Alternate Surface Water Quality Standards
Site Specific Alternative Criteria

Site specific criteria replace the criteria applicable statewide in cases where site specific information supports different numeric criteria.  Any SSAC must fully support and protect the designated use of the waterbody.  SSACs fall into two types: Type I and Type II.  Type I SSACs (Rule 62-302.800(1), FAC) are established to reflect natural background conditions, such as lower dissolved oxygen levels than the statewide default criteria.  Type II SSACs (Rule 62-302.800(2), FAC) are established for situations other than natural background conditions.  Both types of SSACs must still fully protect the designated use of the water body.  Examples of site specific criteria include the Everglades phosphorus criterion (Rule 62-302.540, Florida Administrative Code) and the Site Specific Alternative Criteria described in Rule 62-302.800, FAC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Waters with Site Specific Alternative Criteria

SSACs Under Development or Pending Final Approval

Lower Fenholloway River and Nearshore Waters Revised Site Specific Alternative Criteria (SSAC) for Transparency

Public Workshop (4/25/13)

• Workshop Agenda
• Draft Rule Language
• Draft FDEP Technical Support Document (1 MB)

Lower Fenholloway River and Nearshore Waters Site Specific Alternative Criteria (SSAC) for Dissolved Oxygen, Iron, and Transparency

• Site Specific Alternative Criteria for Transparency as adopted by the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission on May 20, 2010
• Final Order Establishing Site Specific Alternative Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen
• Final Order Establishing Site Specific Alternative Criteria for Iron
• FDEP Technical Support Document

Public Workshops (Downloads are in .zip format.)

• January 14, 2010
• November 10, 2009

Thomas Creek Site Specific Alternative Criteria (SSAC) for Dissolved Oxygen

A petition was submitted by Anheuser-Busch Brewery and Nutri-Turf Operations seeking a SSAC for dissolved oxygen in Thomas Creek.  Thomas Creek is located in Duval County, Florida.

Water Quality Standards Variances

Premier Chemicals (variance for acute toxicity)

• EPA Approval Letter (March 31, 2008)
• DEP Approval of Variance (December 1, 2003) (291 KB)
• Geographic Description of Variance

City of Vero Beach Reverse Osmosis (variance for acute toxicity)

• EPA Approval Letter (December 20, 2007)
• DEP Approval of Variance (September 19, 2007) (1 MB)
• Map of Area (755 KB)

Everglades Protection Area Dissolved Oxygen Site Specific Alternative Criteria Development

Public Workshop

• Summary (117 KB)
• Public Workshop Presentation (2.1 MB)

Technical Support Documents

• Everglades Marsh Dissolved Oxygen Site Specific Alternative Criteria Technical Support Document (5064 KB)
• Appendix I
• Appendix II

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