Rule 62-303.400. Methodology to Develop the Verified List

(1) Waters shall be verified as being impaired if they meet the requirements for the Planning and Study Lists in Part II and the additional requirements of Rules 62-303.420-.480, F.A.C. A waterbody that fails to meet the minimum criteria for surface waters established in Rule 62-302.500, F.A.C.; any of its designated uses, as described in this part; or applicable water quality criteria, as described in this part, shall be determined to be impaired.

(2) Additional data and information collected after the development of the Planning and Study Lists will be considered when assessing waters on the Planning and Study Lists, provided it meets the requirements of this chapter. In cases where additional data are needed for waters on the Planning and Study Lists to meet the data sufficiency requirements for the Verified List, it is the Department’s goal to collect this additional data as part of its watershed management approach during the subsequent cycle.

(3) Unless information presented to the Department demonstrates otherwise, data more than 7.5 years old at the time the water segment is assessed are not representative of current conditions and shall not be used except to evaluate historical trends. Any determinations by the Department to use data older than 7.5 years shall be documented, and the documentation shall include the basis for the decision. Rulemaking Authority 403.061, 403.067 FS. Law Implemented 403.062, 403.067 FS. History–New 6-10-02, Amended 12-11-06, 2-17-16, 11-25-25.