Protecting Florida’s environment

In Florida, the past permitting process for the Clean Water Act has delayed key restoration projects. To increase efficiency, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requested authorization to self-administer discharge of dredged and fill material into wetlands and other waters within the state of Florida. The FDEP asked us to prepare a Programmatic Biological Assessment. This assessment documented the potential effects of the proposed permitting process modifications on threatened and endangered species and their habitats.

Understanding the importance of the ask, we assembled a project team of 21 individuals across North America to develop the biological assessment.

Our team included technical leaders, subject matter experts, and biologists who set out to address more than 236 threatened and endangered species found throughout the state. We coordinated and consulted with staff at numerous state and federal agencies.

The FDEP received our draft of the biological assessment within 3 months from notice to proceed. This biological assessment is believed to be the second-largest prepared in the United States.

The successful completion of the programmatic biological assessment was a key component for the FDEP to request administrative authority. As of December 2020, the FDEP independently administers and holds accountability for state wetland permits.

Florida can streamline the permitting process, reduce redundancy, and position local environmental experts at the forefront of the state’s environmental protection and restoration goals.