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From: Peter Westlin/RTP/USEPA/US 

To: "Serne, Jim \(Raleigh,NC-US\)" <JSerne@TRCSOLUTIONS.com>

Cc: "Palazzolo, Michael A." <Michael.Palazzolo@alcoa.com>, Rochelle Boyd/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA, Robin Segall/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA, Gary 

McAlister/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA, Parker.Barrett@epa.gov, Ron Myers/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA, Jason Dewees/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA, William 

Grimley/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA, agnew.rachel@epa.gov, driscoll.tom@epa.gov, Jeff Ryan/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA

Date: 07/12/2010 02:07 PM

Subject: Re: Method 0031 Questions and the ICRs

Jim: 

In response to your questions: 

Question 1: For the ICR (in this case the Secondary Aluminum Chip Dryers & Delac Furnaces) does EPA want the 

M0031 tube sets analyzed as 2 fractions, ie combine the 2 Tenax tubes and separately analyze the Anasorb. Or 

does EPA want all three tubes combined and analyzed together to get the decreased detection limits ?? I have 

talked to two labs and a few other testers, and it appears both ways are commonly done. The advantages of 

analyzing the whole tube set as one fraction are the decreased detection limits, and of course the lower cost. 

Response: You may combine the samples from all three adsorbent tubes for each Method 0031 sampling train for a 

single analysis. 

 

Question 2. Method 0031 (Section 6.6.1) states “At least one field blank should be collected for every two-hour 

test run sampling period.” That means three field blank tube sets per stack. Since the actual field results are 

not corrected for the field blank values, is it necessary to analyze any or all of the field blanks. Is it acceptable to 

archive the 3 field blanks and only analyze the field blanks if an actual test run appears to have been contaminated 

? Analyzing each field blank costs about $ 300 (if analyzed as 1 fraction) or $ 600 (if analyzed as 2 fractions) 

Response: 

You may set aside the field blanks and not analyze them unless there is a discrepancy that analysis data from a blank 

sample would resolve. 

Peter Westlin

Measurement Policy Group

OAQPS, SPPD

919-541-1058

From: "Serne, Jim \(Raleigh,NC-US\)" <JSerne@TRCSOLUTIONS.com>

To: Peter Westlin/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA

Cc: "Palazzolo, Michael A." <Michael.Palazzolo@alcoa.com>

Date: 07/09/2010 04:27 PM
2

Subject: Method 0031 Questions and the ICRs

Peter, 

 

Method 0031 calls for 3 tubes (Tenax, Tenax, then Anasorb). 

In Section 1.8 the method states “Traps may be analyzed separately or combined onto one trap to improve detection limits.” 

In Section 7.5 the method states “The tubes may be analyzed individually, or the Tenax combined as a pair with the Anasorb 

analyzed separately, or multiple tubes may be combined on one trap in order to decrease detection limits” 

 

Question 1: For the ICR (in this case the Secondary Aluminum Chip Dryers & Delac Furnaces) does EPA want the M0031 tube sets 

analyzed as 2 fractions, ie combine the 2 Tenax tubes and separately analyze the Anasorb. Or does EPA want all three tubes 

combined and analyzed together to get the decreased detection limits ?? I have talked to two labs and a few other testers, and it 

appears both ways are commonly done. The advantages of analyzing the whole tube set as one fraction are the decreased detection 

limits, and of course the lower cost. 

 

Question 2. Method 0031 (Section 6.6.1) states “At least one field blank should be collected for every two-hour test run sampling 

period.” That means three field blank tube sets per stack. Since the actual field results are not corrected for the field blank values, 

is it necessary to analyze any or all of the field blanks. Is it acceptable to archive the 3 field blanks and only analyze the field blanks if 

an actual test run appears to have been contaminated ? Analyzing each field blank costs about $ 300 (if analyzed as 1 fraction) or $ 

600 (if analyzed as 2 fractions) 

 

I did not see these questions previously addressed in the FAQ. 

 

Thanks, 

 

Jim Serne, PE, QSTI 

TRC Environmental Corporation 

5540 Centerview Drive 

Raleigh, NC 27606 

(919) 256-6231 

(919) 838-9661 (fax)