Which state agency oversees Florida's environmental regulations and issues environmental permits?

• A. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
• B. Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
• C. Florida Department of Health (DOH)
• D. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Answer: (B)

Florida relies on its state agency dedicated to protecting the environment and issuing permits: the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This department is the lead agency for regulating Florida’s air, water, and land resources and for issuing the environmental permits that authorize activities such as discharges, emissions, and waste management. The other options operate in different areas: the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services focuses on agriculture and consumer issues, not broad environmental regulation; the Department of Health concentrates on public health; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a federal agency, not the state-level regulator.