Department of the Environment 

Statement of Purpose 

TECHNICAL SUPPORT DOCUMENT 

COMAR 26.11.31 

Quality Assurance Requirements for 

Continuous Opacity Monitors (COMs) 

December 3, 2010 

The purpose of this action is to: 

( 1) Repeal the current regulations under CO MAR 26.11.31 to reflect the repeal of the Small 

Business Pollution Compliance Loan Fund effective October 1, 2009 (House Bill 1416); 

and 

(2) Codify the quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures for continuous 

opacity monitors (COMs). The procedures are currently contained in the Department's 

Technical Memorandum 90-01 (TM). 

This action will be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval 

as part of Maryland's State Implementation Plan. 

Background 

The TM was adopted in 1991 when continuous emissions monitoring requirements were first 

promulgated by the State. Those regulations were approved as part of the Department's 

continuous emission monitoring program by the EPA on February 28, 1996. It is now necessary 

to promulgate a regulation codifying the QA and QC procedures found in the TM because the 

Department proposes to terminate its use. Specifically, the QA and QC procedures for COMs 

which are currently applied through use of the TM will be incorporated in this new chapter, 

COMAR 26.11.31. 

These proposed regulations incorporate by reference the current federal performance and design 

specification requirements for the operation of opacity monitoring systems. To the extent that the 

EPA adopts revised requirements in the future, the Department will review those federal 

procedures and consider amendment of its regulation to adopt and incorporate any federal QA 

andQCs. 

Sources Affected 

This action affects any source required to install and operate COMs, including fuel burning 

equipment with a heat input capacity of 100 million Btu per hour, cement plants and municipal 

waste combustors. These sources currently utilize the proposed QA and QC procedures, as found 

in Part II of the TM. 

1 
Expected Emissions Reductions 

There are no emission reductions as a result of this action. 

Economic Impact 

The proposed action has no economic impact because the proposed procedures in this chapter are 

identical to the procedures currently applied through use of the TM. 

Comparison to Federal Standards 

This chapter is not more stringent that the federal requirements for Quality Assurance 

Requirements for Continuous Opacity Monitors (COMs). 

( 1) Performance Specification 1 (PS 1) under 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix B 

(2) "Performance Audit Procedures for Opacity Monitors" EPA 450/4-92-010 March, 1992. 

Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, 

North Carolina, 27711. 

(3) 40 CFR Part 60 Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources, Subpart Da 

Standards of Performance for Electric Utility Steam Generating Units for which 

Construction is Commenced after September 18, 1978. 

2 
EPA 450/4-92-01 0 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DOCUMENT 

PERFORMANCE AUDIT PROCEDURES FOR· 

OPACITY MONITORS 

MARCH 1992 

available on EPA website at: 

http://www.epa.gov/nepis/Pubs/45049201 O.pdf