62-160.320. Approved Laboratory Methods

(1) Approved laboratory methods are specified in the Department’s rules, contracts, orders or permits. When methods are specified by a Department rule, contract, order or permit, only those methods shall be used. For informational purposes, the Department maintains lists of methods, method compendiums and publication sources that have been recognized the Department. When laboratory methods are not specified in Department rules, contracts, orders or permits, applicable methods from the list of recognized methods are approved, where the methods are determined by the Department to satisfy data quality objectives established for the Department project. However, these lists shall not supersede or limit the use of other methods that are required by contract, order, permit or Title 62 rule. Links for the lists of methods are posted on the Department’s webpage at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/sas/qa/am-sources.htm. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency published updated lists of analytical methods in Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures, Final Rule, Federal Register, Vol. 77, No. 97, Friday, May 18, 2012, Rules and Regulations, pp. 29758–29846, which is incorporated by reference in subsection 62-160.800(6), F.A.C. 

(2) Except as specified in subsections (3) and (4) below, laboratories performing taxonomic identification for periphyton or benthic macroinvertebrates shall use the procedures in the following DEP SOPs, which are contained in DEP-SOP-002/01, which is incorporated by reference in paragraph 62-160.800(1)(b), F.A.C.:

(a) For taxonomic identification of periphyton, LQ 1000 shall be used, including part LQ 7000, and subparts LQ 7100 through LQ 7140;

(b) For taxonomic identification of benthic macroinvertebrates, LQ 1000 shall be used, including part LQ 7000, and subparts LQ 7400 through LQ 7420.

(3) Laboratories performing taxonomic identifications or calculations for the Stream Condition Index (SCI), the Lake Vegetation Index or making a Biorecon determination shall use the procedures in the following DEP SOPs, which are contained in DEP-SOP-003/11, which is incorporated by reference in paragraph 62-160.800(1)(c), F.A.C.:

(a) For the Stream Condition Index, SCI 1000 shall be used (including part SCI 2000 and subparts SCI 2100 through SCI 2230);

(b) For the Lake Vegetation Index, LVI 1000 shall be used (including part LVI 2000 and subparts LVI 2100 through LVI 2210);

(c) For the BioRecon determination, BRN 1000 shall be used (including part BRN 2000 and subparts BRN 2100 through BRN 2110).

(4) Additionally, laboratories or persons performing taxonomic identifications, calculations or data usability assessments for the Stream Condition Index (SCI), the Lake Vegetation Index or a BioRecon determination shall follow the procedures and satisfy the data quality objectives discussed in DEP-SAS-001/11 and DEP-SAS-002/11, which are incorporated by reference in paragraphs 62-160.800(2)(e) and 62-160.800(2)(f), F.A.C., respectively.

(5) Laboratories calculating the Lake Condition Index (LCI) shall use the procedures in DEP SOP LT 7000 (including parts LT 7010, LT 7020, LT 7030, LT 7040, LT 7300 and LT 7900), which are contained in DEP-SOP-002/01, and incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-160.800(1)(b)3., F.A.C.

(6) Laboratories calculating the Wetland Condition Indices (WCI) shall use the procedures in DEP SOP LT 7000, part LT 7600, including all subparts as listed below, which are contained in DEP-SOP-002/01, and incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-160.800(1)(b)3., F.A.C.:

(a) For the determination of Wetland Condition Index for freshwater isolated herbaceous wetlands, DEP SOP subpart LT 7610 shall be used (including subparts LT 7611 and LT 7612).

(b) For the determination of Wetland Condition Index for freshwater isolated forested wetlands, DEP SOP subpart LT 7620 shall be used (including subparts LT 7621 and LT 7622).

Rulemaking Authority 403.061, 403.0623 FS. Law Implemented 373.026, 373.309, 373.409, 373.413, 373.414, 373.416, 373.4592, 376.303, 376.305, 376.3071, 403.0623, 403.0625, 403.087, 403.088, 403.0881, 403.504, 403.704, 403.707, 403.722, 403.853 FS. History–New 4-9-02, Amended 12-3-08, 7-30-14.