Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Political News

Streamlining Red Tape On Florida’s Environmental Projects

In 2018, Florida’s Legislature passed a bill that gave the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) authority to begin the public rulemaking process to better protect the state’s wetlands and surface waters by assuming the federal dredge and fill permitting program under section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act within certain waters.  

The State 404 Program is responsible for overseeing permitting for any project proposing dredge or fill activities within state-assumed waters.  In February of 2024, a federal judge issued an order divesting the DEP of its authority to issue State 404 Program permits in Florida.  

More than 1,000 state 404 permit applications were pending before DEP and are presently on hold. Beyond large-scale development projects, this decision directly impeded efforts to review and authorize a wide range of 404 permit applications that benefit the environment and the public.

To streamline this process, Florida Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) has reintroduced H.R. 2030, the Maintaining Cooperative Permitting Act of 2025, to protect the ability of states like Florida to continue their state 404 Permitting Programs. 

His bill would specifically codify the dredge and fill permitting programs administered by states like Florida and clarify the law so it may successfully navigate the process to assume this authority. 

<

“The ability of states to take the lead in regulating their natural resources is vital, especially in the Sunshine State. Florida’s 404 permitting program remains essential for protecting our iconic wildlife and valued wetlands while reducing wasteful duplication and improving responsiveness to applicants and the communities’ projects they serve,” said Congressman Bean.

U.S. Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) introduced companion legislation on the Senate side.

“As a fifth-generation Floridian, Florida has made significant efforts to conserve its incredible natural resources. However, under the Biden administration, our ability to protect our environment has been hindered by federal bureaucracy and excessive red tape, and Section 404 permit applications for projects that benefit the environment and the public have become subject to a federal backlog. States should have the right to make decisions about their own natural resources, not be dictated to by Washington bureaucrats,” said Senator Moody.

Author

Archives

Related Articles

Florida News

U.S. Senator Ashley Moody has introduced new legislation aimed at reinforcing the United States’ leadership in the space industry by enhancing collaboration between the...

Political News

Polling shows Floridians support for term limits is popular. A poll conducted by U.S. Term Limits () found that 81% of Florida voters support term...

Political News

Americans for Prosperity is spending millions promoting the extension of the current Trump tax cuts which is set to expire this year if not...

Popular Stories

Amid rising economic uncertainties, Florida’s trusted and proven college savings program is offering families a safe, guaranteed option to save for college for less...

Advertisement
Florida Daily
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

HOW WE COLLECT E-MAIL INFORMATION:

If you sign up to subscribe to Florida Daily’s e-mail newsletter, you will provide us your e-mail address and name, voluntarily, and we will never obtain any of your contact information that you don’t voluntarily provide.

HOW WE USE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS IF YOU VOLUNTARILY PROVIDE IT TO US:

If you voluntarily provide us with your name and email address, we will use it to send you one email update per weekday. Your email address will not be given to any third parties.

YOUR CONTROLS:

You will have the option to unsubscribe to our E-mail update at anytime by clicking an unsubscribe link that will be provided in each E-Mail we send.