St. Johns River Water Management District

News Release

nr09-003

Recommended order issued on river permit application

PALATKA, Fla., Jan. 13, 2009 - A Florida Administrative Law Judge on Jan. 12, 2009, issued a recommended order in the pending case which challenged the St. Johns River Water Management District's proposed issuance of a permit to Seminole County to withdraw surface water from the St. Johns River for public supply and reclaimed water supply augmentation.

The judge recommended that the District Governing Board approve Seminole County's permit application with conditions previously specified by District staff. The issue will be considered by the Board in a future public meeting.

The District Board was scheduled to consider Seminole County's permit application in March 2008. Because of petitions objecting to the District staff recommendation for approval of the county-owned water utility's application to withdraw 5.5 million gallons of water per day (on an average annual basis) from the river, the issue went to a state administrative hearing officer.

Involved parties will have an opportunity to submit any specific objections regarding the recommended order before the Board issues a final order in a public meeting. When the Board considers the recommended order, the involved parties will also have an opportunity to address the Board directly at that meeting.

"The recommended order, subsequent comments submitted by the involved parties and oral arguments by those parties will all be considered by the District Governing Board in a future public meeting prior to issuing a final order," said District Communications Director Jeff Cole.

The application seeks to use river water to augment Seminole County's reclaimed water system and to meet increased needs for potable water in the county.

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