Alternative Text Description for FDEP ERIC PFAS Sites

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays locations across Florida where the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is investigating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. The map shows PFAS investigation and cleanup sites categorized by responsible party and cleanup status. Sites are distributed throughout the state and represent investigations into soil, groundwater, and surface water contamination from PFAS chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in various consumer and industrial products, including fire suppressant foams.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida, extending from the Panhandle region near Pensacola in the northwest to Miami in the southeast, and including the Florida Keys. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville in the northeast, Tallahassee in the north-central region, Gainesville in north-central Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west-central coast, Orlando in central Florida, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale on the southeast coast, and Miami at the southern tip. The map also shows portions of neighboring states including Alabama and Georgia to the north. The surrounding bodies of water, including the Gulf of America to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, provide geographic boundaries for the state.

KEY INSIGHTS

PFAS investigation sites are concentrated in several distinct geographic areas across Florida. The greatest clustering of sites occurs in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area on the west coast, the Orlando region in central Florida, and the Jacksonville area in northeast Florida. A notable concentration of sites also appears along the southeast coast near Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The Panhandle region shows scattered sites near Pensacola and extending eastward. Southern Florida, particularly the area south of Tampa and west of Miami, displays a linear pattern of sites extending down the southwestern coast toward Cape Coral. Several sites appear in central Florida between Orlando and the Gulf coast. The distribution pattern suggests PFAS investigations are occurring primarily in urban and metropolitan areas where industrial activities and military installations have historically been located.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

FDEP ERIC PFAS Sites

This layer represents investigation and cleanup sites for PFAS contamination across Florida, categorized by the responsible party conducting the cleanup and the current status of cleanup activities.

Department of Defense Sites (magenta square, magenta circle, magenta dot)

Appearance:

Magenta-colored symbols in three forms: squares representing cleanup complete sites, circles representing cleanup underway sites, and dots representing sites under evaluation.

Distribution:

Department of Defense sites appear throughout the state, with notable locations in the Panhandle near Pensacola, near Jacksonville in northeast Florida, in the Orlando area, and along the southeast coast near Melbourne Palm Bay and Port St. Lucie.

Notable locations:

Several Department of Defense sites are visible near major military installations, including the Panhandle region and Jacksonville area.

Spatial patterns:

These sites are dispersed across the state rather than concentrated in a single region, reflecting the distribution of military facilities throughout Florida.

Drycleaning Solvent Cleanup Program Sites (orange square, yellow circle, yellow dot)

Appearance:

Orange squares for cleanup complete sites, yellow circles for cleanup underway sites, and yellow dots for sites under evaluation. Yellow symbols are the most numerous on the map.

Distribution:

These sites are widely distributed across Florida, appearing in virtually every region of the state with particularly high concentrations in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, Orlando, Jacksonville, and the southeast coastal corridor.

Notable locations:

Major concentrations occur in urban metropolitan areas including Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, and the southwestern coast near Cape Coral. A significant linear arrangement of sites extends down the Florida peninsula along the southwestern coast.

Spatial patterns:

The sites show strong clustering in metropolitan areas and along major population centers, consistent with historical locations of drycleaning businesses in urban settings. The distribution follows Florida's primary urban corridors along both coasts and through central Florida.

Responsible Party Cleanup Sites (dark blue square, light blue circle, light blue dot)

Appearance:

Dark blue squares for cleanup complete sites, light blue circles for cleanup underway sites, and light blue dots for sites under evaluation.

Distribution:

Responsible Party Cleanup sites appear in scattered locations throughout the state, with presence in the Panhandle, central Florida, and southern regions.

Notable locations:

Individual sites are visible in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, near Orlando, and along the southeast coast.

Spatial patterns:

These sites are less numerous than Drycleaning Solvent Cleanup Program sites and show a more dispersed pattern rather than concentrated clustering.

State Funded Cleanup Program Sites (bright green square, bright green circle, lime green dot)

Appearance:

Bright green squares for cleanup complete sites, bright green circles for cleanup underway sites, and lime green dots for sites under evaluation.

Distribution:

State Funded Cleanup Program sites appear in limited numbers, primarily in the northern and central portions of the state.

Notable locations:

Visible locations include the Panhandle region, near Jacksonville, and in central Florida near Gainesville.

Spatial patterns:

These sites are the least numerous category on the map and show wide geographic dispersion.

State-owned Lands Cleanup Program, Site Investigation Section Sites (dark red square, red circle, pink dot)

Appearance:

Dark red squares for cleanup complete sites, red circles for cleanup underway sites, and pink dots for sites under evaluation.

Distribution:

These sites appear in scattered locations throughout Florida, including the central region between Orlando and Tampa, the Gainesville area, and the southeast coast near Port St. Lucie and Miami.

Notable locations:

Several sites cluster in the central Florida region and appear along the eastern coast.

Spatial patterns:

The sites show moderate clustering in central Florida with additional scattered locations throughout the state, reflecting the distribution of state-owned properties under investigation.

Overlapping Patterns

In several metropolitan areas, particularly Tampa-St. Petersburg, Orlando, and Jacksonville, multiple program types and cleanup statuses occur in close proximity, indicating that different responsible parties are simultaneously investigating PFAS contamination within the same geographic regions. The southeastern coast also shows overlap of multiple site types, suggesting complex contamination issues requiring investigation by various entities.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's ongoing efforts to investigate and address PFAS contamination throughout the state. PFAS are persistent chemicals that do not naturally degrade and can contaminate soil, groundwater, and surface water, potentially posing risks to public health and the environment. The sites shown on this map are under investigation by various responsible parties, including the Department of Defense, private parties, state programs, and state-owned land managers. The three status categories—cleanup complete, cleanup underway, and evaluation in progress—indicate the stage of investigation and remediation at each location. The map is intended to provide transparency and timely information to the public regarding FDEP's environmental protection efforts. PFAS were extensively used since the 1940s in stain and water repellents, textile manufacturing, paper products, food packaging, cookware, industrial processes, and fire suppressant foams.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

Data is maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Waste Management, which routinely investigates sites with known or suspected soil and groundwater contamination statewide as part of efforts to protect groundwater resources and public health. Data source layer name: ERIC_PFAS_SITES_FEB26.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was provided for this map view.

Scale Information:

The map displays data at a statewide scale, showing the full geographic extent of Florida with sufficient detail to identify major cities and regional patterns of site distribution. This scale is appropriate for understanding the overall distribution of PFAS investigation sites across the state.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087).

Time Period of Content:

The data is current as of February 26, based on the data source layer name indicating a February 26 date. The layer description notes that DEP is committed to providing timely information and will continue updating this information as investigations progress.

Limitations:

The map represents investigation sites where PFAS contamination is known or suspected and does not indicate the severity of contamination, the concentration levels of PFAS detected, or the extent of environmental impact at each location. Sites are shown at point locations and do not represent the geographic extent of contamination. The dataset reflects ongoing investigations, and additional sites may be added as DEP continues its statewide assessment efforts.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from approximately 24.5 degrees to 31 degrees north latitude and from approximately 80 degrees to 87.5 degrees west longitude, including the Panhandle, peninsula, and Florida Keys. Small portions of neighboring Alabama and Georgia are visible for geographic context.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.