<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="State"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="City"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Book Antiqua";
panose-1:2 4 6 2 5 3 5 3 3 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.emailstyle17
{font-family:"Book Antiqua";
color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
span.emailstyle19
{font-family:"Book Antiqua";
color:navy;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
span.emailstyle20
{font-family:Arial;
color:blue;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
span.EmailStyle22
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:.9in .9in .9in .9in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:85813821;
mso-list-template-ids:-956006332;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-start-at:2;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:255943508;
mso-list-template-ids:-1443063776;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-start-at:4;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l2
{mso-list-id:648361018;
mso-list-template-ids:-1096154036;}
@list l2:level1
{mso-level-start-at:3;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l3
{mso-list-id:714893217;
mso-list-template-ids:-1856098104;}
@list l3:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l4
{mso-list-id:1417435399;
mso-list-template-ids:1338817736;}
@list l4:level1
{mso-level-start-at:5;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l5
{mso-list-id:1756121992;
mso-list-template-ids:-1009984442;}
@list l5:level1
{mso-level-start-at:6;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l6
{mso-list-id:1774856425;
mso-list-template-ids:1183334702;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></font></b><font
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>July 18, 2007</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-weight:bold'>CONTACT:</span></font></b><font
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> Sarah Williams,
Press Secretary, (850) 245-2112 – office </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>
(850) 519-2897 – cell </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua";
font-weight:bold'>DEP SECRETARY ANNOUNCES STRENGTHENED PENALTY GUIDELINES AT KEYNOTE
SPEECH TO MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL GATHERING</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua";
font-style:italic'>--Updates to guidelines will provide additional deterrent
for egregious environmental law violators-- </span></font></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua";
font-weight:bold'>TALLAHASSEE</span></font></b></st1:place></st1:City><b><font
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-weight:bold'>
– </span></font></b><font face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-family:
"Book Antiqua"'>During his keynote address at the Florida Chamber’s 21st
Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, before more than 800 attendees,
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole
today announced significant changes to the agency’s penalty guidelines.
The new guidelines will result in stiffer penalties by taking a tougher stance
on the most serious environmental violations statewide. In 2006, DEP
enforcement cases with monetary penalties assessed numbered more than 1,300.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>“The changes to DEP’s guidelines
provide a stronger deterrent for the most egregious violations, ultimately
reducing the number of significant infractions that occur,” said DEP
Secretary Sole. “I want to change the idea that ‘penalties are a
cost of doing business’ by emphasizing the agency’s tough stance
against violators.”</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>DEP has maintained penalty guidelines since
the mid-1980s that provide direction to staff on how to calculate penalties for
enforcement cases. In 2001, the Florida Legislature passed the Environmental
Litigation Reform Act (ELRA) to provide a clear, efficient process to address
less significant violations, which amount to approximately 90 percent of
DEP’s enforcement cases annually. ELRA has been successful by decreasing
the average time it takes DEP to resolve litigation in the less significant
cases – reducing the average length of time from two years to four months
– and providing a more efficient basis for negotiating settlements in
cases involving penalties of $10,000 or less. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>“With this major step forward, DEP is emphasizing
that compliance with environmental regulations is, bottom line, better for
business. It’s not only better for the state, but for private industry as
well,” said DEP Secretary Sole.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>The deterrent value of penalties for
significant violations has not kept pace with <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State>’s economy and has therefore
diminished over time. Updates to the penalty guidelines also address violations
not covered under ELRA. The stiffer penalties would apply to approximately 10
percent of enforcement actions taken by the agency, affecting 50 to 75 percent
of the total penalty amounts assessed by DEP for major violations. DEP will
take a tougher stance by increasing penalties and providing clearer guidance on
pursuing enforcement for significant infractions that:</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Involve
hazardous waste and/or hazardous substance violations;</span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Result
in economic benefit to a company or individual;</span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Are
intentional and/or habitual;</span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Cause
significant harm to the environment; or </span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Continue
over an extended period of time.</span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>DEP’s penalty guidelines are easily
accessible to the public through the internet. To view the guidelines, visit <a
href="http://www.dep.state.fl.us/legal/penalty/default.htm">http://www.dep.state.fl.us/legal/penalty/default.htm</a>.
