(1) General Permits.
    (a) Florida Statutes § 373.118, authorizes the governing board to adopt rules establishing a general permit system for projects or categories of projects which have, either singly or cumulatively, a minimal adverse impact on water resources of the district. The governing board of the Suwannee River Water Management District has established a general permit system which authorizes the issuance of three categories of general permits – Noticed General Permits, General Permits, and General Permits by Rule. A specific reference to the procedures for issuance of these categories of general permits is included in each district rule which authorizes a Noticed General Permit, General Permit, and General Permits by Rule along with specific standards or conditions for issuance of such permits. When an activity does not qualify or conform to the conditions for issuance of general permits, an application for an individual permit or conceptual approval permit may be submitted to the district for consideration. No public notice by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected area shall be required for general permits; however, public notice will be made by providing to any interested person a copy of any permit on file with the district and by posting at the district headquarters a current journal of all such permits issued.
    (b) Noticed General Permits are a category of general permits for activities which have established standards and conditions for issuance of permits in district rules and which are considered by the governing board to have little or no potential for adverse impact to water resources of the district if those standards and conditions for issuance of permits are followed.
    (c) General permits are reviewed, and agency action is initiated within 30 days of receipt of a completed and properly executed application, including any permit fees. Following investigation and review by District staff to insure the proposed activity qualifies for the specific general permit authorized by District rule and conforms to all conditions for issuance of the specific general permit, the general permit is issued by rule. In lieu of issuance of the general permit, the District will issue a notice of proposed agency action to deny the application and follow the procedures in Florida Statutes § 120.57, and Fl. Admin. Code Chapter 28, when investigation and review of the application by District staff reveals that the proposed activity does not qualify or conform to the conditions for issuance of the specific general permit authorized by District rule. If an application is received in an incomplete state, not properly executed or if additional information is required, the applicant shall be notified pursuant to the procedures in Florida Statutes § 120.60, and Fl. Admin. Code Chapter 28
    (d) General permits by rule, as defined in Fl. Admin. Code R. 40B-2.041, are a category of general permits for activities which have established standards and conditions for issuance of permits in district rules. A permit application is not required for any use that meets the requirements of Fl. Admin. Code R. 40B-2.041, and is thereby considered to be an existing legal use of water.
    (2) Individual Permits.
    (a) Individual permits are issued under the standard permitting and licensing procedures described in Florida Statutes § 120.60 Unless a general permit is specifically authorized by District rule or unless an applicant chooses to request a conceptual approval permit for an activity, the individual permit procedures described in this section and Florida Statutes Chapter 120, govern all district permitting and licensing activities. Within 30 days of receipt of an application for an individual permit, the District will notify the applicant of any apparent errors or omissions and request any additional information that the District is authorized to request. A request for additional information shall include a reference to the specific rule or law which authorizes the District to make the request. If apparent errors or omissions are not corrected or additional information requested is not supplied within 90 days of the date of the District notice, the District shall issue a notice of proposed agency action to deny the application and follow the procedures in Florida Statutes § 120.57, and Fl. Admin. Code Chapter 28 The applicant may request an extension of time in writing necessary to correct apparent errors or omissions or supply additional information requested by the District.
    (b) Upon receipt of an application for an individual permit, the District will cause to be published and distributed the notices of application required by Sections 373.116, 373.413(3) and 373.413(4), F.S. The notice of application shall specify a date not less than 14 days from the date of publication and distribution by which comments or objections to the application may be filed with the District.
    (c) The Governing Board hereby delegates authority to the Executive Director or their designee to issue individual environmental resource permits unless objection to the permit application or the notice of application is made according to statute and these rules by a substantially affected person.
    (3) Conceptual Approval Permits. Any person may request conceptual approval of any activity that requires a permit from the governing board by making application for a conceptual approval permit. The procedure for review and consideration of such applications shall be the same as for an individual permit. A conceptual approval permit issued by the governing board cannot authorize construction or the beginning of the activity which is the subject of the conceptual approval.
Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.083, 373.113, 373.118, 373.171, 373.4141 FS. Law Implemented 120.57, 120.60, 373.084, 373.085, 373.086, 373.106, 373.116, 373.118, 373.229, 373.313, 373.413, 373.416, 373.426 FS. History-New 6-16-88, Amended 12-22-92, 10-3-95, 1-29-01, 12-10-07, 10-25-09, 3-24-14, 4-8-15, 11-2-21.