Notice of intent to issue permit for water quality component in Hendry County.

STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE PERMIT
The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) gives notice of its intent to issue a Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP)/Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan (LOPP) permit for the operation of the Caloosahatchee River C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir, Water Quality Component-Inline Alum Injection System (WQC-IAIS) (File No. 0464510-001), in accordance with Section 373.4595, Florida Statutes (F.S.); Title 62, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.); and pursuant to the Departments authority under Chapters 373 and 403, F.S., to the South Florida Water Management District (District). The application is available for public inspection during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, at the Departments Office of Water Policy and Ecosystems Restoration, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 24, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, telephone number (850) 245-2228.
The WQC-IAIS system will inject alum into the C-43 WBSR inflow to remove phosphorus, nitrogen, and other nutrients to reduce potential algal bloom in a water body. The alum will be dispensed into the C-43 WBSR intake channels via four alum feed pumps from the five 13,800-gallon bulk alum storage tanks. Rapid, high-energy mixing of the alum will occur within the suction intake through the S-470 PS, and in the discharge piping of the S-470 PS, into the C-43 WBSR. 
The WQC-IAIS is installed within C-43 WBSRs S-470 inflow pump station. The Reservoir is situated on an approximate 10,700-acre parcel of land situated in northwest Hendry County, directly south of SR 80 and approximately 1 mile south of the Caloosahatchee River, in Sections 31 through 36 in Township 43 South, Range 28 East, Sections 6 in Township 44 South, Range 29 East and 31 in Township 43 South, Range 29 East and Sections 1 through 12 in Township 44 South, Range 28 East within Hendry County (Figure 1).
The Department will issue this permit unless a timely petition for an administrative proceeding is filed pursuant to the provisions of Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., before the deadline for filing a petition. On the filing of a timely and sufficient petition, this action will not be final and effective until further order of the Department. Because the administrative hearing process is designed to formulate final agency action, the hearing process may result in a modification of the agency action or even denial of the application. 
A person whose substantial interests are affected by the Departments action may petition for an administrative proceeding (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. Pursuant to Rule 28-106.201, F.A.C., a petition for an administrative hearing must contain the following information: 
(a)	The name and address of each agency affected and each agencys file or identification number, if known;
(b)	The name, address, any email address, any facsimile number, and telephone number of the petitioner; the name, address, and
		telephone number of the petitioners representative, if any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the
		proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioners substantial interests are or will be affected by the agency determination;
(c)	A statement of when and how the petitioner received notice of the agency decision;
(d)	A statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so indicate;
(e)	A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts that the petitioner contends warrant reversal or
		modification of the agencys proposed action;
(f)	A statement of the specific rules or statutes that the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agencys proposed
		action, including an explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and
(g)	A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action that the petitioner wishes the agency to take with
		respect to the agencys proposed action.
The petition must be filed (received by the Clerk) in the Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000. Also, a copy of the petition shall be mailed to the applicant at the address indicated above at the time of filing.
In accordance with Rule 62-110.106(3), F.A.C., petitions for an administrative hearing by the applicant must be filed within 21 days of receipt of this written notice. Petitions filed by any persons other than the applicant, and other than those entitled to written notice under Section 120.60(3), F.S., must be filed within 21 days of publication of the notice or within 21 days of receipt of the written notice, whichever occurs first. Under Section 120.60(3), F.S., however, any person who has asked the Department for notice of agency action may file a petition within 21 days of receipt of such notice, regardless of the date of publication. The failure to file a petition within the appropriate time period shall constitute a waiver of that person's right to request an administrative determination (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., or to intervene in this proceeding and participate as a party to it. Any subsequent intervention (in a proceeding initiated by another party) will be only at the discretion of the presiding officer upon the filing of a motion in compliance with Rule 28-106.205, F.A.C.
Under Rule 62-110.106(4), F.A.C., a person whose substantial interests are affected by the Departments action may also request an extension of time to file a petition for an administrative hearing. The Department may, for good cause shown, grant the request for an extension of time. Requests for extension of time must be filed with the Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, before the applicable deadline for filing a petition for an administrative hearing. A timely request for extension of time shall toll the running of the time period for filing a petition until the request is acted upon.
Mediation is not available in this proceeding.
41666 HEND 4/29/2026