St. Johns River Water Management District

 There are four permits which may be required by the SJRWMD. They
are the Consumptive Use Permit (40C-2), Water Well Construction Per-
mit (40C-3), Management and Storage of Surface Waters Permit (40C-4)
and Works of the District Permit (40C-6). The permits and pertinent
thresholds are summarized below by Frank Meeker (SJRWMD, Division
of Permitting, personal communication, 1984).