IN CASE YOU MISSED IT - FROM FDEP QUALITY OF SCIENCE NEWSLETTER

Greetings Quality of Science Subscribers,  The following may be of interest to laboratories or other organizations generating permitting compliance data.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves analytical methods for measuring regulated pollutants in wastewater, as contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40, Part 136. The regulated community and laboratories use these approved Clean Water Act methods for determining compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits or other monitoring requirements.  On May 19, 2021, EPA revised the tables of approved methods in 40 CFR, Part 136.3, Identification of Test Procedures, in its Method Update Rule. For methods published in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (SM), EPA lists only one version for each method with the year of publication designated by the last four digits in the method number (e.g., SM 3111B-2011). The year indicates the date of the specific revision to the method and is the required version.  The Florida Department of Environmental Protection adopted these 40 CFR, Part 136.3, approved testing procedures by reference into Rule 62-620.100, Florida Administrative Code, on Sept. 15, 2021.  Due to the specification of methods listed in 40 CFR, Part 136.3, laboratories analyzing samples for clients (facilities) that are required to report for regulatory purposes must designate the method year on their Department of Health NELAP Scope of Accreditation and include the method year designation on the laboratory report to the client/permittee.  The purpose of this notice is to clarify expectations for laboratories that conduct analyses for permitting compliance. This requirement does not pertain to laboratories if they use 40 CFR, Part 136.3, methods for non-regulatory purposes.  Please contact the quality assurance team for any questions regarding this notice at Quality_Assurance@FloridaDEP.gov. Thank you for your commitment to quality assurance. Sarah Noble Environmental Administrator Aquatic Ecology and Quality Assurance Section Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration Florida Department of Environmental Protection   Do you have general QA questions? Please email Quality_Assurance@FloridaDEP.gov

TNI will be holding its First Annual Field Sampling and Measurement Conclave on June 6-8, 2023, as a virtual meeting sponsored by TNI’s National Environmental Field Activities Program (NEFAP). NEFAP’s mission is to establish and implement an accreditation program for field sampling and measurement organizations (FSMOs).

The Conclave will run from 12:00 to 4:15 pm EDT and feature 21 presentations by various industry experts supporting the critical aspects of field sampling and measurement. Presenters include representatives from regulators such as the EPA and DOD, Field Sampling and Measurement Organizations (FSMOs), Accreditation Bodies (ABs) and Consultants. This is a great opportunity for FSMOs, laboratories and other interested parties to learn more about field sampling techniques, regulations, and appropriate field practices that help ensure data collected in the field is accurate and reliable. The Conclave will also bring awareness to the industry of TNI's quality system standard and accreditation program for FSMOs. Each day will close with 5-minute presentations from a number of vendors in a "Technology Showcase." These quick presentations will highlight the latest products and services related to field measurements and sampling.

Click here for details!

FDEP Reuse Public Hearing update - The Department of Environmental Protection announces a public hearing to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME: December 8, 2022, 1:00 p.m.

PLACE: Virtual hearing. Parties can register to attend the webinar. Webinar registration is via https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5075597882797923595.

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: The Department is rescheduling the public hearing previously noticed in the Florida Administrative Register Vol. 48, Issue No. 76, that was scheduled for Thursday, July 21, 2022. The re-scheduled hearing will give affected persons an opportunity to discuss proposed amendments to Florida Administrative Code Chapter 62-610. On October 22, 2021, the Department published proposed amendments to Chapter 62-610, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), to adopt recommendations of the Potable Reuse Commission’s 2020 report “Advancing Potable Reuse in Florida: Framework for the Implementation of Potable Reuse in Florida” as required by Florida’s Clean Waterways Act of 2020 and the new aquifer storage and recovery system requirements in Senate Bill 64 (2021). The Department will present the proposed amendments to the public. The hearing will provide an opportunity for affected persons to present evidence and argument on all issues under consideration. The hearing will not adjudicate rights and will not be adversarial in nature.

A copy of the agenda may be obtained after December 1, 2022, by contacting: Abel Agosto, Environmental Administrator, Division of Water Resource Management, MS 3545, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399, (850)245-8603 or by email at Abel.Agosto@Floridadep.gov. Additional information regarding the rulemaking may be found on the DEP Water Resource Management Rules in Development webpage at: https://floridadep.gov/water/water/content/water-resource-management-rules-development or on the DEP Water Reuse New and Rulemaking Information webpage at https://floridadep.gov/water/domestic-wastewater/content/water-reuse-news-rulemaking-information.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has amended its approval for the statewide use of reagent-less in-line chlorine meters to measure residual chlorine in reclaimed water at domestic wastewater facilities, which was issued in December 2020 pursuant to Rule 62-160.220, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). The previous approval was specifically for in-line chlorine meters with an amperometric, 3-electrode sensor immersed in an electrolytic medium with a permeable membrane selective to chlorine. However, amperometric sensors that are not immersed in an electrolytic solution and do not have a membrane represent the same essential technology and are as effective at monitoring chlorine. Therefore, the amended final order for the alternative method approval is inclusive of both varieties of meters.

The amended final order approving the alternative method and the accompanying basis of approval are available on DEP's Aquatic Ecology and Quality Assurance Section Alternative Methods Approval webpage.

The statewide alternative method was exclusively approved for continuous analysis of residual chlorine in reclaimed water from domestic wastewater facilities.

Exceptions to this approval include where reclaimed water is:

• Directly discharged to surface waters of the state.
• Intentionally used as drinking water supply.
• Used to augment a drinking water supply.

This technology may not be used for other matrices or by another facility type without separate review and approval by DEP.

Please contact the quality assurance team for any questions regarding this notice at Quality_Assurance@FloridaDEP.gov.

Thank you for your commitment to quality assurance.

Florida DEP Publishes Revised MDLs and PQLs

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has published a revised list of method detection limit (MDL) and practical quantitation limit (PQL) targets for selected analytes and methods. The list has been updated to conform with the current 136.3 approved method lists, and the list of analytes in rule 62-302.530,  (Surface Water Quality Criteria). https://floridadep.gov/dear/quality-assurance/content/quality-assurance-resources