Duval Times

Florida Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody have announced the reintroduction of the Maintaining Cooperative Permitting Act. This legislation aims to codify Florida's authority to issue Section 404 permits under the Clean Water Act, which pertains to dredge and fill permitting programs. The bill seeks to provide states with the ability to adhere to their own equivalent permitting standards, ensuring regulatory certainty while preserving natural resources.

In 2020, Florida assumed these permitting authorities as outlined by procedures within the Clean Water Act. This move was intended to empower Floridians in making decisions on permitting matters that directly impact them. During his tenure as Governor of Florida, Senator Rick Scott signed legislation requesting this designation from the federal government.

Senator Rick Scott stated, "Florida is home to unique waterways and natural resources that should not be subject to a one-size-fits-all federal regulatory framework. The Maintaining Cooperative Permitting Act safeguards the Clean Water Act permitting authorities that I championed as Governor and helped secure as Senator in President Trump’s first term. It ensures that the State of Florida has the authority to make informed and timely decisions for our residents, while also preserving our state's precious natural resources for future generations to protect and enjoy."

Senator Ashley Moody added, "As a fifth-generation Floridian, protecting our state’s natural beauty is deeply important to me. 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 became subject to a federal backlog. States should have the right to make decisions about their own natural resources, not be dictated by Washington bureaucrats. That’s why I am introducing the Maintaining Cooperative Permitting Act —to limit Washington’s interference and protect our efforts to preserve Florida’s water.”