designated as the coastal zone because most of the existing laws are of state- 

 wide applicability. Of particular interest regarding multiple-use conflicts 

 is the section of the program dealing with coastal development issues and the 

 appendices on energy facilities planning and coastal shorefront areas (Florida 

 Department of Environmental Regulation 1980). 



DEVELOPMENTS OF REGIONAL IMPACT 



The Florida Environmental Land and Management Act of 1972 includes pro- 

 visions to involve the State in controlling land development under the Act. 

 Developments of regional impact (DRI) are subject to a review process. A 

 "development of regional impact" is defined as: 



Any development which, because of its character, magnitude, or 

 location, would have a substantial effect upon the health, safety, 

 or welfare of citizens of more than one county [380.06 (1, F.S.)]. 



Developments presumed to be of regional impact were adopted as Ch. 22f-2 

 of the Florida Administrative Code and includes twelve different types of 

 development. Determination of their classification as DRI's depends primarily 

 on the size of the development. Although the rule creates a presumption, pro- 

 jects not on the list or not meeting threshold criteria may still be deter- 

 mined to be DRI's if sufficient facts regarding the project support the statu- 

 tory definition. 



Briefly, and in broad terms, a developer proposing a project that is de- 

 termined to be a DRI must file an application for development approval with 

 the local government having jurisdiction. The report must determine what 

 effect the development will have on the environment and natural resources of 

 the region and whether it will unduly burden water, sewer, solid waste, or 

 other needed public facilities, affect housing, or create additional demand 

 for energy [380.06(8) F.S.]. 



Clearly the requirements of the DRI process force local governments and 

 regional planning agencies to address multiple-use conflicts relating to a 

 proposed project. The process highlights conflicts between the DRI and natu- 

 ral systems and between the DRI and manmade systems. In most instances, the 

 conflicts can be minimized and the DRI encourages the reduction of negative 

 impacts. Occasionally a project will be rejected in the DRI process because 

 of major conflicts that cannot be resolved. No project has ever been rejected 

 by the DRI process in Northwest Florida to date, but projects have been modi- 

 fied by the process. The major limitation of the DRI process in regard to 

 multiple-use conflicts is that it is restricted to large projects having major 

 impacts. 



AREAS OF CRITICAL STATE CONCERN 



The second major provision of the Environmental Land and Water Management 

 Act relates to "Areas of Critical State Concern" (ACSC). The act authorizes 

 the designation of the following three types of areas as ACSC's: 



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