ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 58

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0619; FRL-9915-16-OAR] 

RIN 2060-AR59 

PLEASE READ: ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT 

This document is being provided in response to a statement in 

the preamble committing EPA to the development of a redline 

draft of the proposed changes contained in this proposal. 

The text in the following pages was created through a compare 

process between the current regulatory text and the revisions in 

this proposal. Users are cautioned that this compare process may 

create scenarios where changes have appeared to been made (or 

blocks of text deleted) when no such changes were proposed in 

the rule. This occurs because only sections of the Part 58 text 

were revised and the proposal draft uses “asterisks” to skip 

over unaffected portions of the CFR language. EPA has attempted 

to minimize these occurrences whenever possible. Additionally, 

the compare process highlights unchanged text blocks that were 

simply relocated. This occurs quite frequently in Appendix A 

since that section was restructured for clarity. Users will 

note that no redline section is present for Appendix B since 
this is a new section that is being proposed for replacing a 

section that was reserved in 2006. 

Users are strongly urged to base their comments on the actual 

text printed in the Federal Register notice for this proposal: 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-09-11/html/2014-19758.htm

Lewis Weinstock 

 
§58.1 Definitions. 

As used in this part, all terms not defined herein have the 

meaning given them in the Clean Air Act. 

AADT means the annual average daily traffic. 

Act means the Clean Air Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.) 

Additive and multiplicative bias means the linear regression 

intercept and slope of a linear plot fitted to corresponding 

candidate and reference method mean measurement data pairs. 

Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) or his or her authorized representative. 

Air Quality System (AQS) means the EPA's computerized system for 

storing and reporting of information relating to ambient air 

quality data. 

Approved regional method (ARM) means a continuous PM2.5 method 

that has been approved specifically within a state or local air 

monitoring network for purposes of comparison to the NAAQS and 

to meet other monitoring objectives. 

AQCR means air quality control region. 

Area-wide means all monitors sited at neighborhood, urban, and 
regional scales, as well as those monitors sited at either 

micro- or middle-scale that are representative of many such 

locations in the same CBSA. 

Certifying agency means a state, local, or tribal agency 

responsible for meeting the data certification requirements in 

accordance with §58.15 of this part for a unique set of 

monitors. 

Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) includes Speciation Trends 

Network stations (STN) as specified in paragraph 4.7.4 of 

appendix D of this part and supplemental speciation stations 

that provide chemical species data of fine particulate. 

CO means carbon monoxide. 

Combined statistical area (CSA) is defined by the U.S. Office of 

Management and Budget as a geographical area consisting of two 

or more adjacent Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA) with 

employment interchange of at least 15 percent. Combination is 

automatic if the employment interchange is 25 percent and 

determined by local opinion if more than 15 but less than 25 

percent.

Core-based statistical area (CBSA) is defined by the U.S. Office 

of Management and Budget, as a statistical geographic entity 

Deleted: 

(http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metrocity/List6.txt).
consisting of the county or counties associated with at least 

one urbanized area/urban cluster of at least 10,000 population, 

plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and 

economic integration. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and 

micropolitan statistical areas are the two categories of CBSA 

(metropolitan areas have populations greater than 50,000; and 

micropolitan areas have populations between 10,000 and 50,000). 

In the case of very large cities where two or more CBSAs are 

combined, these larger areas are referred to as combined 

statistical areas (CSAs) 

Corrected concentration pertains to the result of an accuracy or 

precision assessment test of an open path analyzer in which a 

high-concentration test or audit standard gas contained in a 

short test cell is inserted into the optical measurement beam of 

the instrument. When the pollutant concentration measured by the 

analyzer in such a test includes both the pollutant

concentration in the test cell and the concentration in the 

atmosphere, the atmospheric pollutant concentration must be 

subtracted from the test measurement to obtain the corrected 

concentration test result. The corrected concentration is equal 

to the measured concentration minus the average of the 

atmospheric pollutant concentrations measured (without the test 

cell) immediately before and immediately after the test. 

