Low-Scored Site Initiative Scores Some Big Improvements: Understanding New Environmental Legislation, Part 1 of 5

The 2016 Florida Legislative Session brought about some significant changes in the area of environmental legislation. This is the first in a series of five quick recaps I’ll give you, focusing mainly on amendments to Florida Statute 376—particularly as those amendments impact the Petroleum Restoration Program (PRP).

One of the biggest developments is that this year’s new legislation ushers in a whole series of expansions to the Low-Scored Site Initiative (LSSI).

LSSI, originally established for low-scored, limited site assessments, has now been expanded to include limited remediation activities, as well.

The initial assessment budget per site has been raised from $30,000 to $35,000. What’s more, the FDEP now has the option of approving additional funds for limited remediation of your project (up to $35,000), as well as an additional 12 months of groundwater monitoring.

Legislators boosted overall program funding from $10 million to $15 million per year to cover the costs of expanded LSSI activity. The time limitation for completion of LSSI work has also been increased from 6 months to 12 months for the initial assessment/limited remediation.

Add in a number of groundwater-specific provisions, and you have a “new & improved” LSSI program that’s even more effective at protecting groundwater…and putting potentially contaminated properties back to productive use.