5801199, 62-160.110 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 5801199

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Chapter:

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Overview

RULE:

62-160.110	Purpose, Scope and Applicability
62-160.120	Definitions and Standards
62-160.210	Approved Field Procedures
62-160.220	Approval of Alternative and Modified Field Procedures
62-160.240	Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements for Field Procedures
62-160.300	Laboratory Certification
62-160.320	Approved Laboratory Methods
62-160.330	Approval of Alternative and Modified Laboratory Methods
62-160.340	Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements for Laboratory Procedures
62-160.400	Sample Preservation and Holding Times
62-160.405	Electronic Signatures
62-160.650	Field and Laboratory Audits
62-160.670	Data Validation by the Department
62-160.700	Tables
62-160.800	Documents Incorporated by Reference

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this rulemaking is to update the Department’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Field Activities (DEP-SOP-001/01) and Laboratory Activities (DEP-SOP-002/01). The majority of these updates are intended to clarify and/or correct procedures in the original documents, and should have minimal effect on a majority of laboratory or field operations. There are, however, a limited number of new Standard Operating Procedures for conducting and interpreting biological assessments, which represent recent advances in environmental science. As part of this rulemaking, the Department is also clarifying the process by which data usability is assessed in a new document, which will be incorporated by reference, titled “Department of Environmental Protection Process for Assessing Data Usability”, (DEP-EA-001/07).

SUMMARY:

Changes in the rule include updating the reference dates of DEP-SOP-001/01 and DEP-SOP-002/01; clarifying the applicability of the rule to include all organizations that are a part of the sample collection/laboratory analysis process; identifying new and revised standard operating procedures for biological assessments in DEP-SOP-001/01 and DEP-SOP-002/01 (Qualitative Periphyton Sampling , Rapid Periphyton Survey, Lake Vegetation Index sampling and calculation, Stream Condition Index calculation and BioRecon index calculation); simplifying the accreditation requirements for laboratories needing certification in non-potable water for multiple methods of the same analytical technology; allowing use of drinking water methods for non-potable water analysis when no other methods exist;  identifying additional tests for which certification is not required; adding more detail to the records to be maintained by laboratories; modifying the content requirements for laboratory reports; adding prohibitions against altering data that were originally generated by another party; adding performance criteria for electronic signatures; modifying Table 1 62-160.700, F.A.C., with clarifications and additions; and updating the documents incorporated by reference.  The changes in the SOPs are intended to clarify the original intent of certain procedures, or to provide more detailed information. The new SOPs related to the various biological indices are necessary to ensure that these procedures for assessment, processing, and calculation are consistent among all parties performing them.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

403.061, 403.0623, 668.006 FS.

LAW:

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, 403.783, 403.853, 668.006, 668.50 FS.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

6/27/2008 Vol. 34/26

COMMENTS:

From 6/27/2008 To 7/18/2008 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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