(1) The approval process must include collaboration and coordination among, and simultaneous review by, the participating agencies of applications for the following state development approvals:

(a) Wetland or environmental resource permits.

(b) Surface water management permits.

(c) Stormwater permits.

(d) Consumptive water use permits.

(e) Wastewater permits.

(f) Air emission permits.

(g) Permits relating to listed species.

(h) Highway or roadway access permits.

(i) Any other state development approval within the scope of a participating agency’s authority.

(2)(a) When filing its application for state development approval, a manufacturer shall file with the department and each participating agency proof that its development or expansion is located in a local government that has a local manufacturing development program.

(b) If a local government repeals its local manufacturing development program ordinance, a manufacturer developing or expanding in that jurisdiction remains entitled to participate in the process if the manufacturer submitted its application for a local government development approval before the effective date of repeal.

(3) At any time during the process, if a manufacturer requests that the department convene a meeting with one or more participating agencies to facilitate the process, the department shall convene a meeting that the participating agencies shall attend.

(a) The department is not required to mediate between the participating agencies and the manufacturer, but may participate as necessary to accomplish the purposes set forth in s. 20.60(4)(f).

(b) The department shall not be a party to any proceeding initiated under ss. 120.569 and 120.57 that relates to approval or disapproval of an application for state development approval processed under this section.

(c) The department’s participation in a coordinated manufacturing development approval process under this section shall have no effect on its approval or disapproval of any application for economic development incentives sought under s. 288.061 or another incentive requiring department approval.

(4) If a participating agency determines that an application is incomplete, the participating agency shall notify the applicant and the department in writing of the additional information necessary to complete the application.

(a) Unless the deadline is waived in writing by the manufacturer, a participating agency shall provide a request for additional information to the manufacturer and the department within 20 days after the date the application is filed with the participating agency.

(b) If the participating agency does not request additional information within the 20-day period, the participating agency may not subsequently deny the application based on the manufacturer’s failure to provide additional information.

(c) Within 10 days after the manufacturer’s response to the request for additional information, a participating agency may make a second request for additional information for the sole purpose of obtaining clarification of the manufacturer’s response.

(5)(a) Unless the deadline is waived in writing by the manufacturer, each participating agency shall take final agency action on a state development approval within its authority within 60 days after a complete application is filed. The 60-day period is tolled by the initiation of a proceeding under ss. 120.569 and 120.57.

(b) A participating agency shall notify the department if the agency intends to deny a manufacturer’s application and, unless waived in writing by the manufacturer, the department shall timely convene an informal meeting to facilitate a resolution.

(c) Unless waived in writing by the manufacturer, if a participating agency does not approve or deny an application within the 60-day period, within the time allowed by a federally delegated permitting program, or, if a proceeding is initiated under ss. 120.569 and 120.57, within 45 days after a recommended order is submitted to the agency and the parties, the state development approval within the authority of the participating agency is deemed approved. A manufacturer seeking to claim approval by default under this subsection shall notify, in writing, the clerks of both the participating agency and the department of that intent. A manufacturer may not take action based upon the default approval until such notice is received by both agency clerks.

(d) At any time after a proceeding is initiated under ss. 120.569 and 120.57, the manufacturer may demand expeditious resolution by serving notice on an administrative law judge and all other parties to the proceeding. The administrative law judge shall set the matter for final hearing no more than 30 days after receipt of such notice. After the final hearing is set, a continuance may not be granted without the written agreement of all parties.

(6) Subsections (4) and (5) do not apply to permit applications governed by federally delegated or approved permitting programs to the extent that subsections (4) and (5) impose timeframes or other requirements that are prohibited by or inconsistent with such federally delegated or approved permitting programs.

(7) The department may adopt rules to administer this section.

History.—s. 4, ch. 2013-224.