The Department is amending Chapter 62-302, F.A.C., to establish numeric interpretations of the narrative surface water criterion for nutrients in paragraph 62-302.530(47)(b), F.A.C. The proposed amendments establish numeric interpretations in a hierarchy, as follows: 1) site specific interpretations (e.g., Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), Site Specific Alternative Criteria), 2) interpretations based on cause-and-effect relationships between nutrients and biological response, 3) reference-based interpretations within nutrient watershed regions combined with biological information, and 4) the existing narrative criterion, which will continue to apply to all waters, including those that do not fall under one of the hierarchical levels above. Numeric interpretations are established for: 1) lakes (based on color and alkalinity), 2) spring vents, and 3) streams (based on stream nutrient watershed regions). In addition, estuary specific nutrient standards are established for a number of south Florida estuaries, including Clearwater Harbor/St. Joseph Sound, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Tidal Cocohatchee River/Ten Thousand Islands, Florida Bay, Florida Keys, and Biscayne Bay. A new Type III Site Specific Alternative Criterion is established that is specific to nutrients and nutrient response variables. The Department has also identified a list of previously adopted TMDLs that constitute a numeric interpretation of the narrative nutrient criterion under Rule 62-302.531, F.A.C., which list may be obtained from the Department’s internet site at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wqssp or by writing to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Standards and Assessment Section, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 6511, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400. OTHER RULES INCORPORATING THIS RULE: Chapter 62-302, Rule 62-302.200, Rule 62-302.530, and Rule 62-302.800, F.A.C., are referenced by the following rules: Rules 18-2.021, 62-4.160, 62-4.240, 62-4.241, 62-4.242, 62-4.246, 62-25.001, 62-25.025, 62-25.030, 62-25.080, 62-29.050, 62-40.120, 62-40.210, 62-45.070, 62-110.106, 62-113.200, 62-301.100, 62-302.200, 62-302.300, 62-302.400, 62-302.500, 62-302.520, 62-302.530, 62-302.540, 62-302.700, 62-302.800, 62-303.100, 62-303.200, 62-303.320, 62-303.330, 62-303.370, 62-303.400, 62-303.430, 62-304.310, 62-304.335, 62-304.500, 62-312.050, 62-312.310, 62-312.340, 62-312.400, 62-312.816, 62-312.819, 62-312.825, 62-330.100, 62-330.200, 62-340.700, 62-341.215, 62-341.486, 62-341.490, 62-341.494, 62-346.050, 62-346.051, 62-346.301, 62-348.200, 62-520.200, 62-520.520, 62-528.610, 62-528.630, 62-600.120, 62-600.200, 62-600.300, 62-600.400, 62-600.430, 62-600.440, 62-600.500, 62-600.520, 62-610.200, 62-610.300, 62-610.310, 62-610.554, 62-610.555, 62-610.650, 62-610.670, 62-610.810, 62-610.820, 62-610.830, 62-610.850, 62-610.860, 62-611.110, 62-611.200, 62-611.450, 62-611.500, 62-611.600, 62-611.650, 62-611.700, 62-620.320, 62-620.400, 62-620.610, 62-620.620, 62-620.800, 62-621.303, 62-624.800, 62-625.300, 62-625.400, 62-640.400, 62-650.300, 62-660.300, 62-673.340, 62-673.610, 62-701.200, 62-701.300, 62-709.500, 62-711.540, 62-761.200, 62-762.201, 62-770.200, 62-771.100, 62-777.150, 62-777.170, 62-780.200, 62-782.200, 62-785.200, 62B-49.008, 62B-49.012, and 62C-16.0051, F.A.C. EFFECT ON THOSE OTHER RULES: The proposed amendments for streams, lakes and spring vents are designed to protect state waters from the adverse effects of nutrient over-enrichment and are intended to replace federal standards adopted by EPA for the State of Florida. The above rules, which cover a variety of regulatory programs, reference and implement Florida’s water quality standards in Chapter 62-302, F.A.C.