(1) Local governments may hold informational public meetings in addition to the hearings specifically authorized by ss. 403.9401-403.9425 on any matter associated with the natural gas transmission pipeline siting proceeding. Such informational public meetings should be held no later than 80 days after the complete application is filed. The purpose of an informational public meeting is for the local government to further inform the public about the natural gas transmission pipeline proposed, obtain comments from the public, and formulate its recommendation with respect to the proposed natural gas transmission pipeline. Neither the meetings held nor the recommendations made by the local government pursuant to this section shall address the need for the pipeline.
(2) Informational public meetings shall be held solely at the option of each local government. It is the legislative intent that local governments attempt to hold such public meetings. Parties to the proceedings under ss. 403.9401-403.9425 shall be encouraged to attend; however, no party shall be required to attend such informational public meetings.
(3) The failure to hold an informational public meeting or the procedure used for the informational public meeting shall not be grounds for the alteration of any time limitation in ss. 403.9401-403.9425 pursuant to s. 403.9414 or grounds to deny or condition certification.
History.—s. 1, ch. 92-284.
Structure Florida Statutes
Chapter 403 - Environmental Control
Part VIII - Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Siting (Ss. 403.9401-403.9425)
403.9402 - Legislative intent.
403.9404 - Department of Environmental Protection; powers and duties.
403.9405 - Applicability; certification; exemption; notice of intent.
403.94055 - Application contents; corridor requirements.
403.9406 - Appointment of an administrative law judge.
403.9407 - Distribution of application; schedules.
403.9408 - Determination of completeness.
403.9409 - Determination of sufficiency.
403.941 - Preliminary statements of issues, reports, and studies.
403.9411 - Notice; proceedings; parties and participants.
403.9412 - Alternate corridors.
403.9413 - Amendment to the application.
403.9414 - Alteration of time limits.
403.9415 - Final disposition of application.
403.9416 - Effect of certification.
403.9417 - Recording of notice of certified corridor route.
403.9418 - Modification of certification.
403.9419 - Enforcement of compliance.
403.942 - Superseded laws, regulations, and certification power.
403.9422 - Determination of need for natural gas transmission pipeline; powers and duties.
403.9423 - Certification admissible in eminent domain proceedings; attorney’s fees and costs.
403.9424 - Local governments; informational public meetings.