Deleted: (http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/m

etro-city/List1.txt).
Design value means the calculated concentration according to the 

applicable appendix of part 50 of this chapter for the highest 

site in an attainment or nonattainment area. 

EDO means environmental data operations. 

Effective concentration pertains to testing an open path 

analyzer with a high-concentration calibration or audit standard 

gas contained in a short test cell inserted into the optical 

measurement beam of the instrument. Effective concentration is 

the equivalent ambient-level concentration that would produce 

the same spectral absorbance over the actual atmospheric 

monitoring path length as produced by the high-concentration gas 

in the short test cell. Quantitatively, effective concentration 

is equal to the actual concentration of the gas standard in the 

test cell multiplied by the ratio of the path length of the test 

cell to the actual atmospheric monitoring path length. 

Federal equivalent method (FEM) means a method for measuring the 

concentration of an air pollutant in the ambient air that has 

been designated as an equivalent method in accordance with part 

53; it does not include a method for which an equivalent method 

designation has been canceled in accordance with §53.11 or 

§53.16. 

Federal reference method (FRM) means a method of sampling and 

Deleted: of this chapter

Deleted: of this chapter
analyzing the ambient air for an air pollutant that is specified 

as a reference method in an appendix to part 50 of this chapter, 

or a method that has been designated as a reference method in 

accordance with this part; it does not include a method for 

which a reference method designation has been canceled in 

accordance with §53.11 or § 5316. 

HNO3 means nitric acid. 

Implementation Plan means an implementation plan approved or 

promulgated by the EPA pursuant to section 110 of the Act. 

Local agency means any local government agency, other than the 

state agency, which is charged by a state with the 

responsibility for carrying out a portion of the annual 

monitoring network plan required by §58.10. 

Meteorological measurements means measurements of wind speed, 

wind direction, barometric pressure, temperature, relative 

humidity, solar radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and/or 

precipitation that occur at stations including NCore and PAMS. 

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) means a CBSA associated with 

at least one urbanized area of 50,000 population or greater. The 

central county, plus adjacent counties with a high degree of 

integration, comprise the area. 

Deleted: 53.16 of this chapter

Deleted: plan
Monitor means an instrument, sampler, analyzer, or other device 

that measures or assists in the measurement of atmospheric air 

pollutants and which is acceptable for use in ambient air 

surveillance under the applicable provisions of appendix C to 

this part. 

Monitoring agency means a state, local or Tribal agency 

responsible for meeting the requirements of this part. 

Monitoring organization means a monitoring agency or other 

monitoring organization responsible for operating a monitoring 

site for which the quality assurance regulations apply. 

Monitoring path for an open path analyzer means the actual path 

in space between two geographical locations over which the 

pollutant concentration is measured and averaged. 

Monitoring path length of an open path analyzer means the length 

of the monitoring path in the atmosphere over which the average 

pollutant concentration measurement (path-averaged 

concentration) is determined. See also, optical measurement path 

length. 

Monitoring planning area (MPA) means a contiguous geographic 

area with established, well-defined boundaries, such as a CBSA, 

county or state, having a common area that is used for planning 

Deleted: local

Deleted: State, local,
monitoring locations for PM2.5. A MPA may cross state boundaries, 

such as the Philadelphia PA-NJ MSA, and be further subdivided 

into community monitoring zones. The MPAs are generally oriented 

toward CBSAs or CSAs with populations greater than 200,000, but 

for convenience, those portions of a state that are not 

associated with CBSAs can be considered as a single MPA. 

NATTS means the national air toxics trends stations. This 

network provides hazardous air pollution ambient data. 

NCore means the National Core multipollutant monitoring 

stations. Monitors at these sites are required to measure 

particles (PM2.5, speciated PM2.5, PM10-2.5), O3, SO2, CO, nitrogen 

oxides (NO/NOy), and meteorology (wind speed, wind direction, 

temperature, relative humidity).

