Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-160 - QUALITY ASSURANCE › Part I - QUALITY ASSURANCE › Section 62-160.110 - Purpose, Scope and Applicability

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1)
				  The purpose of this chapter is to assure that chemical, physical, biological,
				  microbiological and toxicological data used by the Department are appropriate
				  and reliable, and are collected and analyzed by scientifically sound
				  procedures. To this end, this chapter defines the minimum field and laboratory
				  quality assurance, methodological and reporting requirements of the
				  Department.
(2) Except as provided
				  in subsection (3) of this rule, this chapter shall apply to all programs,
				  projects, studies or other activities that are required by the Department, and
				  that involve the measurement, use or submission of environmental data or
				  reports to the Department. This chapter shall apply to all entities that
				  participate in the process of generating environmental data. This process
				  includes, but is not limited to: field activities (sample collection, sample
				  preservation, field measurements, and site evaluation); sample handling,
				  storage and/or transport (except common carriers); laboratory activities (e.g.,
				  sample receipt, analysis, data review and data validation); additional data
				  review, summaries or data presentation activities; and all activities that
				  impact data quality such as providing sample containers, instrument calibration
				  services, or reagents and standards (except commercial vendors).
(3) Programs, projects, studies or activities
				  pertaining to air quality, meteorology, atmospheric radiation, atmospheric
				  noise, electric and magnetic fields or air pollutant emissions, and having no
				  requirements for monitoring contamination of soil, water, or tissue are
				  excluded from the scope of this chapter. These excluded activities include
				  those specified in Chapters 62-204, 62-210, 62-212, 62-213, 62-214, 62-252,
				  62-296 and 62-297 (Air Resources Management), F.A.C.
(4) The provisions of this chapter shall take
				  precedence over quality assurance requirements in any other Department rule
				  except as otherwise specifically provided for elsewhere in this chapter.
				  However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent additional or
				  more stringent requirements imposed by any specific contract, order, permit, or
				  Title 62 rules.
(5) All local and
				  state programs or other organizations with delegated responsibility for
				  Department activities shall assure that the Quality Assurance requirements of
				  this chapter are met for the specified activities.
(6) If specifically required by the United
				  States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for activities conducted for or
				  funded by the EPA, Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) shall be prepared in
				  accordance with "EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans, EPA
				  QA/R-5, " which is incorporated by reference in subsection
				   62-160.800(4),
				  F.A.C. These QAPPs will be reviewed and approved by the appropriate EPA office
				  or the Department, when delegated to the Department by EPA for specific
				  activities.
(7) This chapter
				  supports the DEP Quality Management Plan required by the EPA for any
				  environmental programs funded in part or in whole by the EPA.
(8) All requirements specified in this
				  chapter shall take effect on the date that this chapter is effective. Quality
				  assurance requirements in Department contracts, orders or permits issued or
				  entered into prior to the effective date of this chapter shall remain in effect
				  until such contracts, orders or permits are modified or
				  renewed.
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.
New 1-1-91, Amended 2-4-93, 2-27-94, Formerly 17-160.110,
						Amended 3-24-96, 4-9-02, 6-8-04, 12-3-08, 7-30-14,
						4-16-18.