Air Pollution Control Technology Center 

The Air Pollution Control Technology (APCT) Center, a verification center in the ETV Program, 

operates as a partnership between EPA and RTI International. The Center involves industry, 

government, and public stakeholders at all levels of the verification process. 

The APCT Center verifies the performance of commercial-ready technologies designed to 

control stationary and mobile air pollution sources and to mitigate the effects of indoor air 

pollutants. Control technologies the Center addresses include diesel engine emission controls, 

baghouse filtration products, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compound (VOC) 

control devices, outdoor wood-fired hydronic heaters, dust suppression and soil stabilization 

products, paint overspray arrestors, and indoor pollution mitigation products. 

All testing employs approved protocols or plans that incorporate stakeholder interests, and 

verified performance is reported in verification reports with statements signed by EPA. RTI 

International contracts with qualified testing organizations to perform verification tests. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program 

What Is ETV? 

Mission: To accelerate entrance of innovative 

technologies designed to reduce risks to human 

health and the environment into the domestic 

and international marketplace. 

Operation: ETV centers operate independently 

as stakeholder-driven third parties. The EPA 

provides oversight, review, and approval of center 

documents. 

Established: EPA established the ETV Program 

in 1995. 

Contributions: 

▼ ETV helps reduce detrimental health 

and environmental effects from 

pollutants by encouraging the 

purchase and use of the most 

effective control and monitoring 

technologies available. 

▼ ETV supports sustainable 

development by encouraging 

entrepreneurial efforts while 

protecting citizens and the 

environment. 

▼ ETV creates a forum for industry, 

technology users, and government to 

explore environmental technologies. 

▼ ETV aids EPA and state programs by 

making available high quality, credible 

technology performance data. 

Stakeholders: 

Stakeholders include technology buyers 

and sellers, permitters, consultants, 

financiers, exporters, EPA, the public. 

Benefits of APCT Verification 

Because it is an independent entity, the APCT Center can assure all those with a stake in new 

environmental technologies that the verifications performed derive from unbiased testing and that 

they are credible, of the highest quality, consistent, useful, and widely accepted. 

Developer 

and Vendor 

Benefits 

User and 

Provides sound science-based marketing advantage 

Reduces advertising and marketing costs 

Expands markets and business opportunities 

Enhances regulatory acceptance 

Accelerates new or improved technologies into the marketplace 

Adds confidence for investors and lenders 

Provides independent, credible performance data 

Purchaser 

Benefits 

Permitter 

Benefits 

Allows easier evaluation of competing technologies 

Facilitates permitting process 

Reduces noncompliance risks 

Provides access to expertise in performance measurement 

Facilitates permit preparation 

Adds confidence in control system performance 

Public 

Benefits 

Improves ability to make informed decisions 

Advances technologies that benefit human health and the environment 

Increases confidence in continuous, effective control of pollutants 

Fosters cooperation between industrial and public interests 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program 

Stakeholder Involvement 

Stakeholders Advisory Committee 

A stakeholders advisory committee (SAC) assists the 

APCT Center in assessing available commercial-ready 

technologies and their potential environmental 

impacts and provides the Center guidance, direction, 

and assistance in selecting and prioritizing 

technologies for verification testing. Priorities are set 

to maximize benefits to the environment and human 

health and contributions to sustainable development. 

The 21 members of the SAC have broad experience 

in the air pollution control field. Involving 

representatives from state and local agencies, 

developers/vendors, buyers/users, environmental 

associations, consultants, and EPA, the SAC provides 

the Center with a diversity of opinions and 

viewpoints concerning air pollution control 

technologies and their application. 

Meetings are open to the public (for meeting 

minutes, see: http://epa.gov/etv/ms-apc.html). 

Stakeholder Technical Panels 

The APCT Center also convenes technical panels 

to assist with preparation of verification protocols 

and to provide advice with respect to performance 

and testing issues related to a technology. As with 

the SAC, technical panels include a cross section 

of stakeholders, and members are selected for their 

specialized knowledge and interest in the 

technologies being evaluated. 

Center Resources 

The APCT Center web site (http://epa.gov/etv/centerapc.html) makes information and documentation 

easily available. Names of members and minutes 

of SAC and technical panel meetings, verification 

protocols, test/quality assurance plans, verification 

reports, verification statements, recent publications, 

and other relevant documents are available on the 

web site for viewing or downloading. 

The APCT Center database includes contact 

information for over 900 air pollution control 

technology developers/vendors and other interested 

parties. To be added to the database—used to 

distribute information about meetings, the availability 

of new documents, and announcements concerning 

technologies—you may contact the APCT Center. 

Steps in the Verification 

Process 

After stakeholders help set technology priorities 

and develop verification protocols, vendors may 

apply to the Center for verification testing of 

their technologies. The verification process 

follows the general steps below, regardless 

of the technology area. 

1 The vendor submits an application. 

2 The Center, the testing organization, 

and the applicant discuss the intent 

and scope of the test. 

3 The Center develops and the applicant 

signs a contract. 

4 The Center and the testing organization 

(with input from the applicant) prepare 

a test/quality assurance plan for Center 

and EPA approval. 

5 The testing organization conducts the 

test and drafts a report. 

6 The Center submits the draft verification report and verification statement 

for review by EPA and the applicant. 

7 EPA approves and signs the verification 

report and statement. 

8 The Center distributes the verification 

report and statement to the applicant, 

and EPA posts them on the Center and 

ETV web sites so they are available to 

the general public. 

See: http://www.epa.gov/etv/ 

For more information about RTI 

International or the APCT Center: 

Access our web site at 

http://epa.gov/etv/center-apc.html 

or contact: 

Jenia Tufts 

Director 

APCT Center 

RTI International 

P.O. Box 12194 

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194 

Telephone: 919-485-2698 

Facsimile: 919-541-6936 

E-mail: jtufts@rti.org 

Michael Kosusko 

EPA Project Officer 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Air Pollution Prevention and Control 

Division (E343-02) 

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 

Telephone: 919-541-2734 

Facsimile: 919-541-0359 

E-mail: kosusko.mike@epa.gov 

March 2009