Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Florida

On November 30^th, 2023, the EPA Administrator signed a proposed rule to establish new and revised human health water quality criteria for certain pollutants in the State of Florida. If finalized, the proposed rule would reflect the latest science to protect the health of Floridians by improving the quality of the water they fish from and use as drinking water sources.

• Proposed Rule - Water Quality Standards: Protect Human Health in Florida
• Press Release: EPA Proposes Revising Certain Water Quality Standards for Florida’s Waters
• Fact Sheet: Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Florida - Proposed Rule (pdf) (136.71 KB)
• Determination that new and revised human health criteria are needed to protect against adverse human health effects related to pollutants in Florida's surface waters (pdf) (391.95 KB, December 1, 2022)

Public Hearings

EPA held two public hearings during the public comment period.

• January 23, 2024 from 9-11am EST. 
  • PRESENTATION - U.S. EPA’s Proposed Rule: Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Florida - Public Hearing #1 (pdf) (520.29 KB, January 23, 2024)
  • TRANSCRIPT - U.S. EPA’s Proposed Rule: Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Florida - Public Hearing #1 (pdf) (131.52 KB, January 23, 2024)
• January 24, 2024 from 4-6pm EST.
  • PRESENTATION - U.S. EPA’s Proposed Rule: Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Florida - Public Hearing #2 (pdf) (510.22 KB, January 24, 2024)
  • TRANSCRIPT - U.S. EPA’s Proposed Rule: Water Quality Standards to Protect Human Health in Florida - Public Hearing #2 (pdf) (121.43 KB, January 24, 2024)

EPA will consider all oral comments provided during the hearings along with written comments submitted via the docket for this rulemaking (available at Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2023-0378).

Submitting Public Comments on the Proposal

EPA accepted comments on the proposed rule during the 60-day comment period.  This comment period ended February 6^th, 2024. Comments were submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal.