Field Methodologies

• Field Guides A set of links to field guides to help identify wild plants and animals presented by the Florida Museum of Natural History
• Groundwater Sampling Audit Issues
• Forms and Field Sheets - A collection of the Biology Section's forms, field sheets, and worksheets.
• Luminescent Dissolved Oxygen (LDO) - The LDO probe method is acceptable to DEP (details below).
• Micropurge Technique - Supporting information on micropurge techniques for purging groundwater wells.
• Organic Trap Bottle Setup - A description, image, and sources of the organic trap bottle setup.
• Turbidimeters - The Section has codified a short-list of specifications for acceptable turbidimeters.

Laboratory Methodologies

• Single Ion Monitoring Guidance - In response to numerous inquiries concerning the use of the Single Ion Monitoring (SIM) mode for analytes, the Standards and Assessment Section has provided this guidance that emphasizes the method-required quality control measures when using this technology. This document also identifies the program areas to which this technology is applicable.
• Inorganic Methods Update - Listing of Deleted, Added and Retained Methods in 40 CFR Part 136.3 Table 1B (Inorganic Methods).
• EPA Methods Update - The Environmental Protection Agency recently promulgated rules in the Federal Register that affect analytical methods for programs in the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act (drinking water, ambient water, waste water and sewage sludge).  This memo, issued jointly by the Department and the Department of Health Environmental Laboratory Certification Program,  outlines the interim implementation strategy for methods and procedures published in the March 2007 Federal Register notices. Additional information concerning frequently asked questions will be posted as they are made available.
• CBOD Interpretation  - The National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference issued an interpretation of control limits of glucose glutamic acid when performing the test for Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBoD).  This interpretation is the consensus of several experts in the field of BoD as well as state accrediting authorities and environmental regulatory agencies.
• Discrete Analyzer Technology:  FDEP Environmental Assessment Section determines that method applications using discrete analyzer technology is an acceptable modification to the cited EPA methods and requires no application for alternative test procedure.  There was some confusion about the use of surfactants.  This revised version clarifies the Department's position that surfactants other than those specified (or not included) in the reference method are acceptable.
• EPA Method 1664 - See this important information regarding the use of EPA Method 1664.
• EPA Method 1669 - Clean hands sampling technique. The downloadable file is in PDF format (137 kB)
• FAC 62-4 MDL/PQL Table (April 26, 2006) - MDL/PQL List Referenced in Chapter 62-4.246(4), F.A.C.  (.xls, 180 kB). Guidance for the selection of analytical methods and the evaluation of MDLs and PQLs for the list of analytical methods referenced in Chapter 62-4.246(4), F.A.C.
• FAC 62-777 MDL/PQL Tables - The target list of Practical Quantitation Levels (PQLs) for the proposed analyte list in Chapter 62- 777, F.A.C., where the cleanup criteria is less than the target PQL.
• Identification Keys-These are keys for the identification of various kinds of organisms. They were created by or for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, or its predecessor agencies.
• Luminescent Dissolved Oxygen (LDO) - The LDO probe method is acceptable to DEP, providing that the calibration verification procedures and criteria in DEP SOPs FT 1000 and FT 1500 are strictly followed. The LDO may be used for all laboratory and field analyses for non-potable water compliance reporting, all ambient monitoring for surface water, groundwater, and wastewater, and all groundwater purge-stabilization measurements. The cited federal reference is ASTM D888-05, Standard Test Methods for Dissolved Oxygen in Water, Test Method C, Luminescence-based Sensor Procedure.
• Modifications to EPA 625 - This EPA memorandum allows modifications and added flexibility to EPA Method 625 for environmental permitting and compliance monitoring under the Clean Water Act.
• Recommended Freshwater Taxonomic Identification References - a list of helpful taxonomic references.
• Ion-Imbalance Report and Spreadsheet - The results of a study to determine methods for identifying toxicity to marine animals resulting from an 'imbalance' of the major seawater ions.
• Method of Standard Additions for Chlorine and Sulfur Dioxide Analyses -  Please find the memo and SOP (PDF, 12 kB) for this procedure.
• Petroleum Methods - Information regarding the FDEP's FLPRO method, the Massachusetts DEP method for Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons and the TPHCWG Analytical Method.Memo explaining the FLPRO method application.
• Standard Methods 21st edition - Approved analytical methods from Standard Methods 21st edition for 40 CFR Part 136 (wastewater) and Part 141 (drinking water). (PDF, 100kB)

Data Interpretation

• Metals Calculator - Hardness-based Metals Criteria Calculator – The calculations in this spreadsheet are based on the criteria contained in 62-302.530 F.A.C. (5/04/2007). (if prompted for a password, choose cancel)
• TEQ Guidance - This memorandum outlines proposed guidance for the evaluation of laboratory data associated with samples analyzed for dioxins and furans.
• Unionized Ammonia SOP - Discussion for the calculation of this species (Word 90 kB) and the spreadsheet for calculations.

