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Volume 22, Issue 8
| September 2020 |
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A Message From Your Membership Chair
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| | Lisa Henry, City of Orlando |
The familiar feeling of fall is in the air. The familiarity of the season is welcome in a year full of uncertainty. Our focus has shifted as we've had to learn how to keep staff safe while performing stormwater management duties during the pandemic. I believe the stormwater industry has excelled at ensuring the health and safety of staff, their families, and the public while continuing to offer excellent services to the communities we serve.
This year FSA is focused on YOU and how the association can help its members, friends, colleagues, and fellow professionals! We are here to help, listen, strategize, and support you in any manner possible. Now, more than ever, FSA will advocate for you for the tools and resources needed to navigate stormwater management during these unprecedented times.
The pandemic has not stopped the effects of high-intensity rain events, stormwater runoff, septic system contributions, and overall water quality degradation. It has also not stopped the great projects, studies, or innovations generated by our industry. Furthermore, it did not stop FSA from offering tremendous training and learning opportunities. FSA was able to shift the Annual Conference, the Fall Seminar and Level 1 and Level 2 stormwater operator classes online so all participants can continue their education remotely. The Winter Conference will also be held online and is another opportunity for preeminent stormwater education in Florida. The Winter Conference can meet a number of continuing education needs including Laws, Rules and Ethics for PE's, the biennial FDEP Day and two days of Florida focused stormwater education.
I am proud to represent YOU as the Chair of FSA's Membership Committee. Please reach out to us for any help you need solving stormwater problems, for ideas on working safely during the pandemic, or any other issues you are facing; FSA is here to help.
Lisa Henry, City of Orlando
Membership Committee Chair
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2020 Winter Conference - Register Now!
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FSA invites you to attend the 2020 Winter Conference! The conference will be held online December 1-4, 2020. This year's event will feature over 40 stormwater experts from across the state to meet all of your continuing education needs including the required Law, Rules and Ethics course for FL Professional Engineers, FSA's biennial FDEP Day, and two days of Florida focused stormwater education. Attendees will receive deeply discounted rates, have the ability to earn up to 16.25 continuing education credits, and much more! Visit the FSA Conference page to view all of the details including the agenda and registration fees.
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| Membership Renewal Deadline Update |
We know these are challenging times, so we have extended the membership dues deadline through the end of the first quarter for fiscal year 2020-21. This year's invoice reflects a January 31st deadline. Remember, FSA's membership includes all of the employees in your organization so for one fee, everyone has access to FSA's services! First renewal notices for FSA's 2020-21 fiscal year were sent the last week of July by mail and email. Notices went to the primary membership contact for your organization, allowing local government members to pay next year's dues with remaining funds from the current fiscal year. If you are the primary contact for your organization, keep an eye on your inbox for renewal emails from FSA! Questions? Call us at (888) 221-3124.
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| Statewide Stormwater Rulemaking |
The Governor signed Senate Bill 712 into law on June 30, 2020. SB 712 directs FDEP to update the statewide design criteria for stormwater systems and evaluate permits issued under the "10/2" General Permit, which is an online system. FSA has recommended that the Department form a Technical Advisory Committee nominated by affected stakeholders, like that which was used the last time revisions to the design criteria were considered. More information may be found on the FSA's Advocacy page and at the Environmental Resource Permitting Stormwater Rulemaking subsection of the Department's webpage on rules in Development.
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| Delegation of Dredge and Fill Permitting to FDEP |
On September 16, 2020 EPA published notice in the Federal Register that it has received a complete application from the State of Florida for the State to assume responsibility for the administration of the dredge and fill permitting program under Section 404 of the CWA. As a part of the Notice, EPA is soliciting public comment on the application through October 31, 2020 and has announced two online public hearings that will be held on October 21 and 27, 2020. For more information, visit EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0640 or FDEP's webpage. You may register online to attend the public hearings.
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FDEP has withdrawn its 2019 rulemaking effort to revise Chapter 62-640 on the permitting of biosolids disposal sites and announced a new rulemaking effort consistent with the provisions of SB 712, which passed the Legislature earlier this year. A workshop on the new proposed rule was held on September 18, 2020 and comments are being accepted through October 19, 2020. For more information, visit the Department's biosolids rulemaking page or contact Maurice Barker.
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| Triennial Review of WQ Standards |
States are required to conduct a comprehensive review of water quality standards every three years by the Clean Water Act. FDEP has now re-started its Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards, which began in May of last year. The Triennial Review process will be discussed during the FSA Winter Conference. FDEP is holding an online public workshop on the triennial review on October 7, 2020. Contact Daryll Joyner at FDEP for further information.
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The judge overseeing FSA's challenge to the 2015 WOTUS rules has placed the litigation in abeyance, unless and until litigation on the 2020 WOTUS "Replacement Rule" is resolved. FSA did not object to the Court's action. If upheld in court, the Replacement Rule supplants the 2015 rule. But at last count, there were more than 11 lawsuits challenging the 2020 rule and there has yet to be a discernable change in permitting policy in Florida due to the new regulations.
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| Virtual Workshop for Nonpoint Source Education Toolkit Development |
 FDEP is creating an education toolkit to assist with the development of nonpoint source education materials. Relevant topics may include appropriate Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, stormwater runoff and onsite septic systems. Here's a conceptual idea of how the toolkit will function.
To make these materials as useful as possible, FDEP is hosting two general meetings in addition to four topic specific session in October to gather feedback about potential resources and messaging development. Space is limited, contact Sara Fay for registration details. |
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2021 Legislative Session Dates Set
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The Legislative Session begins Tuesday, March 2, 2021 and is scheduled to end on Friday, April 30, 2021. Prior to the start of the Session, the below dates for remaining Interim Committee meetings are scheduled. FSA will be monitoring information and sending regular updates to members. Stay tuned!
| Date | Event | | October 15, 2020 | Agency Budget Requests Due | | November 24, 2020 | Organizational Session | | December 2020 | Interim Committee Meetings Begin | | February 2021 | Governor's Budget Recommendations Due | | March 2, 2021 | Regular Session Convenes | | April 30, 2021 | Regular Session Ends |
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| Fogarty Training Center - Don't Let Your Certification Expire! |
The last opportunity in 2020 to renew a Level 1 or Level 2 certification this year will be through online webinars held on November 3, 2020. FSA Stormwater Operator Certifications must be renewed every five years. The Fogarty Training Center offers Online Recertification Webinars that provide a convenient, cost-effective way to renew your certification. Don't know when your certification expires? To find out you can login to your personal FSA profile, scroll down to find your Level 1 and/or Level 2 expiration year or you can view the Stormwater Operator Certification Renewal Date List on the FSA Website. For more information, visit the Fogarty Training Center's recertification webpage. Attendees must register by October 2nd to receive the Stormwater Operator Manual prior to the webinar.
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We appreciate your feedback! Please don't hesitate to contact us if have any questions about FSA.
Sincerely,
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