To learn more about our innovative pollution prevention programs, please see <a
href="http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/p2/">http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/p2/</a>.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-weight:bold'>Additional
information: Changes to the penalty guidelines</span></font></u></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>There are six major changes to the
guidelines that will complement the penalties pursued under ELRA and provide a
greater deterrent for the most significant violations:</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l6 level1 lfo2'><u><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Hazardous
waste violations</span></font></u><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>The ‘penalty
matrix’ currently used to calculate penalties for violations of the storage,
treatment or disposal of <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>hazardous waste</span></b>
range from $100 per day (minor violations) to $25,000 per day (major
violations). The penalties for hazardous waste violations will be
significantly increased to match the recent increases adopted by EPA, which
range from $500 per day (minor violations) to $32,500 per day (major
violations). Additional instructions will be added to the ‘penalty
matrix’ to help identify circumstances in which the maximum amount
allowed by law, $50,000 per day per violation, should be pursued.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Based on an analysis of DEP
enforcement actions between 2002 and 2005, hazardous waste violations account
for approximately 18 percent of the total enforcement actions. The total
assessed penalties during this same time period for hazardous waste violations
was $4.75 million (17 percent) of the Department’s assessed penalties.
The proposed increase in the penalty matrix is expected to result in an
increase of the assessed value for significant violations (those in which
penalties exceed $10,000) by approximately 30 percent. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><u><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Hazardous
substance violations</span></font></u><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>A ‘penalty
matrix’ for violations involving the release of <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>hazardous substances</span></b> (as defined in <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State> law) is now part
of DEP’s penalty guidelines. The matrix currently used to calculate
penalties for violations involving hazardous substances includes a maximum
penalty of $10,000 per day, which is the same amount used for violations that
do not involve hazardous substances. With these changes, DEP will pursue
penalties up to a maximum of $25,000 per day, the highest penalty allowed by
law, for this type of violation. The proposed change would result in higher
penalties for violations involving hazardous substances, consistent with the
intent of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State>
law. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=3 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><u><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Multi-day
violations</span></font></u><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Although the current
guidelines allow for assessment of the full penalty matrix amount for each day
violations occur, that option is rarely used. Most multi-day penalties are
calculated by using the penalty matrix amount for the first day of the
violation and a much smaller amount for each day the violation continues. The
change will provide guidance so that in certain circumstances the full penalty
matrix amount will be used for at least the first 30 days the violation
continues. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Multi-day penalties will be
pursued in all cases in which:</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§</span></font><font
size=1><span style='font-size:7.0pt'>
</span></font><font face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Daily
economic benefit is gained;</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§</span></font><font
size=1><span style='font-size:7.0pt'>
</span></font><font face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Daily
adverse impacts to the environment are occurring; or</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§</span></font><font
size=1><span style='font-size:7.0pt'>
</span></font><font face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Prompt
action to stop or mitigate the violations was not taken.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=4 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo5'><u><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Recovery
of economic benefit obtained from violations</span></font></u><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Although the current
guidelines allow DEP to calculate and factor in the economic benefit for any
violation, that option is rarely used. This change will require DEP to include
economic benefit in all penalty calculations when it can be practically
determined, and to establish guidance to help in that determination. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>For example, if a developer
conducted dredging and filling of a wetland without a permit so that a shopping
center could open sooner than it would have had a permit been obtained, the
cost savings generated by the early opening of the shopping center would be an
economic benefit to the developer. Without factoring in the economic
benefit, the penalty calculated for three days of illegal dredging and filling might
be $2,000 per day for a total of $6,000. If the developer saved $24,000
by opening the shopping center early due to the dredging and filling without a
permit, a penalty that factored in the economic benefit gained by the developer
would be $6,000 for three days of illegal dredging and filling plus $24,000 for
the economic benefit, for a total of $30,000.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=5 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l4 level1 lfo6'><u><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Deliberate
or chronic violations</span></font></u><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>The current guidelines
provide a range of penalties in each matrix box. This change will provide
additional guidance on when to calculate penalties based upon the top of the
range in the matrix box (or the highest amount). Examples include violations
that are deliberate or chronic, which should result in consistently higher
penalties to deter these major infractions.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=6 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l5 level1 lfo7'><u><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Penalty
matrices vs. ELRA penalty schedules</span></font></u><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>This change will update the
penalty guidelines to provide guidance on which penalty matrices or schedules
should be used to calculate penalty amounts. With this change, the most
appropriate penalty matrix, and not the ELRA penalty schedules, will be used
for cases that involve penalties that exceed $10,000.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>The penalty amounts
provided in the ELRA penalty schedules are typically lower than the penalty
amounts provided in DEP’s penalty matrices. This proposed change
would only affect cases in which the total calculated penalty using the ELRA
penalty schedules exceeds $10,000. This proposed change would result in
higher penalties being pursued for many violations.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua";
font-weight:bold'>--30--</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Book Antiqua"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua"'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>