Conduct of challenge to consolidated environmental resource permit or associated variance or sovereign submerged lands authorization issued in connection with deepwater ports.

Notwithstanding s. 120.569, s. 120.57, or s. 373.427, or any other provision of law to the contrary, a challenge to a consolidated environmental resource permit or any associated variance or any sovereign submerged lands authorization proposed or issued by the Department of Environmental Protection in connection with the state’s deepwater ports, as listed in s. 403.021(9), shall be conducted pursuant to the summary hearing provisions of s. 120.574; however, the summary proceeding shall be conducted within 30 days after a party files a motion for a summary hearing, regardless of whether the parties agree to the summary proceeding, and the administrative law judge’s decision shall be in the form of a recommended order and does not constitute final agency action of the department. The Department of Environmental Protection shall issue the final order within 45 working days after receipt of the administrative law judge’s recommended order. The summary hearing provisions of this section apply to pending administrative proceedings; however, s. 120.574(1)(b) and (d) and (2)(a)3. and 5. do not apply to pending administrative proceedings. This section shall take effect upon this act becoming a law.