Recent Postings of Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the broadly applicable alternative test method approval decisions the EPA has made under and in support of New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) in 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

An electronic copy of each alternative test method approval document is available on EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html . For questions about this notice, contact Jason M. DeWees, Air Quality Assessment Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (E143-02), Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919-541-9724; fax number: 919-541-0516; e-mail address: dewees.jason@epa.gov. For technical questions about individual alternative test method decisions, refer to the contact person identified in the individual approval documents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does This Notice Apply to Me?

This notice will be of interest to entities regulated under 40 CFR parts 60, 61, and 63, and State, local, Tribal agencies, and EPA Regional Offices responsible for implementation and enforcement of regulations under 40 CFR parts 60, 61, and 63.

B. How Can I Get Copies of This Information?

You may access copies of the broadly applicable alternative test method approval documents from the EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html .

II. Background

This notice identifies EPA's broadly applicable alternative test method approval decisions issued between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008, under the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), 40 CFR part 60, and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), 40 CFR parts 61 and 63 (see Table 1). Source owners and operators may voluntarily use these broadly applicable alternative test methods subject to their specific applicability. Use of these broadly applicable alternative test methods does not change the applicable emission standards.

As explained in a previous Federal Register notice published at 72 FR 4257, 1/30/07 and found on the EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html , the EPA Administrator has the authority to approve the use of alternative test methods to comply with requirements under 40 CFR parts 60, 61, and 63. This authority is found in sections 60.8(b)(3), 61.13(h)(1)(ii), and 63.7(e)(2)(ii). Over the years, we have performed thorough technical reviews of numerous requests for alternatives and modifications to test methods and procedures. Based on these experiences, we have found that often these changes or alternatives would be equally valid and appropriate to apply to other sources within a particular class, category, or subcategory. Consequently, we have concluded that where a method modification or a change or alternative is clearly broadly applicable to a class, category, or subcategory of sources, it is both more equitable and efficient to approve its use for all appropriate sources and situations at the same time.

It is important to clarify that alternative methods are not mandatory but permissive. Sources are not required to employ such a method but may choose to do so in appropriate cases. Source owners or operators should review the specific broadly applicable alternative method approval decision on the EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html before electing to employ it. By electing to use an alternative method, the source owner or operator consents to thereafter demonstrate compliance with applicable requirements based on the results of the alternative method until approved to do so otherwise.

The criteria for approval and procedures for submission and review of broadly applicable alternative test methods are outlined at 72 FR 4257, 1/30/07. EPA will continue to announce approvals for broadly applicable alternative test methods on the EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html and intends to publish a notice annually that summarizes approvals for broadly applicable alternative test methods.

This notice comprises a summary of eleven such approval documents added to our technology transfer network from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008. The alternative test number, the reference method affected, sources affected, and modification or alternative method allowed are summarized in Table 1 of this notice. Please refer to the complete copies of these approval documents available from the EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html as the table serves only as a summary of the broadly applicable alternative test methods. If you are aware of reasons why a particular alternative test method approval that we issue should not be broadly applicable, we request that you make us aware of the reasons within 60 days of the Federal Register notice announcing the broad approval, and we will revisit the broad approval. Any objection to a broadly applicable alternative test method as well as the resolution of that objection will be announced on the EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html and in the subsequent Federal Register notice. If we should decide to retract a broadly applicable test method, we would continue to grant case-by-case approvals, as appropriate, and would (as States, local and Tribal agencies and EPA Regional Offices should) consider the need for an appropriate transition period for users either to request case-by-case approval or to transition to an approved method.