Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0683 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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10	10		F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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14	14		A bill to be entitled 1
15		-	An act relating to energy infrastructure investment; 2
16		-	amending s. 366.075, F.S.; authorizing the Public 3
17		-	Service Commission to establish an experimental 4
18		-	mechanism to facilitate certain energy infrastructure 5
19		-	investment and to make certain determinations 6
20		-	regarding such mechanism; requiring the commission to 7
21		-	adopt rules and propose such rules by a specified 8
22		-	date; providing an effective date. 9
23		-	10
24		-	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
25		-	12
26		-	Section 1. Subsection (3) is added to section 366.075, 13
27		-	Florida Statutes, to read: 14
28		-	366.075 Experimental and transitional rates. — 15
29		-	(3) The commission may establish an experimental mechanism 16
30		-	to facilitate energy infrastructure investment consistent with 17
31		-	the structure set forth in s. 366.96(7) and (8), the intent of 18
32		-	s. 366.91(1), and the definition of s. 366.91(2)(f). The 19
33		-	commission shall have discretion to determine whether such 20
34		-	mechanism is conducted in an annual proceeding. The commission 21
35		-	shall adopt rules to implement and administer this subsection 22
36		-	and shall propose such rules for adoption as soon as practicable 23
37		-	but no later than January 1, 2025. 24
38		-	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 25
	15	+	An act relating to renewable natural gas; amending s. 2
	16	+	366.91, F.S.; authorizing a public utility to recover 3
	17	+	prudently incurred renewable natural gas 4
	18	+	infrastructure project costs through an appropriate 5
	19	+	Florida Public Service Commission cost -recovery 6
	20	+	mechanism; providing that such costs are not subject 7
	21	+	to further actions except under certain circumstances; 8
	22	+	specifying eligible renewable natural gas 9
	23	+	infrastructure projects; requiring that cost recovery 10
	24	+	for such projects be approved by the commission; 11
	25	+	providing requirements for the approval determination; 12
	26	+	prohibiting cost recovery until a facility is placed 13
	27	+	in service; providing that certain other regulatory 14
	28	+	accounting rules may apply to such cost recovery; 15
	29	+	amending s. 373.807, F.S.; revising the required 16
	30	+	contents of a basin management action plan for an 17
	31	+	Outstanding Florida Spring to include identification 18
	32	+	of certain water quality improvement projects; 19
	33	+	amending s. 403.067, F.S.; revising the required 20
	34	+	contents of a wastewater treatment plan within a basin 21
	35	+	management action plan; amending s. 403.7055, F.S.; 22
	36	+	encouraging counties and municipalities to form 23
	37	+	regional solutions to certain energy issues; requiring 24
	38	+	the Department of Environmental Protection to provide 25
	39	+
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	47	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	51	+	guidelines and technical assistance to such counties 26
	52	+	and municipalities; amending s. 570.841, F.S.; 27
	53	+	authorizing the farm -to-fuel initiative to address the 28
	54	+	production and capture of renewable natural gas; 29
	55	+	revising the purposes of the department's statewide 30
	56	+	comprehensive information and education program; 31
	57	+	reenacting s. 403.0673(2)(e) and (f), F.S., relating 32
	58	+	to the water quality improvement grant program, to 33
	59	+	incorporate the amendment made to s. 403.067, F.S., in 34
	60	+	references thereto; providing an effective date. 35
	61	+	36
	62	+	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 37
	63	+	38
	64	+	Section 1. Subsection (10) is added to section 366.91, 39
	65	+	Florida Statutes, to read: 40
	66	+	366.91 Renewable energy. — 41
	67	+	(10) A public utility ma y recover, through an appropriate 42
	68	+	cost-recovery mechanism administered by the commission, 43
	69	+	prudently incurred costs for renewable natural gas 44
	70	+	infrastructure projects. If the commission determines that such 45
	71	+	costs were reasonable and that the project will fac ilitate 46
	72	+	achieving the goals of subsection (1), the commission must deem 47
	73	+	the project and associated costs prudent for purposes of cost 48
	74	+	recovery and may not further subject the project to disallowance 49
	75	+	except for fraud, perjury, or intentional withholding of key 50
	76	+
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	84	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	88	+	information by the public utility. For purposes of utility cost 51
	89	+	recovery under this subsection only, the term "renewable natural 52
