Florida Transmission Line Siting Act Glossary: Key Terms & Definitions for Developers and Consultants

Florida Transmission Line Siting Act Key Terms & Definitions

Administrative Law Judge: A judge appointed by the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings to conduct the certification hearing and issue a recommended order to the Florida Siting Board for final approval or denial of a transmission line siting application. (Section 403.525, Florida Statutes)

Alternate Corridors: Alternative routes for a proposed transmission line that are identified and evaluated by the applicant during the transmission line siting process. (Section 403.5271, Florida Statutes)

Applicant: Any electric utility that undertakes the siting of a transmission line under the Florida Transmission Line Siting Act. (Section 403.522(5), Florida Statutes)

Application: The documents required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to be filed to initiate a certification review and evaluation, including the initial document filing, amendments, and responses to requests from the department for additional data and information. (Section 403.522(6), Florida Statutes)

Certification: The written order of the Florida Siting Board approving an application for the siting of a transmission line, which constitutes the sole license for the location of the transmission line corridor and the construction, operation, and maintenance of the transmission line. (Section 403.522(8), Florida Statutes)

Completeness: The state of an application that has been determined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to contain all the information required by the department to commence processing the application. (Section 403.522(10), Florida Statutes)

Corridor: The proposed area within which a transmission line right-of-way is to be located. (Section 403.522(11), Florida Statutes)

Electric Utility: Cities and towns, counties, public utility districts, regulated electric companies, electric cooperatives, regional transmission organizations, operators of independent transmission systems, or other transmission organizations approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or the Florida Public Service Commission. (Section 403.522(12), Florida Statutes)

Florida Siting Board: The governor and cabinet sitting as the siting board, which has the authority to issue final orders on transmission line siting applications. (Section 403.52, Florida Statutes)

Licensee: An applicant that has obtained a certification order for the siting of a transmission line under the Florida Transmission Line Siting Act. (Section 403.522(16), Florida Statutes)

Maintenance: All activities and actions necessary to keep the transmission line in proper working condition and to ensure its structural integrity, including the replacement of components, as long as the replacement does not result in a change to the design specifications. (Section 403.522(18), Florida Statutes)

Modification: Any change to a previously certified transmission line, including changes in the design, construction, operation, or maintenance of the transmission line, which does not significantly alter the location, length, design, or configuration of the transmission line. (Section 403.522(19), Florida Statutes)

Preliminary Statement of Issues: A document filed by the applicant that provides a concise statement of the principal issues within the agency's jurisdiction that are likely to be raised by the application. (Section 403.5252, Florida Statutes)

Proprietary Business Information: Information owned or controlled by the applicant that is intended to be and is treated by the applicant as private, and the disclosure of which would cause harm to the applicant's business operations. (Section 403.522(20), Florida Statutes)

Right-of-Way: Land necessary for the construction and maintenance of a transmission line, including land required for the installation and maintenance of the conductors, towers, poles, and related equipment. (Section 403.522(22), Florida Statutes)

Transmission Line: Any electrical transmission line extending from, but not including, an existing or proposed substation or power plant to, but not including, an existing or proposed transmission network or rights-of-way or substation to which the applicant intends to connect, which defines the end of the proposed project and which is designed to operate at 230 kilovolts or more. (Section 403.522(21), Florida Statutes)

Transmission Line Certification: A certification issued under the Florida Transmission Line Siting Act, which is a single, comprehensive certification that encompasses all state, regional, and local permits and approvals required for the construction and operation of a transmission line. (Section 403.531, Florida Statutes)

Transmission Line Corridor: The proposed area within which a transmission line right-of-way is to be located, including the right-of-way itself and any alternate corridors identified by the applicant. (Section 403.522(11), Florida Statutes)

Transmission Line Siting Application: The documents required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to be filed to initiate a certification review and evaluation, including the initial document filing, amendments, and responses to requests from the department for additional data and information. (Section 403.522(6), Florida Statutes)

Wetlands: Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soils, as delineated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. (Section 373.019(27), Florida Statutes)

Wildlife Habitat: Areas that provide food, water, cover, and space for wild animals, including threatened and endangered species, as identified and protected under state and federal law. (Section 379.2291, Florida Statutes)

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A Note to Our Readers: We hope this guide is a valuable resource in helping you better understand the . However, it's not a substitute for professional advice and doesn't cover every scenario. Always consult with regulatory bodies and professionals for the most current advice and project-specific guidance.