General News

SB 118: Florida’s Rural Boundary Bill Could Accelerate Development and Threaten Conservation Goals

Mar15

Understanding SB 1118: What Florida’s Rural Boundary Bill Means for Conservation and Mitigation Banking As a wetland mitigation banking specialist, I work closely with landowners, developers, and regulatory agencies to help strike a balance between growth and environmental preservation. That’s why I’ve been closely monitoring Senate Bill 1118 (SB 1118)—Florida’s proposed Rural Boundary Bill, which could have significant implications for mitigation banking, conservation efforts, and infrastructure planning across the state. This legislation, introduced in early 2025, seeks to ease development

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Speaking at UF’s 2025 Public Interest Environmental Conference

Mar12

Navigating Wetland Permitting: My Reflections from the 2025 Public Interest Environmental Conference I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to speak at the 2025 Public Interest Environmental Conference hosted by the University of Florida Levin College of Law. As a panelist following the keynote speaker, I joined two highly respected environmental attorneys to discuss pressing topics affecting our industry—including the evolving definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and the impacts of Section 404 Assumption. As someone who started in

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Water Quality Enhancement Areas (WQEAs): A New Tool for Florida’s Water Quality Goals

Mar12

Water Quality Enhancement Areas (WQEAs): Supporting Florida’s Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) As Florida continues to prioritize environmental preservation and water quality, innovative regulatory tools like Water Quality Enhancement Areas (WQEAs) are becoming a vital part of statewide restoration efforts. Implemented in 2022 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), WQEAs provide a new mechanism for regional water quality treatment that addresses nutrient pollution and helps achieve compliance within Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs). We’re closely following the development and expansion

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Florida Senate Introduces SB 492 to Address Mitigation Banking Credit Shortages

Feb20

Florida Senate Introduces SB 492 to Address Mitigation Banking Credit Shortages On February 5, 2025, the Florida Senate filed SB 492, a bill aimed at addressing mitigation banking credit shortages in key watersheds across the state. As demand for mitigation credits continues to rise, this bill seeks to refine regulatory processes to ensure more efficient credit availability while maintaining environmental integrity. What Does SB 492 Propose? SB 492 introduces key adjustments to state mitigation bank permitting practices, including: Credit Release Schedule Modifications –

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New Executive Order to Speed Up Environmental Permitting

Feb12

Executive Order to Speed Up Environmental Permitting: What It Means for Mitigation Banking On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14154, titled Unleashing American Energy, which extends beyond energy projects to significantly reshape how federal agencies approve projects impacting the environment. This Executive Order directs agencies to roll back National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and streamline permitting processes, aiming to reduce delays and expedite approvals. With environmental regulations directly influencing wetland mitigation banking, it’s crucial to understand how

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The State of Florida’s Federal 404 of the Clean Water Act Program

May14

The State of Florida’s Federal 404 of the Clean Water Act Program The State of Florida’s Federal 404 of the Clean Water Act Program plays a vital role in overseeing dredge and fill activities within state waters, encompassing a wide range of projects from residential to environmental restoration endeavors. On February 15, 2024, a federal court order was issued for the temporary rescinding of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)’s authority to issue Federal Section 404 permits. The State of Florida 404

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U.S. Army Corps Partners with Florida Power & Light to Enhance Permit Processing

May06

U.S. Army Corps Partners with Florida Power & Light to Enhance Permit Processing The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District is proposing to accept and expend funds from Florida Power & Light Company to expedite processing of their Department of the Army permit applications. The funds would be used to augment the budget of the Corps in accordance with the provisions of Section 214. The Corps Regulatory Program is funded as a Congressionally appropriated line item in the annual Federal budget. The

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Navigating the Waters: The Ongoing Saga of Florida’s State 404 Permitting Program

Apr23

Navigating the Waters: The Ongoing Saga of Florida’s State 404 Permitting Program In the ever-evolving landscape of environmental regulation, Florida’s State 404 Permitting Program has recently undergone significant judicial scrutiny. As the CEO of the Mitigation Banking Group, I’m here to provide a detailed update on the recent court rulings and subsequent actions that have substantial implications for wetland permitting in our state. On April 23rd, a pivotal decision was made by Federal District Court Judge Moss regarding Florida’s Clean Water Act

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New Water & Environmental Programs in Florida

Apr17

New Water & Environmental Programs in Florida Florida’s focus on water and environmental programs has increased recently, with the ratification of the statewide stormwater rule and the opening of Florida rules regarding Water Quality Credit Trading (WQCT) and Water Quality Enhancement Areas (WQEA). Learn more about this topic in Episode 12 of the Florida Specifier Podcast featuring the Editorial Board. Check it out here: https://floridaspecifier.com/podcast/episode-12-editorial-board/ WQCT and WQEA Rulemaking Update: https://floridadep.gov/water/engineering-hydrology-geology/documents/wqea-rule-draft-march-2024

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New EPA Drinking Regulations Proposed

Apr18

NEW EPA DRINKING REGULATIONS PROPOSED for Man-Made Chemicals PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)   There is currently no federal mandate to regulate public water systems to test for PFAS chemicals or take steps to filter them out of their supplies before it reaches consumers.   On March 14, 2023, EPA announced the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane

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