	90	+	gas" may include a mixture of natural gas and renewable natural 53
	91	+	gas. Eligible renewable natural gas projects must be locate d 54
	92	+	within this state. Types of costs eligible for cost recovery 55
	93	+	include, but are not limited to, capital investment in projects 56
	94	+	necessary to prepare, clean, or otherwise produce renewable 57
	95	+	natural gas for pipeline distribution and usage; capital 58
	96	+	investment in facilities, including pipelines that are necessary 59
	97	+	to inject and deliver renewable natural gas and renewable 60
	98	+	natural gas storage facilities; operation and maintenance 61
	99	+	expenses associated with any such renewable natural gas 62
	100	+	infrastructure projects; and an appropriate return on investment 63
	101	+	consistent with that allowed for other utility plants that 64
	102	+	provide service to customers. Cost recovery for any renewable 65
	103	+	natural gas infrastructure project sought pursuant to this 66
	104	+	subsection must be approved by the commiss ion. 67
	105	+	(a) In assessing whether cost recovery for a renewable 68
	106	+	natural gas infrastructure project is appropriate, the 69
	107	+	commission must consider whether the projected costs for such 70
	108	+	renewable natural gas infrastructure project are reasonable and 71
	109	+	consistent with this subsection. 72
	110	+	(b) Recovery of costs incurred by a public utility for a 73
	111	+	renewable natural gas project approved for cost recovery under 74
	112	+	this subsection may not be allowed until such facility is placed 75
	113	+
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	121	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	125	+	in service. Upon approval of cost recovery by the commission, 76
	126	+	costs incurred before the facility is placed in service may be 77
	127	+	deferred on the public utility's books for recovery once the 78
	128	+	facility is in service. This does not preclude application of 79
	129	+	any other regulatory accounting rules that are otherwise deemed 80
	130	+	appropriate, including, but not limited to, normal recovery of 81
	131	+	costs for construction work in progress. 82
	132	+	Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection 83
	133	+	(3) of section 373.807, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 84
	134	+	373.807 Protection of water quality in Outstanding Florida 85
	135	+	Springs.—By July 1, 2016, the department shall initiate 86
	136	+	assessment, pursuant to s. 403.067(3), of Outstanding Florida 87
	137	+	Springs or spring systems for which an impairment determination 88
	138	+	has not been made under the numer ic nutrient standards in effect 89
	139	+	for spring vents. Assessments must be completed by July 1, 2018. 90
	140	+	(1) 91
	141	+	(b) A basin management action plan for an Outstanding 92
	142	+	Florida Spring must shall be adopted within 2 years after its 93
	143	+	initiation and must include, at a mi nimum: 94
	144	+	1. A list of all specific projects and programs identified 95
	145	+	to implement a nutrient total maximum daily load; 96
	146	+	2. A list of all specific projects identified in any 97
	147	+	incorporated onsite sewage treatment and disposal system 98
	148	+	remediation plan, if appli cable; 99
	149	+	3. A priority rank for each listed project; 100
	150	+
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	158	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	162	+	4. For each listed project, a planning level cost estimate 101
	163	+	and the estimated date of completion; 102
	164	+	5. The source and amount of financial assistance to be 103
	165	+	made available by the department, a water management district, 104
	166	+	or other entity for each listed project; 105
	167	+	6. An estimate of each listed project's nutrient load 106
	168	+	reduction; 107
	169	+	7. Identification of each point source or category of 108
	170	+	nonpoint sources, including, but not limited to, urban turf 109
	171	+	fertilizer, sports turf fertilizer, agricultural fertilizer, 110
	172	+	onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems, wastewater 111
	173	+	treatment facilities, animal wastes, and stormwater facilities. 112
	174	+	An estimated allocation of the pollutant lo ad must be provided 113
	175	+	for each point source or category of nonpoint sources; and 114
	176	+	8. Identification of water quality improvement projects 115
	177	+	that can also produce and capture renewable natural gas through 116
	178	+	the use of anaerobic digestion or other similar treatme nt 117
	179	+	technologies at wastewater treatment plants, livestock farms, 118
	180	+	food production facilities, and organic waste management 119
	181	+	operations; and 120
	182	+	9. An implementation plan designed with a target to 121
	183	+	achieve the nutrient total maximum daily load no more than 20 122
	184	+	years after the adoption of a basin management action plan. 123
