Amidst a legal dispute over wetland permitting authority, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has successfully obtained permits for its projects, including those under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Moving Florida Forward” initiative, an official said Thursday.
The ongoing legal battle stems from a February ruling by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, which overturned a 2020 EPA decision that had transferred wetland permitting authority from the federal government to the state. This shift returned permitting power to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Despite the legal uncertainty, FDOT’s Office of Environmental Management Director Jennifer Marshall stated that the agency has received 23 permits for its projects, with processing times ranging from five to eight months. Marshall credited “liaisons” with the Army Corps of Engineers for facilitating this progress.
However, members of the Florida Transportation Commission expressed concerns that the ongoing legal battle is causing permitting delays for private developments. David Genson, a commission member and president of development for the Barron Collier Companies, noted that government-to-government interactions might be smoother, but the private sector is facing significant impacts due to the uncertainty surrounding permitting authority.
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While FDOT continues to secure permits for its projects, the legal battle over wetland permitting in Florida remains unresolved, with potential consequences for the state’s development landscape.
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