Our Blog

America’s Water Infrastructure Act 2018

Oct24

President Trump to sign bill creating reservoir South of Lake Okeechobee President Trump signed the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 into law on October 23, 2018. Included in that massive plan is a bill to create reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee, which is expected to greatly help the algae crisis in South Florida. The South Florida Water Management District has said creating the reservoir could reduce Lake Okeechobee discharges by 65 percent. The water storage project is designed to take water from

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2018 FAEP Conference

Aug28

The 2018 Florida Association of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference is almost here and we’re super excited! Join other industry biologists, scientists, geologists, environmental engineers, environmental attorneys, wetland scientists, botanists, planners, and many other disciplines from our industry! HOSTED BY CFAEP LOCATION: Enhancing the Florida Environment Thursday, September 20, 2018- Friday, September 21, 2018 At The Doubletree at Universal Studios in Orlando! REGISTER NOW The Conference Committee from the Central Florida chapter has put together a wide array of topics and discussions to ensure this years conference

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Trump admin encourages states to take over water permitting

Aug14

The U.S. Army released a memorandum taking initial steps to empower States and tribes in assuming Section 404 permit authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Letters are also being sent to all fifty State Governors and the tribal leaders encouraging them to assume the federal 404 permitting program. The memorandum and more information is available at: https://www.army.mil/asacw/. Swamp School will be holding a webinar on the topic.

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Endangered Species Act

Jul28

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries (the Services) are amending regulations pertaining to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in an attempt to streamline and clarify various key implementing provisions of this long-standing and powerful Act. The three proposed regulation changes, intended to be part of a comprehensive update to help improve the efficiency and consistency of implementing the ESA, were published today in the Federal Register – opening up a 60 day comment period. The

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Everglades Trust

Jul24

The Everglades comprise the largest subtropical wetland ecosystem in North America and are recognized as one of the most important on the planet. They are a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. Home to more than 80 endangered species of plants and animals, they are the source of the water supply for one out of every three Floridians (8 million people). The economics this great system generates and makes possible rival anything else in Florida. Watch this quick 3-min animated

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Pending WOTUS (Waters of the United States) Determination

Jun11

The pending WOTUS (Waters of the United States) determination for regulation to our natural resources is currently in flux and we are patiently awaiting how the regulations will effect our environment.  Historically, before wetland regulation and oversight, negative changes to our environment occurred; such as flooding, water quality degradation, river contamination and loss of wildlife. It’s important to have wetlands regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) so that projects with proposed wetland impacts obtain federal approval before filling

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State 404 Program Workshop Chapters 62-330 and 62-331, F.A.C.

Jun01

Workshops throughout Florida were conducted in Tallahassee, Orlando and Ft. Myers the last week of May 2018  to share with interested parties the new proposed changes to Chapter 62-330, F.A.C. The proposed changes are pending and they are anticipating a 6 month delay due to training at the FDEP level. They also reported that FDEP will manage the 404 Program the first initial year before it is delegated to the respective Water Management Districts. The proposed changes also provide applicants the right

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404 State Assumption Workshops Announcement

May15

If you are interested in learning more about the proposed Section 404 of the Clean Water Act State Assumption, please attend one of these upcoming workshops: DATE AND TIME: May 30, 2018, beginning at 8:30 am. PLACE: Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 A live webinar is also available for the Tallahassee Workshop; webinar participants may register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8324935087855682563. DATE AND TIME: May 31, 2018, 8:30 a.m. PLACE: Department of Environmental Protection, Central District Office, 3319 Maguire Boulevard, Orlando,

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Preparing For The 2018 Florida Association of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference and Training Symposium.

Mar30

Miriam Balladares, Hilton; Victoria Bruce, MBG, Inc; Hannah Rowe, JMT, Inc.; Todd Hosgson, FECC, Inc.; Flormari Blackburn, E Sciences, Inc., Chef (Not Pictured: Jennifer Cummings, OCPW; Kelley Samuels, AECOM; Scott Martin, Pace Labs) https://www.cfaep.org/board/ On behalf of CFAEP and TRB, we are thrilled for the 2018 Florida Association of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference and Training Symposium. This year’s conference is being hosted by the Central Florida Association of Environmental Professionals and the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board and will

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