	185	+	124
	186	+	The department shall develop a schedule establishing 5 -year, 10-125
	187	+
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	195	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	199	+	year, and 15-year targets for achieving the nutrient total 126
	200	+	maximum daily load. The schedule shall be used to provide 127
	201	+	guidance for planning and funding purposes and is exempt from 128
	202	+	chapter 120. 129
	203	+	(3) As part of a basin management action plan that 130
	204	+	includes an Outstanding Florida Spring, the department, relevant 131
	205	+	local governments, and relevant local public and private 132
	206	+	wastewater utilities s hall develop an onsite sewage treatment 133
	207	+	and disposal system remediation plan for a spring if the 134
	208	+	department determines onsite sewage treatment and disposal 135
	209	+	systems within a basin management action plan contribute at 136
	210	+	least 20 percent of nonpoint source nitr ogen pollution or if the 137
	211	+	department determines remediation is necessary to achieve the 138
	212	+	total maximum daily load. The plan must identify cost -effective 139
	213	+	and financially feasible projects necessary to reduce the 140
	214	+	nutrient impacts from onsite sewage treatment a nd disposal 141
	215	+	systems and shall be completed and adopted as part of the basin 142
	216	+	management action plan no later than the first 5 -year milestone 143
	217	+	required by subparagraph (1)(b)9. subparagraph (1)(b)8. The 144
	218	+	department is the lead agency in coordinating the prepar ation of 145
	219	+	and the adoption of the plan. The department shall: 146
	220	+	(a) Collect and evaluate credible scientific information 147
	221	+	on the effect of nutrients, particularly forms of nitrogen, on 148
	222	+	springs and springs systems; and 149
	223	+	(b) Develop a public education plan to provide area 150
	224	+
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	232	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	236	+	residents with reliable, understandable information about onsite 151
	237	+	sewage treatment and disposal systems and springs. 152
	238	+	153
	239	+	In addition to the requirements in s. 403.067, the plan must 154
	240	+	include options for repair, upgrade, replacement, drainfield 155
	241	+	modification, addition of effective nitrogen reducing features, 156
	242	+	connection to a central sewerage system, or other action for an 157
	243	+	onsite sewage treatment and disposal system or group of systems 158
	244	+	within a basin management action plan that contribute at least 159
	245	+	20 percent of nonpoint source nitrogen pollution or if the 160
	246	+	department determines remediation is necessary to achieve a 161
	247	+	total maximum daily load. For these systems, the department 162
	248	+	shall include in the plan a priority ranking for each system or 163
	249	+	group of systems that requires remediation and shall award funds 164
	250	+	to implement the remediation projects contingent on an 165
	251	+	appropriation in the General Appropriations Act, which may 166
	252	+	include all or part of the costs necessary for repair, upgrade, 167
	253	+	replacement, drainfield modifi cation, addition of effective 168
	254	+	nitrogen reducing features, initial connection to a central 169
	255	+	sewerage system, or other action. In awarding funds, the 170
	256	+	department may consider expected nutrient reduction benefit per 171
	257	+	unit cost, size and scope of project, relativ e local financial 172
	258	+	contribution to the project, and the financial impact on 173
	259	+	property owners and the community. The department may waive 174
	260	+	matching funding requirements for proposed projects within an 175
	261	+
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	269	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	273	+	area designated as a rural area of opportunity under s. 176
	274	+	288.0656. 177
	275	+	Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section 178
	276	+	403.067, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 179
	277	+	403.067 Establishment and implementation of total maximum 180
	278	+	daily loads.— 181
	279	+	(7) DEVELOPMENT OF BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS AND 182
	280	+	IMPLEMENTATION OF TOTA L MAXIMUM DAILY LOADS. — 183
	281	+	(a) Basin management action plans. — 184
	282	+	1. In developing and implementing the total maximum daily 185
	283	+	load for a waterbody, the department, or the department in 186
	284	+	conjunction with a water management district, may develop a 187
	285	+	basin management action plan that addresses some or all of the 188
	286	+	watersheds and basins tributary to the waterbody. Such plan must 189
	287	+	integrate the appropriate management strategies available to the 190
	288	+	state through existing water quality protection programs to 191
