It is a marine biology exercise. Permit applications that 20 years ago raised few questions, now get reviews from the state Department of Environmental Protection or South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Some marinas and docks also need a lease to use submerged state lands. It is a marine biology exercise. The agencies are casting an increasingly closer eye over marina and dock permit applications, looking for ways to avoid and, if needed, make up for the projects' effects on water quality, sea grasses and endangered manatees.
Some applicants have an easy road.
The DEP exempts most single-family docks on manmade canals and exempts docks smaller than 1,000 square feet on natural waters and smaller than 500 square feet in aquatic preserves or other protected areas called Outstanding Florida Waters. For others, the permit process starts with a developer submitting plans, drawings, water quality reports and environmental data to the DEP or the Water Management District, depending on the type of project, and to the Army Corps. The submittal generates questions from reviewers, who consult with environmental agencies. Most permits also undergo a public comment period. In the end, a permit usually gets issued.