Near-road monitor means any approved monitor meeting the 

applicable specifications described in 40 CFR part 58, appendix 

D (sections 4.2.1, 4.3.2, 4.7.1(b)(2)) and appendix E (section 

6.4(a), Table E-4) for near-road measurement of PM2.5, CO, or NO2. 

Network means all stations of a given type or types. 

Network Plan means the Annual Monitoring Network Plan described 

in §58.10 of this part. 

NH3 means ammonia. 

Deleted: An

Deleted: NO2/

Deleted: Pb, 

Deleted: basic 

Deleted: .

Deleted: NO2 

Deleted: NO2

Deleted: 4.3.2 of 

Deleted: paragraphs 2, 4(d), 6.1, and 6.4 of 

Deleted: of this part
NO2 means nitrogen dioxide. 

NO means nitrogen oxide. 

NOX means the sum of the concentrations of NO2 and NO. 

NOy means the sum of all total reactive nitrogen oxides, 

including NO, NO2, and other nitrogen oxides referred to as NOZ. 

O3 means ozone. 

Open path analyzer means an automated analytical method that 

measures the average atmospheric pollutant concentration in situ 

along one or more monitoring paths having a monitoring path 

length of 5 meters or more and that has been designated as a 

reference or equivalent method under the provisions of part 53 

of this chapter. 

Optical measurement path length means the actual length of the 

optical beam over which measurement of the pollutant is 

determined. The path-integrated pollutant concentration measured 

by the analyzer is divided by the optical measurement path 

length to determine the path-averaged concentration. Generally, 

the optical measurement path length is: 

(1) Equal to the monitoring path length for a (bistatic) system 

having a transmitter and a receiver at opposite ends of the 

Deleted: oxides of nitrogen and is defined as 
monitoring path; 

(2) Equal to twice the monitoring path length for a (monostatic) 

system having a transmitter and receiver at one end of the 

monitoring path and a mirror or retroreflector at the other end; 

or 

(3) Equal to some multiple of the monitoring path length for 

more complex systems having multiple passes of the measurement 

beam through the monitoring path. 

PAMS means photochemical assessment monitoring stations. 

Pb means lead. 

PM means particulate matter, including but not limited to PM10, 

PM10C, PM2.5, and PM10-2.5. 

PM2.5 means particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less 

than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers as measured by a 

reference method based on appendix L of part 50 and designated 

in accordance with part 53, by an equivalent method designated 

in accordance with part 53, or by an approved regional method 

designated in accordance with appendix C to this part. 

PM10 means particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less 

than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers as measured by a 

Deleted: ¶

Plan means an implementation plan approved or 

promulgated pursuant to section 110 of the Act.¶

¶

Deleted: PM110C

Deleted: , or particulate matter of unspecified size range

Deleted: of this chapter 

Deleted: of this chapter

Deleted: of this chapter
reference method based on appendix J of part 50 and designated 

in accordance with part 53 or by an equivalent method designated 

in accordance with part 53. 

PM10C means particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less 

than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers as measured by a 

reference method based on appendix O of part 50 and designated 

in accordance with part 53 or by an equivalent method designated 

in accordance with part 53. 

PM10-2.5 means particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter 

less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers and greater than 

a nominal 2.5 micrometers as measured by a reference method 

based on appendix O to part 50 and designated in accordance with 

part 53 or by an equivalent method designated in accordance with 

part 53. 

Point analyzer means an automated analytical method that 

measures pollutant concentration in an ambient air sample 

extracted from the atmosphere at a specific inlet probe point,

and that has been designated as a reference or equivalent method 

in accordance with part 53 of this chapter. 

