403.890 Water Protection and Sustainability Program.

403.890 Water Protection and Sustainability Program.

Revenues deposited into or appropriated to the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund shall be distributed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:

   (1) Sixty-five percent to the Department of Environmental Protection for the implementation of an alternative water supply program as provided in s. 373.707.

   (2) Twenty-two and five-tenths percent for the implementation of best management practices and capital project expenditures necessary for the implementation of the goals of the total maximum daily load program established in s. 403.067. Of these funds, 83.33 percent shall be transferred to the credit of the Department of Environmental Protection Water Quality Assurance Trust Fund to address water quality impacts associated with nonagricultural nonpoint sources. Sixteen and sixty-seven hundredths percent of these funds shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services General Inspection Trust Fund to address water quality impacts associated with agricultural nonpoint sources. These funds shall be used for research, development, demonstration, and implementation of the total maximum daily load program under s. 403.067, suitable best management practices or other measures used to achieve water quality standards in surface waters and water segments identified pursuant to s. 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, Pub. L. No. 92-500, 33 U.S.C. ss. 1251 et seq. Implementation of best management practices and other measures may include cost-share grants, technical assistance, implementation tracking, and conservation leases or other agreements for water quality improvement. The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may adopt rules governing the distribution of funds for implementation of capital projects, best management practices, and other measures. These funds shall not be used to abrogate the financial responsibility of those point and nonpoint sources that have contributed to the degradation of water or land areas. Increased priority shall be given by the department and the water management district governing boards to those projects that have secured a cost-sharing agreement allocating responsibility for the cleanup of point and nonpoint sources.

   (3) Twelve and five-tenths percent to the Department of Environmental Protection for the Disadvantaged Small Community Wastewater Grant Program as provided in s. 403.1838.

   (4) On June 30, 2009, and every 24 months thereafter, the Department of Environmental Protection shall request the return of all unencumbered funds distributed pursuant to this section. These funds shall be deposited into the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund and redistributed pursuant to the provisions of this section.

History. s. 17, ch. 2005-291; s. 41, ch. 2007-73; s. 2, ch. 2007-335; s. 108, ch. 2008-4; s. 12, ch. 2008-114; s. 42, ch. 2008-153; s. 8, ch. 2009-2; s. 10, ch. 2009-20; s. 54, ch. 2009-21; s. 3, ch. 2009-23; s. 18, ch. 2010-4; s. 24, ch. 2010-205.