Quality Assurance Documents

• Analyses Not Requiring Method Detection Limit, Precision, or Accuracy
• Common TMDL Audit Deficiencies - List of common field and laboratory audit deficiencies from TMDL or RCRA audits.
• Field Audit Checklists- Use these example checklists as guidance for conducting internal audits.
• QA Plans - The Department's Quality Assurance Management Plan and the Bureau of Laboratories Quality Manuals
• TMDL Data Evaluation Checklists - Use these checklists as guidance to evaluate the usability of your data for the TMDL Program:
  • Field Performance Audit Checklist
  • Data Evaluation Checklist

Reports

Emerging Substances of Concern (ESOC) - Summarizes the conclusions of an internal Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Workgroup that was formed to evaluate strategies to effectively address a wide variety of potential contaminants, commonly referred to as Emerging Substances of Concern, or ESOC.

• Biological Indices
  • Stream Condition Index (SCI) Report - Fore, L. et al. 2007. Development and Testing of Biomonitoring Tools for Macroinvertebrates in Florida Streams. The statistical basis for SCI and Biorecon calculation SOPs(.pdf, 1.01 MB)
  • Stream Condition Index (SCI) Report (Old) - Fore, L. 2004. Development and Testing of Biomonitoring Tools for Macroinvertebrates in Florida Streams. The statistical basis for SCI and Biorecon calculation SOPs (.pdf, 475 kb)
  • Development of the Stream Condition Index (SCI) - This 1996 document contains the framework for the Stream Condition Index. It summarizes the data and methods used to develop the index based on data collected in 1992-1994. (.pdf, 70MB)
  • Lake Condition Index (LCI) Report - Tetra Tech, Inc.  2000. Development and Testing of the Biomonitoring Tool for Macroinvertebrates in Florida Lakes, (pdf 3.24 MB)
  • Evaluation of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages as Indicators of Lake Condition - Fore, L. 2007. Re-analysis of the Lake Condition Index Using the Human Disturbance Gradient Approach, (.pdf, 250 kB).
  • Lake Vegetation Index (LVI) Report - Fore, L. 2007. Assessing the Biological Condition of Florida Lakes: Development of the Lake Vegetation Index (LVI), (pdf 640KB).
  • Lake Vegetation Index (LVI) Report (Old) - Fore, L. 2005. Assessing the Biological Condition of Florida Lakes: Development of the Lake Vegetation Index (LVI), (pdf 406KB).
  • Landscape Development Intensity (LDI) Report - Brown, Mark T. and Vivas, M. Benjamin. 2004. Landscape Development Intensity Index (PDF, 359 kb).
• Index of Reports - Search Bureau of Laboratories reports
• Springs Studies - Overview of the Bureau of Laboratories Springs Monitoring Program

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• External SOPs  Revised SOPs effective 12/03/08
• Internal SOPsThe internal SOPs are those procedural SOPs developed by Biology and Chemistry for their internal use.

• Biological Criteria Literature Review (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Florida Wetland Classification (PDF, 915 kB)
• Florida Wetland Condition Index:  Forested Wetlands (PDF, 2.5 MB)
• Florida Wetland Condition Index:  Herbaceous Wetlands (PDF, 3.2 MB)
• Florida Wetland Condition Index:  Strands and Floodplains (PDF, 3.0 MB)
• Proposed Wetland Regions for Florida (PDF, 4.4 MB)
• Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM) Web based training manual for Chapter 62-345, F.A.C. for wetlands permitting.

Other Wetlands Documents

• Changes in the Macroinvertebrate Community of a Central Florida Herbaceous Wetland over a Twelve-Month Period, Dana R. Denson (.pdf, 1.3 mb).

References

• EAS #00-01 -  A Tiered Approach to Data Quality Assessment (PDF, 25 kB)
• Methodological Studies
• SCI and BioRecon Testing Registry - Searchable query for individuals who have completed a sampling audit to support either SCI or BioRecon sampling events.
• Web Tour
• Fla. Dept. Environmental Regulation, Biology Section. 1984.
  Selected dredge and fill literature. 37 pp. [unpublished report] (PDF file size 1.4MB)
• Marine Program
• Invertebrate and Algae Lists - A listing of all the invertebrates and algae represented in the Biological Database
• Presentations - The Bureau is making its presentations given at various training sessions, workshops and seminars available online.

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