	289	+	achieve the total maximum daily loads and may provide for phased 192
	290	+	implementation of these management strategies to promote timely, 193
	291	+	cost-effective actions as provided for in s. 403.151. The plan 194
	292	+	must establish a schedule implementing the management 195
	293	+	strategies, establish a bas is for evaluating the plan's 196
	294	+	effectiveness, and identify feasible funding strategies for 197
	295	+	implementing the plan's management strategies. The management 198
	296	+	strategies may include regional treatment systems or other 199
	297	+	public works, when appropriate, and voluntary trading of water 200
	298	+
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	306	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	310	+	quality credits to achieve the needed pollutant load reductions. 201
	311	+	2. A basin management action plan must equitably allocate, 202
	312	+	pursuant to paragraph (6)(b), pollutant reductions to individual 203
	313	+	basins, as a whole to all basins, or to each ide ntified point 204
	314	+	source or category of nonpoint sources, as appropriate. For 205
	315	+	nonpoint sources for which best management practices have been 206
	316	+	adopted, the initial requirement specified by the plan must be 207
	317	+	those practices developed pursuant to paragraph (c). Whe n 208
	318	+	appropriate, the plan may take into account the benefits of 209
	319	+	pollutant load reduction achieved by point or nonpoint sources 210
	320	+	that have implemented management strategies to reduce pollutant 211
	321	+	loads, including best management practices, before the 212
	322	+	development of the basin management action plan. The plan must 213
	323	+	also identify the mechanisms that will address potential future 214
	324	+	increases in pollutant loading. 215
	325	+	3. The basin management action planning process is 216
	326	+	intended to involve the broadest possible range of inter ested 217
	327	+	parties, with the objective of encouraging the greatest amount 218
	328	+	of cooperation and consensus possible. In developing a basin 219
	329	+	management action plan, the department shall assure that key 220
	330	+	stakeholders, including, but not limited to, applicable local 221
	331	+	governments, water management districts, the Department of 222
	332	+	Agriculture and Consumer Services, other appropriate state 223
	333	+	agencies, local soil and water conservation districts, 224
	334	+	environmental groups, regulated interests, and affected 225
	335	+
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	343	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	347	+	pollution sources, are invited to participate in the process. 226
	348	+	The department shall hold at least one public meeting in the 227
	349	+	vicinity of the watershed or basin to discuss and receive 228
	350	+	comments during the planning process and shall otherwise 229
	351	+	encourage public participation to the greatest p racticable 230
	352	+	extent. Notice of the public meeting must be published in a 231
	353	+	newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the 232
	354	+	watershed or basin lies at least 5 days, but not more than 15 233
	355	+	days, before the public meeting. A basin management action pla n 234
	356	+	does not supplant or otherwise alter any assessment made under 235
	357	+	subsection (3) or subsection (4) or any calculation or initial 236
	358	+	allocation. 237
	359	+	4. Each new or revised basin management action plan must 238
	360	+	include all of the following: 239
	361	+	a. The appropriate manage ment strategies available through 240
	362	+	existing water quality protection programs to achieve total 241
	363	+	maximum daily loads, which may provide for phased implementation 242
	364	+	to promote timely, cost -effective actions as provided for in s. 243
	365	+	403.151. 244
	366	+	b. A description of be st management practices adopted by 245
	367	+	rule. 246
	368	+	c. For the applicable 5 -year implementation milestone, a 247
	369	+	list of projects that will achieve the pollutant load reductions 248
	370	+	needed to meet the total maximum daily load or the load 249
	371	+	allocations established pursuant to subsection (6). Each project 250
	372	+
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	380	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	384	+	must include a planning -level cost estimate and an estimated 251
	385	+	date of completion. 252
	386	+	d. A list of projects developed pursuant to paragraph (e), 253
	387	+	if applicable. 254
	388	+	e. The source and amount of financial assistance to be 255
	389	+	made available by the department, a water management district, 256
	390	+	or other entity for each listed project, if applicable. 257
	391	+	f. A planning-level estimate of each listed project's 258
	392	+	expected load reduction, if applicable. 259
