NOTICE OF FINAL AGENCY ACTION BY THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Notice is given that the District's Final Agency Action is approval of the application for an Environmental Resource Permit (43041349.003) and State-owned Submerged Lands Public Easement to the Florida Department of Transportation to serve replace and construct the Cortez Bridge on 29.18 acres known as SR 684 (Cortez Bridge) from SR 789 (Gulf Drive) to 123rd Street West. The project is located in Manatee County, Sections 3 and 4, Township 35 South, Range 16 East. The file(s) pertaining to the project referred to above is available for inspection Monday through Friday except for legal holidays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Southwest Florida Water Management District, 7601 Highway 301 North, Tampa, Florida 33637-6759 NOTICE OF RIGHTS Any person whose substantial interests are affected by the District's action regarding this matter may request an administrative hearing in accordance with Sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and Chapter 28-106, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), of the Uniform Rules of Procedure. Pursuant to Subsection 373.427(2)(c), F.S., for notices of intended or proposed agency action on a consolidated application for an environmental resource permit and use of state-owned submerged lands concurrently reviewed by the District, a petition for administrative hearing must be filed with (received by) the District within 14 days of receipt of written notice. A request for hearing must (1) explain how the substantial interests of each person requesting the hearing will be affected by the District's action, or proposed action; (2) state all material facts disputed by each person requesting the hearing or state that there are no disputed facts; and (3) otherwise comply with Chapter 28-106, F.A.C. A request for hearing must be filed with and received by the Agency Clerk of the District at the District's Tampa address, 7601 US Hwy. 301, Tampa, FL 33637-6759 within 21 days of publication of this notice (or within14 days for an Environmental Resource Permit with Proprietary Authorization for the use of Sovereign Submerged Lands). Failure to file a request for hearing within this time period shall constitute a waiver of any right such person may have to request a hearing under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. Because the administrative hearing process is designed to formulate final agency action, the filing of a petition means that the District's final action may be different from the position taken by it in this notice of agency action. Persons whose substantial interests will be affected by any such final decision of the District in this matter have the right to petition to become a party to the proceeding, in accordance with the requirements set forth above. Mediation pursuant to Section 120.573, F.S., to settle an administrative dispute regarding the District's action in this matter is not available prior to the filing of a request for hearing. IPL0298976 Dec 17 2025