MICCOSUKEE TRIBE OF INDIANS OF FLORIDA v. SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (1998)

District Court of Appeal of Florida,Third District.

MICCOSUKEE TRIBE OF INDIANS OF FLORIDA and Friends of the Everglades, Appellants, v. SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT and Department of Environmental Protection, et al., Appellees.

No. 98-1254.

Decided: November 12, 1998

Before NESBITT, GODERICH and SORONDO, JJ.

Lehtinen, O'Donnell, Vargas & Reiner and Dione C. Carroll, Miami, for Appellants. Barbara Markham, Keith W. Rizzardi and Perla Sole-Calas, West Palm Beach, for Appellee South Florida Water Management District. F. Perry Odom, Stacey D. Cowley and Charles T. Collette, Tallahassee, for Appellee Department of Environmental Protection. Gunster, Yoakley, Valdes-Fauli & Stewart and William L. Hyde, Tallahassee, for Appellee United States Sugar Corporation. Hopping Green Sams & Smith and Gary V. Perko, Tallahassee, for Appellees Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, Roth Farms, Inc. and Wedgeworth Farms, Inc.

The petitioners, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and Friends of the Everglades, appeal from a final order of the Department of Environmental Protection granting a Non-Everglades Construction Project Permit that would allow the continued maintenance and operation of thirty-seven flood control structures that discharge water into, within, or from the Everglades Protection Area. We affirm.

First, we find that the administrative law judge properly limited her inquiry to the review criteria set forth in section 373.4592(9)(k), (l ), Florida Statutes (1997). § 373.4592(9)(c), Fla.Stat. (1997). Next, we find that the administrative law judge's recommendation that the permit be issued was supported by competent, substantial evidence. A review of the record shows that South Florida Water Management District met its burden of demonstrating reasonable assurances that its schedules and strategies will provide compliance with water quality standards to the maximum extent practicable. § 373.4592(9)(k), (l ), Fla.Stat. (1997). Accordingly, we affirm the Department of Environmental Protection's order granting the Non-Everglades Construction Project Permit.

Affirmed.

PER CURIAM.

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