|  | Water Science					Recent 										Additions | Contact 										Us | 										Print 										Version 										Search: 										EPA 										Home > Water > Water                     Science > Analytical                     Methods > Fact Sheet: Guidelines Establishing Test                     Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean                     Water Act; National Primary Drinking Water Regulations; and                     National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations; Methods Update;                     Final Rule |
|--|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| Analytical MethodsFact Sheet (EPA-821-F-02-011)Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants               Under the Clean Water Act; National Primary Drinking Water Regulations;               and National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations; Methods Update;               Final Rule
**Summary**

EPA is approving updated versions of analytical methods developed               by the American Society for Testing Materials, "Standard Methods,"               the United States Geological Survey, and the Department of Energy               for use in Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act compliance               monitoring programs. EPA proposed these methods on January 16, 2001.               The final rule responds to comments on the proposal and approves               updated versions of certain previously approved methods.

**Background**

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves analytical               methods used by industrial and municipal facilities to determine               chemical, microbiological, and radiological components of wastewater.               EPA also approves methods for determination of drinking water contaminants               for determining compliance with drinking water regulations.               On January, 16, 2001, EPA published a direct final rule (66 FR 3466)               and a companion proposed rule (66 FR 3526) to approve updated versions               of methods. If no adverse comments were received, the direct final               rule would have been effective on May 16, 2001. EPA received one               set of adverse comments from a State agency. The State agency was               concerned that the rule would impose a record-keeping burden. EPA               withdrew the direct final rule on May 15, 2001 (66 FR 26795). 

**Today's Action**

Today's final rule responds to adverse comments on the January               2001 proposed rule, approves updated versions of previously approved               methods, and corrects typographical errors in the Code of Federal               Regulations. No previously approved method is withdrawn.

EPA believes that approving multiple editions of the same method               will benefit the regulatory and regulated community by increasing               method selection flexibility, and by allowing the continued use               of time-tested procedures. 

**Additional Information and Copies**

For further information concerning this final rule, please contact               Khouane Ditthavong at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,               Office of Water, Engineering and Analysis Division (4303T), 1200               Pennsylvania Avenue, Ariel Rios Building, Washington, D.C. 20460;               (e-mail: [email protected]) or Herbert J. Brass at the               U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of               Ground Water and Drinking Water, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 ; (e-mail:[email protected]).             

The complete text of the Federal Register notice may be viewed               or downloaded on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods.

  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|                                                                         |  | Wastewater Management | Drinking Water | Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|--|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                    |
|                                                                         |
| EPA Home | 				Privacy and 				Security Notice | 				Contact Us

  |