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MEDIA ADVISORY: Feb. 27, 2024
MEMORANDUM
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TO:
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Members of the Media
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FROM:
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Alexandra Kuchta, Communications Director, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
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DATE:
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Feb. 27, 2024
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Re:
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Florida’s State 404 Program Update
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Good morning:
Yesterday, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) filed a motion seeking a partial stay in response to the federal court order divesting DEP of its authority to issue State 404 Program permits in Florida.
Statement from DEP:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is currently evaluating all legal options in light of the court’s order.
All activity under the State 404 Program is paused until further order of the court, including the more than 1,000 State 404 permit applications that were pending before DEP. As an initial step to limit this disruption, DEP filed a motion seeking a partial stay so Florida may continue to process the applications that would not affect any listed species.
Unless stayed, the court’s ruling will disrupt pending permit applications, including those associated with the restoration of America’s Everglades and critical infrastructure projects for a more resilient Florida.
Updates on the status of Florida’s State 404 Program will be routinely posted on this webpage.
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About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. Visit the department’s website at FloridaDEP.gov.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/38d69be
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