Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-330 - ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE PERMITTING › Section 62-330.492 - General Permit for Prospecting for Limestone, Sand, and Peat

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
A general permit is granted for prospecting for limestone,
				  sand, and peat provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) Prospecting is conducted by coring,
				augering, impact boring or other techniques designed to remove samples from an
				excavated opening less than one foot in diameter.
(2) No prospecting is conducted below the
				ordinary or mean high water line of natural water bodies such as natural lakes,
				ponds, streams, rivers, estuaries or lagoons.
(3) Prospecting in wetlands must meet the
				following conditions:
(a) No activities shall
				be conducted in Outstanding Florida Waters, Aquatic Preserves, Class I waters,
				Class II waters, waters which are classified by the Florida Department of
				Agriculture and Consumer Services as approved, restricted, conditionally
				approved or conditionally restricted for shellfish harvesting in Rule
				 5L-1.003, F.A.C., or wetlands
				used by endangered or threatened species. For purposes of this permit, a
				wetland is used by endangered or threatened species if reasonable scientific
				judgment indicates that the wetland provides habitat in which endangered or
				threatened species engage in activities such as resting, feeding, breeding,
				nesting or denning.
(b) No
				above-grade roads shall be constructed. Vehicles used for prospecting in
				wetlands shall be of a type generating minimum ground pressure to minimize
				rutting and other environmental impacts. Disturbed areas along each prospecting
				line shall be restored to original contours upon completion of prospecting
				activities along that specific alignment.
(c) Disturbances within wetlands shall be no
				wider than 15 feet along any portion of the prospect line, except at the
				immediate site of the drill hole. At the immediate site of the drill hole the
				disturbance shall not exceed 25 feet. No debris or spoil shall be placed
				outside these limits.
(d)
				Prospecting lines shall be aligned to minimize wetland impacts and avoid the
				clearing of wetland trees having 4 inches or greater diameter at breast height
				to the greatest extent practicable.
(e) All drill tailings shall be returned to
				the drill hole and the excess removed so that no spoil material is left above
				grade in a wetland.
(f) If the
				removal or cutting of vegetation is required, there shall be a minimum interval
				of 300 feet between individual parallel prospecting lines. The removal of
				vegetation shall not include grubbing, or the pulling or pushing up of root
				systems.
(g) Any wetland disturbed
				by prospecting activities shall be restored by replanting native indigenous
				vegetation of the same species as were displaced. Exotic species such as
				Schinus terebinthifolius, Melaleuca quinquenervia, and Casuarina spp., and
				nuisance species Typha spp., and Ludwigia peruviana shall be controlled at
				densities not exceeding the densities of these species in undisturbed portions
				of the wetland.