A general permit is granted for prospecting for limestone,
sand, and peat provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) Prospecting is conducted by coring,
augering, impact boring or other techniques designed to remove samples from an
excavated opening less than one foot in diameter.
(2) No prospecting is conducted below the
ordinary or mean high water line of natural water bodies such as natural lakes,
ponds, streams, rivers, estuaries or lagoons.
(3) Prospecting in wetlands must meet the
following conditions:
(a) No activities shall
be conducted in Outstanding Florida Waters, Aquatic Preserves, Class I waters,
Class II waters, waters which are classified by the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services as approved, restricted, conditionally
approved or conditionally restricted for shellfish harvesting in Rule
5L-1.003, F.A.C., or wetlands
used by endangered or threatened species. For purposes of this permit, a
wetland is used by endangered or threatened species if reasonable scientific
judgment indicates that the wetland provides habitat in which endangered or
threatened species engage in activities such as resting, feeding, breeding,
nesting or denning.
(b) No
above-grade roads shall be constructed. Vehicles used for prospecting in
wetlands shall be of a type generating minimum ground pressure to minimize
rutting and other environmental impacts. Disturbed areas along each prospecting
line shall be restored to original contours upon completion of prospecting
activities along that specific alignment.
(c) Disturbances within wetlands shall be no
wider than 15 feet along any portion of the prospect line, except at the
immediate site of the drill hole. At the immediate site of the drill hole the
disturbance shall not exceed 25 feet. No debris or spoil shall be placed
outside these limits.
(d)
Prospecting lines shall be aligned to minimize wetland impacts and avoid the
clearing of wetland trees having 4 inches or greater diameter at breast height
to the greatest extent practicable.
(e) All drill tailings shall be returned to
the drill hole and the excess removed so that no spoil material is left above
grade in a wetland.
(f) If the
removal or cutting of vegetation is required, there shall be a minimum interval
of 300 feet between individual parallel prospecting lines. The removal of
vegetation shall not include grubbing, or the pulling or pushing up of root
systems.
(g) Any wetland disturbed
by prospecting activities shall be restored by replanting native indigenous
vegetation of the same species as were displaced. Exotic species such as
Schinus terebinthifolius, Melaleuca quinquenervia, and Casuarina spp., and
nuisance species Typha spp., and Ludwigia peruviana shall be controlled at
densities not exceeding the densities of these species in undisturbed portions
of the wetland.