	393	+	5. The department shall adopt all or any part of a basin 260
	394	+	management action plan and any amendment to such plan by 261
	395	+	secretarial order pursuant to chapter 120 to implement this 262
	396	+	section. 263
	397	+	6. The basin management action plan must include 5 -year 264
	398	+	milestones for implementation and water quality improvement, and 265
	399	+	an associated water quality monitoring component sufficient to 266
	400	+	evaluate whether reasonable progress in pollutant load 267
	401	+	reductions is being achieved over time. An assessment of 268
	402	+	progress toward these milestones must shall be conducted every 5 269
	403	+	years, and revisions to the plan must shall be made as 270
	404	+	appropriate. Any entity with a specific pollutant load reduction 271
	405	+	requirement established in a basin management action plan shall 272
	406	+	identify the projects or strategies that such entity will 273
	407	+	undertake to meet current 5 -year pollution reduction milestones, 274
	408	+	beginning with the first 5 -year milestone for new basin 275
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	417	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	421	+	management action plans, and submit such projects to the 276
	422	+	department for inclusion in the appropriate basin management 277
	423	+	action plan. Each project identified must includ e an estimated 278
	424	+	amount of nutrient reduction that is reasonably expected to be 279
	425	+	achieved based on the best scientific information available. 280
	426	+	Revisions to the basin management action plan must shall be made 281
	427	+	by the department in cooperation with basin stakehol ders. 282
	428	+	Revisions to the management strategies required for nonpoint 283
	429	+	sources must follow the procedures in subparagraph (c)4. Revised 284
	430	+	basin management action plans must be adopted pursuant to 285
	431	+	subparagraph 5. 286
	432	+	7. In accordance with procedures adopted by rule under 287
	433	+	paragraph (9)(c), basin management action plans, and other 288
	434	+	pollution control programs under local, state, or federal 289
	435	+	authority as provided in subsection (4), may allow point or 290
	436	+	nonpoint sources that w ill achieve greater pollutant reductions 291
	437	+	than required by an adopted total maximum daily load or 292
	438	+	wasteload allocation to generate, register, and trade water 293
	439	+	quality credits for the excess reductions to enable other 294
	440	+	sources to achieve their allocation; howe ver, the generation of 295
	441	+	water quality credits does not remove the obligation of a source 296
	442	+	or activity to meet applicable technology requirements or 297
	443	+	adopted best management practices. Such plans must allow trading 298
	444	+	between NPDES permittees, and trading that ma y or may not 299
	445	+	involve NPDES permittees, where the generation or use of the 300
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	454	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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	458	+	credits involve an entity or activity not subject to department 301
	459	+	water discharge permits whose owner voluntarily elects to obtain 302
	460	+	department authorization for the generation and sale of credits. 303
	461	+	8. The department's rule relating to the equitable 304
	462	+	abatement of pollutants into surface waters does do not apply to 305
	463	+	water bodies or waterbody segments for which a basin management 306
	464	+	plan that takes into account future new or expanded activities 307
	465	+	or discharges has been adopted under this section. 308
	466	+	9. In order to promote resilient wastewater utilities, if 309
	467	+	the department identifies domestic wastewater treatment 310
	468	+	facilities or onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems as 311
	469	+	contributors of at least 2 0 percent of point source or nonpoint 312
	470	+	source nutrient pollution or if the department determines 313
	471	+	remediation is necessary to achieve the total maximum daily 314
	472	+	load, a basin management action plan for a nutrient total 315
	473	+	maximum daily load must include the follow ing: 316
	474	+	a. A wastewater treatment plan developed by each local 317
	475	+	government, in cooperation with the department, the water 318
	476	+	management district, and the public and private domestic 319
	477	+	wastewater treatment facilities within the jurisdiction of the 320
	478	+	local government, that addresses domestic wastewater. The 321
	479	+	wastewater treatment plan must: 322
	480	+	(I) Provide for construction, expansion, or upgrades 323
	481	+	necessary to achieve the total maximum daily load requirements 324
	482	+	applicable to the domestic wastewater treatment facility. 325
	483	+
	484	+	HB 683 2024
	485	+
	486	+
	487	+
