Florida’s 2021 Legislative Session begins on Tuesday, March 2nd! FSA will be tracking legislation impacting water quality permitting programs and your ability to protect water quality throughout the 60-day Session. Members can visit FSA’s Legislative Page to see which bills are being tracked and view the details for each bill. The webpage is frequently updated with a list of FSA’s Priority Issues, Bill Tracking Reports, current news articles and information on individual bills. It’s a resource that is available for FSA members only; you will need your username and password to login.

This year’s elections to fill vacancies on the Boards of Directors of the Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) and the FSA Educational Foundation (FSAEF) will be held online and by e-ballot. Elections will begin the Friday morning of the Annual Conference, June 25, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. and conclude the following Friday, July 2, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

FSA is looking for dynamic leaders dedicated to ensuring the continued success of the Association. This is your chance to help lead the primary association dedicated to furthering the stormwater management profession and water quality improvement programs in Florida. What’s in it for you?

We want to hear from you! Due to the online environment, FSA needs your Leadership Recommendation Form by April 30, 2021. Recommendations received after the deadline, including nominations made from the floor at the Annual Membership Meeting, will be accepted, however, candidate details cannot be included on the Elections page.

FDEP’s Stormwater Rulemaking Technical Advisory Committee held their third meeting on February 25, 2021. The TAC was formed to assist FDEP and the Water Management Districts in updating the state’s design criteria for the construction of stormwater systems. Stay informed, visit FSA’s Advocacy page for up-to-date information.

EPA will host its second webinar on the revisions to the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for industrial stormwater discharges. This webinar will cover industrial stormwater program basics, discuss the structure and requirements of the new permit, including how to renew coverage or get coverage for the first time, and highlight new provisions and changes from the 2015 MSGP. EPA will take questions from the public during the webinar. Existing and new permittees, industry consultants, and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to attend. You may register in advance or if you cannot attend, the webinar will be recorded and posted on EPA’s industrial stormwater webpage for future use. For more information, contact Emily Halter at EPA.

FDEP is holding online meetings to present updates on the implementation of a streamlined approach to assessing water quality statewide on a biennial assessment cycle. The meetings will provide stakeholders with an overview of the statewide biennial assessment process, a schedule for publishing draft basin assessments lists and supporting documentation for the development of impaired waters lists. Under the previous assessment process, FDEP would assess approximately 20% of the state’s water during each year of a five-year assessment cycle. It is expected that the biennial assessment approach will provide more up-to-date information on overall water quality conditions. The March 4th meeting will be held using Microsoft Teams, so you may join the meeting without preregistration or call-in to 850-629-7330 (phone Conference ID: 144 040 143#). Contact Kevin O’Donnell for more information.

Don’t let your certifications expire! FSA Stormwater Operator Certifications must be renewed every five years. The Fogarty Training Center offers Online Recertification Webinars that provide a convenient, cost-effective way to renew your certification. The next opportunity to renew will be through online webinars held on April 6, 2021. Register for Level 1 and/or Level 2 by Friday, March 5th to receive a copy of the Stormwater Operators Manual prior to the class.

Not sure when your certification expires? Log in to your personal FSA profile, scroll down to find your Level 1 and/or Level 2 expiration year or you can view the Stormwater Operator Certification Renewal Date List.

FSA’s Fogarty Training Center holds both Level 1 and Level 2 Certified Stormwater Operator classes that meet the requirements of your MS4 permit for initial or “refresher” training of stormwater staff in:

Website: www.florida-stormwater.org