Clean Waterways Act Stormwater Rulemaking Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

TAC Meetings | TAC Summary Report | TAC Purpose & Mission | TAC Goal & Charge Questions | TAC Membership | TAC Library | Comments

In 2020, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 712, also known as the Clean Waterways Act, now Chapter 2020-150, Laws of Florida. This legislation passed with unanimous, bipartisan support and carries a wide range of water quality protection provisions aimed at minimizing the impact of known sources of nutrient pollution and strengthening regulatory requirements. Stormwater-related pollution represents one of the largest potential contributors of nutrients throughout the state.

The Clean Waterways Act directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and water management districts (WMDs) to update stormwater design and operation regulations under Part IV, Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, using the latest scientific information.

Current Rulemaking Efforts

For current rulemaking efforts please visit: Clean Waterways Act Stormwater Rulemaking Workshop Webpage

TAC Meetings 

TAC Summary Report 

• Clean Waterways Act TAC Summary Report.

TAC Purpose and Mission 

Public input is an important and valued part of all Florida rule development activities. The formation of a TAC provides the department and WMDs with an additional way to seek and receive public input and recommendations during the rule development process. This TAC is focused on the stormwater rulemaking direction in the Clean Waterways Act, specifically section 5, Chapter 2020-150, Laws of Florida, which amends the statewide environmental resource permitting rules in section 373.4131, F.S.

The mission of the Clean Waterways Act Stormwater TAC is established as follows: 

The mission of the Clean Waterways Act Stormwater Rulemaking Technical Advisory Committee shall be to provide a forum for identifying and constructively outlining recommendations to the department and water management districts for strengthening the stormwater design and operation regulations implemented under Part IV, Chapter 373, F.S., including updates to the Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook, based on the most recent scientific information available and the additional directions provided by Section 5, Chapter 2020-150, Laws of Florida. 

TAC Goal and Charge Questions 

The goal of this TAC is to develop and provide consensus stormwater rulemaking recommendations for DEP and WMDs through public discussion and constructive deliberation. The initial charge questions for the TAC, when convened, are proposed below: 

• What are the options for identifying stormwater design criteria and best management practices that are effective for increasing the removal of nutrients from stormwater discharges in the state?  
• What measures are recommended for consistent application of the net improvement performance standard to ensure significant reductions of any pollutant loadings to a waterbody thought to be impaired by stormwater discharges? 
• What changes are recommended for improving existing stormwater operation regulations to ensure water resources are protected under the rulemaking directed under the Clean Waterways Act?   

TAC Membership 

The TAC consists of the following representatives from various stakeholder categories:

• Academia, Florida Public or Private Research University - Dr. John Sansalone, University of Florida 
• Agricultural Interest - Charles Shinn, Florida Farm Bureau Federation 
• At-Large Technical Expert - Dr. Harvey Harper, P.E., Environmental Research and Design 
• City Government - Richard Howard, P.E., City of Orlando, Florida League of Cities, Inc. 
• County Government - Kim Ornberg, P.E., Seminole County, Florida Association of Counties  
• Development Interest - David Carter, P.E., Florida Home Builders Association 
• Environmental Interest, General - Elizabeth Alvi, Audubon Florida 
• Environmental Interest, Water Resource Protection - Lesley Bertolotti, The Nature Conservancy  
• Florida Stormwater Association - Kelli Hammer Levy, Florida Stormwater Association 
• Low Impact Design and Green Infrastructure - Mark P. Thomasson, P.E., LEED AP, National Stormwater Trust, Inc. 
• Stormwater Design Engineering and Consultants - Robert Beltran, P.E., Hydro Solutions LLC  
• Stormwater Utilities - Virginia Barker, Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department 
• Urban Redevelopment - Douglas Rillstone, Nelson Mullins

TAC Library

2010 Stormwater TAC Reference

• 2010 Stormwater Handbook Draft, Not adopted.

Stormwater Technologies

• The Impact of Stormwater Infiltration Practices on Groundwater Quality
• 2007 Evaluation of Current Stormwater Design Criteria within the State of Florida- By Dr. Harvey
• Innovative Technology Acceptance Program
• Nutrient removal using biosorption activated media
• Washington State Department of Ecology’s Technology Assessment Protocol‐Ecology (TAPE)
• FDEP Library of Accepted Technologies
• General Verification Protocol Canadian ETV Program 
• A multiobjective simulation-optimization tool for assisting in urban watershed restoration planning
• BMP Efficiencies 
• Optimal Design of Stormwater Basins with Bio-Sorption Activated Media (BAM) in Karst Environments – Phase II: Field Testing of BMPs
• Removal Effectiveness of Co-mingling Off-site Flows with FDOT Right-of-way Stormwater
• Demonstration Bio Media for Ultra-urban Stormwater Treatment
• Comparative Nitrogen and Pesticide Removal with Sorption Media In Linear Ditch for Groundwater and Stormwater Treatment 
• Pervious Pavements - Installation, Operations and Strength Part 1: Pervious Concrete Systems
• Pervious Pavements - Installation, Operations and Strength Part 2: Porous Asphalt
• Pervious Pavements - Installation, Operations and Strength Part 3: Permeable Paver
• Pervious Pavements - Installation, Operations and Strength Part 4: Flexipave System

Public Comments

• Comment Letters Submitted  (Updated 11/2/21)