Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Rule No.: RULE TITLE
14-46.001: Utilities Installation or Adjustment
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Rule 14-46.001, F.A.C., is being amended to incorporate the updated Utilities Accommodation Manual, and establish requirements for the placement of electric transmission lines within FDOT right of way.
SUMMARY: An updated UAM and the permitting criteria for electric transmission lines within FDOT right of way are addressed.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 334.044(2), 337.401 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 337.401, 337.403 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: November 9, 2010, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Florida Department of Transportation, Haydon Burns Building, Executive Conference Room, 605 Suwannee Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 7 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Deanna R. Hurt, Assistant General Counsel and Clerk of Agency Proceedings, Florida Department of Transportation, Office of the General Counsel, 605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 58, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Deanna R. Hurt, Assistant General Counsel and Clerk of Agency Proceedings, Florida Department of Transportation, Office of the General Counsel, 605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 58, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

14-46.001 Utilities Installation or Adjustment.

(1) Purpose. This rule is established to regulate the location and manner for installation and adjustment of utility facilities on any Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) right of way, in the interest of safety and the protection, utilization, and future development of such rights of way, with due consideration given to public service afforded by adequate and economical utility installations, and to provide procedures for the issuance of permits.

(2) Permits.

(a) FDOT will issue permits for the construction, alteration, operation, relocation, removal, and maintenance of utilities upon the right of way in conformity with the FDOT Utility Accommodation Manual (UAM), August 2010 edition, FDOT Document No. 710-020-001-gf, which is hereby incorporated by reference and made part of this rule, and which supersedes all previous editions. The This Utility Accommodation Manual (UAM) also incorporates by reference and makes part of this rule additional documents, namely those contained in the UAM Section 6.1, Incorporated entitled “References.” The extent to which these documents are made a part of this rule through incorporation by reference into the UAM is limited to the scope of application(s) specifically referenced within the text of the UAM, subject to any modifications, exceptions, or qualifications set forth in the UAM. Copies of the UAM this document are available from the FDOT Maps and Publications Office at 605 Suwannee Street, MS 12, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450, or the FDOT Utility Web Site: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rddesign/utilities/files/utilities.htm.

(b) The Utility Permit, FDOT Form 710-010-85, Rev. 08/10 10/07, is incorporated herein by reference and Copies of FDOT Form 710-010-85, Rev. 10/07, available from the FDOT Utility Web Site listed above.

(3) The FDOT Chief Engineer shall approve permit applications for longitudinal placement along FDOT controlled roadways within limited access right of ways of aerial and underground electric utility transmission lines designed to operate at 69 or more kilovolts that are needed to accommodate the additional electrical transfer capacity on the transmission grid resulting from new electric power plants that are certified under part II of Chapter 403, F.S., when the application shows there is no other practicable alternative available and the utility agency/owner (UAO) complies with the following:

(a) The installation, operation, and maintenance will be limited to areas outside the minimum clear zone requirements found in the UAM.

(b) The installation, operation, or maintenance of the transmission lines will not interfere with the operational requirements or future improvements of the transportation facility. The UAO shall provide a schedule of all anticipated maintenance, activities, upgrades, expansions, and periodic inspections.

(c) To demonstrate the use of the right of way is the only practicable alternative, the UAO shall provide an analysis of all other alternatives. For each alternative, including the use of FDOT limited access right of way, the UAO shall address all of the following:

i. Impacts to adjacent property owners;

ii. Cost of acquiring land to accommodate the transmission lines;

iii. Installation cost of the transmission facility;

iv. Environmental impacts.

(d) Prior to the issuance of the permit, the UAO shall pay a non-refundable permit fee to FDOT based upon the area of land needed to accommodate the installation, operation, and maintenance of the utility facility. The area shall include all lands where the FDOT’s future use is limited, restricted, or conditioned on account of the underground, ground level or aerial portions of the electric transmission lines. For lands located within an urban area, as defined in Section 334.02(32), F.S., the permit fee shall be $466,900.00 per acre. For any portion of the facility located outside an urban area, the permit fee shall be $61,000.00 per acre. Should FDOT require the electric transmission lines to be relocated or removed for future improvement of the transportation facility, the UAO will relocate or remove the electric transmission lines at its sole expense, and is not eligible for any state or federal or FDOT reimbursement.

(4) Electric transmission lines designed to operate at 69 or more kilovolts within FDOT non-limited access right of way, electric transmission lines designed to operate at 69 or less kilovolts within FDOT right of way, longitudinal transmission lines designed to operate at 69 or more kilovolts for purposes other than the accommodation of additional electrical transfer capacity on the transmission grid resulting from new base-load generating facilities, and utilities not subject to the conditions in (3) above, shall be permitted under the provisions of the UAM.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 334.044(2), 337.401 FS. Law Implemented 337.401337.403, FS. History–New 5-13-70, Amended 8-10-78, 7-22-82, Formerly 14-46.01, Amended 7-5-90, 6-8-93, 10-15-96, 8-30-99, 11-10-05, 1-24-08,________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Thomas R. Bane, State Utilities Engineer
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Stephanie C. Kopelousos, Secretary
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 1, 2010
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: February 26, 2010