38th Environmental Permitting Summer School

Many imperiled wildlife species spend some if not all of their life-cycles in Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in developing effective regulations that promote the conservation and management of imperiled species and habitats in Florida. The members of this panel have been actively involved in the development and implementation of these important management practices, policies, guidelines, and regulations. The panel will review current federal and state regulations, and discuss emerging issues affecting imperiled wildlife species and habitat and how those issues could affect land uses in Florida. Bring your questions—this panel encourages panelist collaboration and audience participation!

This panel will provide the latest information on Candidate Species Updates, State and Federal current and future mitigation policies related to species, and the implications for both public and private infrastructure projects. This course covers new mitigation policy related to species impacts for all USFWS agency actions under both the CWA and ESA. Discussion of updated Imperiled Species Action Plans. Get the latest information and hear the discussion on the implications for Florida.  

Extremely timely and informative course will “cover the bases” from NEPA to permitting; critical environmental issues including Johnson Seagrass, ESA protected marine species and essential fish habitat, sea turtles, and marine mammals; use of UMAM and HEA for determining mitigation requests; examples of lessons learned in dealing with and applying federal and state requirements to seaports, beach renourishment, and coastal development; discussion of emerging issues. Audience participation is encouraged!

Florida agriculture has a significant role to play in meeting the food and commodity production needs of a growing world population and an equally important role in environmental stewardship. This course will discuss emerging issues that are likely to impact Florida farmlands and the Florida agricultural community, particularly those issues affecting the use and management of agricultural lands and the impact of those practices on wetlands, wildlife and conservation.  Expect the panelists to discuss recent state and federal legislation affecting agriculture in Florida, emerging topics in wildlife best management practices (BMPs) for agriculture, and new approaches for obtaining both binding and non-binding determinations on whether your activities on agricultural lands need an Environmental Resource Permit or a “Section 404” permit for activities in Waters of the United States. The panel of experts will also discuss strategies on agricultural lands that can minimize environmental impacts, avoid permitting requirements, and manage wildlife interactions to minimize conflicts. We will even attempt to forecast the future of agriculture in the state, with new cash crop opportunities like hemp production and what that might mean to the state. Don’t miss it!

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) work in partnership to conserve Florida’s imperiled species. The FWC has developed the Imperiled Species Management Plan to address the needs of state listed species and includes approved Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines to clarify the requirements for obtaining take permits. The USFWS has developed Consultation Guidelines and/or Determination Keys to assist with streamlining project reviews for federally listed species and to provide regulatory clarity while detailing recommendations for avoiding and minimizing potential negative effects. These state and federal guidelines are occasionally updated to address emerging information regarding imperiled species’ range, specific habitat needs, survey methodologies, and recommended best management practices. This guidance has the potential to profoundly affect the way we conduct business in Florida while minimizing impacts from known threats, improving habitat, and strengthening conservation and recovery efforts for imperiled species. Experienced members of this panel will offer a review of the regulatory guidance that is in place or is currently being developed for imperiled species, discuss key species issues, and provide insight into the current industry efforts and best management practices to benefit wildlife and their habitats. Come prepared with questions. Audience participation is encouraged!