Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-345 - UNIFORM MITIGATION ASSESSMENT METHOD › Section 62-345.300 - Assessment Method Overview and Guidance

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) When an
				applicant proposes mitigation for impacts to wetlands and surface waters as
				part of an environmental resource permit or wetland resource permit
				application, the applicant will be responsible for submitting the necessary
				supporting information for the application of Rules
				 62-345.400 -.600, F.A.C., of
				this chapter and the reviewing agency will be responsible for verifying this
				information and applying this assessment method to determine the amount of
				mitigation necessary to offset the proposed impacts. When an applicant submits
				a mitigation bank or regional mitigation permit application, the applicant will
				be responsible for submitting the necessary supporting information for the
				application of Rules  62-345.400 -.600, F.A.C., of
				this chapter and the reviewing agency will be responsible for verifying this
				information and applying this assessment method to determine the potential
				amount of mitigation to be provided by the bank or regional mitigation
				area.
(2) To determine the value of
				functions provided by impact and mitigation sites, the method incorporates the
				following considerations: current condition (see subsection
				 62-345.500(6),
				F.A.C.); hydrologic connection (see paragraph
				 62-345.400(1)(d),
				F.A.C.); uniqueness (see paragraph
				 62-345.400(1)(f),
				F.A.C.); location (see subsections
				 62-345.400(1) 
				and  62-345.500(7),
				F.A.C.); fish and wildlife utilization (see paragraph
				 62-345.400(1)(h),
				F.A.C.); time lag (see subsection
				 62-345.600(1),
				F.A.C.); and mitigation risk (see subsection
				 62-345.600(2),
				F.A.C.).
(3) The assessment method
				is designed to be used in any type of impact site or mitigation site in any
				geographic region of the state. The inherent flexibility required for such a
				method is accomplished in a multi-part approach that consists of the following
				processes:
(a) Conduct qualitative
				characterization of both the impact and mitigation assessment areas (Part I)
				that describes the assessment area, identifies its native community type and
				the functions to fish and wildlife and their habitat, using Form
				 62-345.300(1),
				Part I - Qualitative Description, incorporated by reference herein (2-2-04),
				which is available at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06935
,
				or from the Agency as provided in subsection (6). The purpose of Part I is to
				provide a framework for comparison of the assessment area to the optimal
				condition and location of that native community type. Another purpose of this
				part is to note any relevant factors of the assessment area that are discovered
				by site inspectors, including use by listed species.
(b) Conduct quantitative assessment (Part II)
				of the impact and mitigation sites and use the numerical scores to compare the
				reduction of ecological value due to proposed impacts and the gain in
				ecological value due to proposed mitigation and to determine whether a
				sufficient amount of mitigation is proposed, using Form
				 62-345.300(2),
				Part II - Quantification of Assessment Area (impact or mitigation),
				incorporated by reference herein (2-2-04), which is available at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06936
,
				or from the Agency as provided in subsection (6).
(c) Adjust the gain in ecological value from
				either upland or wetland preservation in accordance with subsection
				 62-345.500(3),
				F.A.C.
(d) For mitigation
				assessment areas, assess the proposed mitigation for time lag and
				risk.
(e) Determine the functional
				gain or loss for mitigation and impact assessment areas, respectively, by
				applying the formulas in subsection
				 62-345.600(3),
				F.A.C., to ascertain the number of mitigation bank credits to be awarded and
				debited and the amount of mitigation needed to offset the impacts to wetlands
				and other surface waters, using Form
				 62-345.300(3),
				Mitigation Determination Formulas, incorporated by reference herein (9-12-07),
				which is available at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06937
,
				or from the Agency as provided in subsection (6).