	488	+	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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	490	+	Page 14 of 19
	491	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
	492	+
	493	+
	494	+
	495	+	(II) Include the permitted capacity in average annual 326
	496	+	gallons per day for the domestic wastewater treatment facility; 327
	497	+	the average nutrient concentration and the estimated average 328
	498	+	nutrient load of the domestic wastewater; a projected timeline 329
	499	+	of the dates by which the construction of any facility 330
	500	+	improvements will begin and be completed and the date by which 331
	501	+	operations of the improved facility will begin; the estimated 332
	502	+	cost of the improvements; any renewable energy opportunities 333
	503	+	stemming from the production and capture of renewable natural 334
	504	+	gas; and the identity of responsible parties. 335
	505	+	336
	506	+	The wastewater treatment plan must be adopted as part of the 337
	507	+	basin management action plan no later than July 1, 2025. A local 338
	508	+	government that does not have a domestic wastewater tr eatment 339
	509	+	facility in its jurisdiction is not required to develop a 340
	510	+	wastewater treatment plan unless there is a demonstrated need to 341
	511	+	establish a domestic wastewater treatment facility within its 342
	512	+	jurisdiction to improve water quality necessary to achieve a 343
	513	+	total maximum daily load. A local government is not responsible 344
	514	+	for a private domestic wastewater facility's compliance with a 345
	515	+	basin management action plan unless such facility is operated 346
	516	+	through a public-private partnership to which the local 347
	517	+	government is a party. 348
	518	+	b. An onsite sewage treatment and disposal system 349
	519	+	remediation plan developed by each local government in 350
	520	+
	521	+	HB 683 2024
	522	+
	523	+
	524	+
	525	+	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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	527	+	Page 15 of 19
	528	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
	529	+
	530	+
	531	+
	532	+	cooperation with the department, the Department of Health, water 351
	533	+	management districts, and public and private domestic wastewater 352
	534	+	treatment facilities. 353
	535	+	(I) The onsite sewage treatment and disposal system 354
	536	+	remediation plan must identify cost -effective and financially 355
	537	+	feasible projects necessary to achieve the nutrient load 356
	538	+	reductions required for onsite sewage treatment and disposal 357
	539	+	systems. To identify cost-effective and financially feasible 358
	540	+	projects for remediation of onsite sewage treatment and disposal 359
	541	+	systems, the local government shall: 360
	542	+	(A) Include an inventory of onsite sewage treatment and 361
	543	+	disposal systems based on the best informati on available; 362
	544	+	(B) Identify onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems 363
	545	+	that would be eliminated through connection to existing or 364
	546	+	future central domestic wastewater infrastructure in the 365
	547	+	jurisdiction or domestic wastewater service area of the local 366
	548	+	government, that would be replaced with or upgraded to enhanced 367
	549	+	nutrient-reducing onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems, 368
	550	+	or that would remain on conventional onsite sewage treatment and 369
	551	+	disposal systems; 370
	552	+	(C) Estimate the costs of potential onsite sewa ge 371
	553	+	treatment and disposal system connections, upgrades, or 372
	554	+	replacements; and 373
	555	+	(D) Identify deadlines and interim milestones for the 374
	556	+	planning, design, and construction of projects. 375
	557	+
	558	+	HB 683 2024
	559	+
	560	+
	561	+
	562	+	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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	565	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
	566	+
	567	+
	568	+
	569	+	(II) The department shall adopt the onsite sewage 376
	570	+	treatment and disposal system remediation plan as part of the 377
	571	+	basin management action plan no later than July 1, 2025, or as 378
	572	+	required for Outstanding Florida Springs under s. 373.807. 379
	573	+	10. The installation of new onsite sewage treatment and 380
	574	+	disposal systems constructed within a basin management action 381
	575	+	plan area adopted under this section, a reasonable assurance 382
	576	+	plan, or a pollution reduction plan is prohibited where 383
	577	+	connection to a publicly owned or investor -owned sewerage system 384
	578	+	is available as defined in s. 381.0065(2)(a). On lots of 1 acre 385
	579	+	or less within a basin management action plan adopted under this 386
	580	+	section, a reasonable assurance plan, or a pollution reduction 387
	581	+	plan where a publicly owned or investor -owned sewerage system is 388
