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| Analytical MethodsUnited States Environmental ProtectionAgencyOffice of Water4303EPA-821-F-98-021February 1999Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants; Measurement of Mercury in Water; Notice of Data Availability and Request for Comment
***Summary***
*EPA is announcing the availability of additional analytical data obtained by EPA following the close of thecomment period for the May 26, 1998 proposal to add a test procedure for the determination of mercury,EPA Method 1631, to 40 CFR Part 136.  EPA Method 1631 measures mercury reliably at the low levelsassociated with ambient water quality criteria (WQC). The Agency plans to consider these additionaldata in establishing the final regulation concerning the use of Method 1631.*

**Background**

On May 26, 1998 (63 *FR* 28867), EPA proposedto add *EPA Method 1631: Mercury in Water byOxidation, Purge and Trap, and Cold VaporAtomic Fluorescence* to the GuidelinesEstablishing Test Procedures for the Analysis ofPollutants.  Mercury is a toxic pollutant asdefined in the Clean Water Act and in the Codeof Federal Regulations. The test procedure isnecessary to meet compliance monitoringrequirements of the Clean Water Act for lowlevel mercury measurements.   The commentperiod on the proposal ended on July 29, 1998. After the close of the comment period, theAgency obtained additional analytical datapertaining to EPA Method 1631.

**New Analytical Data Received By EPA**

The additional data consist of results fromlaboratory studies and municipal and industrialeffluent analyses conducted using EPA Method1631. The Agency intends to consider theseadditional data in formulating the final rule forthe use of EPA Method 1631.  These additionaldata neither represent any modification to theproposed rule, nor indicate a change in theAgency's interpretation of existing requirements. This notice makes these new data available forpublic review and comment.  Specifically, theAgency requests comment on the applicability ofEPA Method 1631 to a variety of water matricesbased on these new data.  

**Additional Information and Copies**

The additional analytical data will be availablefor public review at the Water Docket, EPAHeadquarters, Room EB57, 401 M Street, S.W.,Washington, DC 20460.  For access to Docketmaterials, call (202) 260-3027 between 9:00a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time for anappointment.  For further information concerningthis notice or the proposed rule for Method 1631,please contact Dr. Maria Gomez-Taylor at theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office ofWater, Engineering and Analysis Division, Mail Code 4303T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.  She may be contacted by phone at202/260-1639 or send an e-mail to the followingaddress: [email protected]
The complete text of this notice of data availability and EPA Method 1631 may be viewed or downloaded on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/.

 

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