CS/CS/CS/HB 239 Summary

• Department of Environmental Protection must publish notice of proposed rulemaking by May 31, 2012 to revise dissolved oxygen criteria for Florida waterbodies to account for natural variability.

• Prohibits implementation of federal EPA nutrient water quality criteria rules (finalized December 6, 2010) by state and local entities where criteria are more stringent than necessary to protect biological communities and designated uses.

• Allows Department to adopt numeric nutrient water quality criteria for specific surface waters based on objective data and scientific analysis, with nutrient reductions required only where necessary to protect biological communities and designated uses.

• Establishes new surface water classification system effective July 1, 2012, renaming existing Classes I-V to Human Use categories (1-7) combined with Aquatic Life Use categories (1-4), with department authorized to adopt updated classification system by rule subject to legislative ratification.

• Amends multiple statutes to conform references from old water quality classifications (Class I, II, III, IV, V) to new Human Use/Aquatic Life Use designations throughout various water management and environmental protection provisions.