	582	+	not available, the installation of enhanced nutr ient-reducing 389
	583	+	onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems or other wastewater 390
	584	+	treatment systems that achieve at least 65 percent nitrogen 391
	585	+	reduction is required. 392
	586	+	11. When identifying wastewater projects in a basin 393
	587	+	management action plan, the department m ay not require the 394
	588	+	higher cost option if it achieves the same nutrient load 395
	589	+	reduction as a lower cost option. A regulated entity may choose 396
	590	+	a different cost option if it complies with the pollutant 397
	591	+	reduction requirements of an adopted total maximum daily l oad 398
	592	+	and meets or exceeds the pollution reduction requirement of the 399
	593	+	original project. 400
	594	+
	595	+	HB 683 2024
	596	+
	597	+
	598	+
	599	+	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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	602	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
	603	+
	604	+
	605	+
	606	+	12. Annually, local governments subject to a basin 401
	607	+	management action plan or located within the basin of a 402
	608	+	waterbody not attaining nutrient or nutrient -related standards 403
	609	+	must provide to the department an update on the status of 404
	610	+	construction of sanitary sewers to serve such areas, in a manner 405
	611	+	prescribed by the department. 406
	612	+	Section 4. Section 403.7055, Florida Statutes, is amended 407
	613	+	to read: 408
	614	+	403.7055 Methane and renewable natural gas processing and 409
	615	+	capture.— 410
	616	+	(1) Each county and municipality is encouraged to form 411
	617	+	multicounty regional solutions to the processing, capture, and 412
	618	+	reuse or sale of methane gas and renewable natural gas as 413
	619	+	defined in s. 366.91(2)(f) from landfills and wastewater 414
	620	+	treatment facilities. 415
	621	+	(2) The department shall provide planning guidelines and 416
	622	+	technical assistance to each county and municipality to develop 417
	623	+	and implement such regional multicounty efforts. 418
	624	+	Section 5. Section 570.841, Florida Sta tutes, is amended 419
	625	+	to read: 420
	626	+	570.841 Farm-to-fuel initiative.— 421
	627	+	(1) The department may develop a farm -to-fuel initiative 422
	628	+	to enhance the market for and promote the production and 423
	629	+	distribution of renewable energy from Florida -grown crops, 424
	630	+	agricultural wastes and residues, and other biomass and to 425
	631	+
	632	+	HB 683 2024
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	634	+
	635	+
	636	+	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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	639	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
	640	+
	641	+
	642	+
	643	+	enhance the value of agricultural products or expand 426
	644	+	agribusiness in this the state. The initiative may address the 427
	645	+	production and capture of renewable natural gas through the use 428
	646	+	of digesters and other treatment te chnologies at livestock 429
	647	+	farms, food production facilities, and other agricultural waste 430
	648	+	management operations. 431
	649	+	(2) The department may conduct a statewide comprehensive 432
	650	+	information and education program aimed at educating the general 433
	651	+	public and agricultural producers about the benefits of 434
	652	+	renewable energy and the use and production of alternative 435
	653	+	fuels. 436
	654	+	Section 6. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 437
	655	+	made by this act to section 403.067, Florida Statutes, in a 438
	656	+	reference thereto, paragraphs (e) and (f) of subsection (2) of 439
	657	+	section 403.0673, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read: 440
	658	+	403.0673 Water quality improvement grant program. —A grant 441
	659	+	program is established within the Department of Environmental 442
	660	+	Protection to address wastewater, stormwater, and agricultural 443
	661	+	sources of nutrient loading to surface water or groundwater. 444
	662	+	(2) The department may provide grants for all of the 445
	663	+	following types of projects that reduce the amount of nutrients 446
	664	+	entering those waterbodie s identified in subsection (1): 447
	665	+	(e) Projects identified pursuant to s. 403.067(7)(a) or 448
	666	+	(e). 449
	667	+	(f) Projects identified in a wastewater treatment plan or 450
	668	+
	669	+	HB 683 2024
	670	+
	671	+
	672	+
	673	+	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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	676	+	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
	677	+
	678	+
	679	+
	680	+	an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system remediation plan 451
	681	+	developed pursuant to s. 403.067(7)(a)9.a. and b. 452
	682	+	Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 453