CS/CS/CS/HB 999 - Environmental Regulation Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules requiring or incentivizing electronic submission of environmental forms, documents, fees, and reports, with accommodations for technological or financial hardship.

• Limits county and municipal review of professionally-certified development permit applications to three requests for additional information (unless applicant waives the limit), and requires a meeting before the third request to resolve outstanding issues.

• Modifies marina and submerged land lease provisions including establishing a 30% discount for public first-come, first-served marinas, 10% discount for Clean Marina-designated facilities, and fee waivers for extended-term leases of Clean Marinas open to the public.

• Grants sole permitting authority for water well installation and abandonment to water management districts and delegated local governments, prohibiting other local entities from imposing duplicate requirements or fees.

• Establishes expedited permitting for interstate natural gas pipelines certified by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and expands seawall restoration exemptions from permit requirements (increasing allowable waterward placement from 18 inches to 1 foot).