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EPA/WATER RIN: 2040-AF50 Publication ID: Fall 2014 
Title: Water Quality Standards for the State of Florida's Lakes and Flowing Waters; Withdrawal 
Abstract:

EPA promulgated final numeric nutrient criteria for lakes, springs, and flowing waters (outside of the South Florida Region, defined as those areas south of Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River and St. Lucie watersheds) on November 15, 2010. This final "inland waters rule" also included numeric downstream protection values for the protection of downstream lakes, and a provision for interested parties to derive site-specific alternative criteria. The final rule and EPA's underlying determination that numeric nutrient criteria are necessary in Florida were subsequently challenged by a number of parties. On February 18, 2012, the Court presiding over the case upheld EPA's determination, and upheld all challenged portions of the final inland waters rule, with the exception of the stream criteria and default DPVs for unimpaired lakes. The portions of the inland waters rule that were upheld by the Court became effective for CWA purposes on January 6, 2013. On November 30, 2012, June 27, 2013, and September 26, 2013, EPA approved numeric nutrient standards adopted by the state of Florida for certain waters in the state. Some of the water body types and provisions covered by state-adopted WQS were also included in EPA's final inland waters rule (criteria for Florida's lakes and springs, downstream protection values (DPVs) to protect downstream lakes, and a provision for developing Site-Specific Alternative Criteria (SSAC)). Because the State of Florida submitted and EPA approved numeric nutrient criteria for the waters addressed in the upheld portions of EPA's final inland waters rule, EPA is withdrawing the federal criteria for those waters so the State criteria are the only criteria in effect for CWA purposes.

 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 131   
Legal Authority: 33 USC 1251 et seq   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  04/02/2014  79 FR 18494   
Final Rule  09/25/2014  79 FR 57447   
Final Rule Effective  10/27/2014 
Additional Information: Docket #:EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0596
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: State 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Erica Fleisig
Environmental Protection Agency
Water
4305T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-1057
Email: fleisig.erica@epa.gov

Jim Keating
Environmental Protection Agency
Water
4305T,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-0383
Fax:202 566-0409
Email: Keating.Jim@epamail.epa.gov