Primary Monitor means the monitor identified by the monitoring 

organization that provides concentration data used for 

comparison to the NAAQS. For any specific site, only one monitor 

Deleted: of this chapter 

Deleted: of this chapter 

Deleted: of this chapter

Deleted: of this chapter 

Deleted: of this chapter 

Deleted: of this chapter

Deleted: of this chapter 

Deleted: of this chapter 

Deleted: of this chapter

Deleted: ¶

Population-oriented monitoring (or sites) means residential 

areas, commercial areas, recreational areas, industrial areas 

where workers from more than one company are located, 

and other areas where a substantial number of people may 

spend a significant fraction of their day.¶

¶
for each pollutant can be designated in AQS as primary monitor 

for a given period of time. The primary monitor identifies the 

default data source for creating a combined site record for 

purposes of NAAQS comparisons. 

Primary quality assurance organization (PQAO) means a monitoring 

organization, a group of monitoring organizations or other 

organization that is responsible for a set of stations that 

monitor the same pollutant and for which data quality 

assessments can be pooled. Each criteria pollutant 

sampler/monitor at a monitoring station in the SLAMS and SPM 

networks must be associated with only one PQAO. 

Probe means the actual inlet where an air sample is extracted 

from the atmosphere for delivery to a sampler or point analyzer 

for pollutant analysis. 

PSD monitoring network means a set of stations that provide 

concentration information for a specific PSD permit. 

PSD monitoring organization means a source owner/operator, a 

government agency, or a contractor of the source or agency that 

operates an ambient air pollution monitoring network for PSD 

purposes. 

PSD reviewing authority means the state air pollution control 

Deleted: one, and 

Deleted: , primary quality assurance organization
agency, local agency, other state agency, tribe, or other agency 

authorized by the Administrator to carry out a permit program 

under §51.165 and §51.166, or the Administrator in the case of 

EPA-implemented permit programs under §52.21. 

PSD station means any station operated for the purpose of 

establishing the effect on air quality of the emissions from a 

proposed source for purposes of prevention of significant 

deterioration as required by §51.24(n).

Regional Administrator means the Administrator of one of the ten 

EPA regional offices or his or her authorized representative. 

Reporting organization means an entity, such as a state, local, 

or tribal monitoring agency, that reports air quality data to 

the EPA. 

Site means a geographic location. One or more stations may be at 

the same site. 

SLAMS means state or local air monitoring stations. The SLAMS 

include the ambient air quality monitoring sites and monitors 

that are required by appendix D of this part and are needed for 

the monitoring objectives of appendix D, including NAAQS 

comparisons, but may serve other data purposes. The SLAMS 

includes NCore, PAMS, CSN, and all other state or locally 

Deleted: ) of this chapter.

Deleted: collects and 

Deleted: make up

Deleted: primarily

Deleted: exclude special purpose monitor (SPM) stations 

and include 
operated criteria pollutant monitors operated in accordance to 

this part, that have not been designated and approved by the 

Regional Administrator as SPM stations in an annual monitoring 

network plan. 

SO2 means sulfur dioxide. 

Special purpose monitor (SPM) station means a monitor included 

in an agency's monitoring network that the agency has designated 

as a special purpose monitor station in its annual monitoring 

network plan and in the AQS, and which the agency does not count 

when showing compliance with the minimum requirements of this 

subpart for the number and siting of monitors of various types.

Any SPM operated by an air monitoring agency must be included in 

the periodic assessments and annual monitoring network plan 

required by §58.10 and approved by the Regional Administrator.

State agency means the air pollution control agency primarily 

responsible for development and implementation of a State 

Implementation Plan under the Act. 

Station means a single monitor, or a group of monitors, located 

at a particular site. 

STN station means a PM2.5 chemical speciation station designated 

to be part of the speciation trends network. This network 

Deleted: stations

Deleted: Air Quality System

Deleted: ¶

State speciation site means a supplemental PM2.5 

speciation station that is not part of the speciation trends 

network.¶

¶

Deleted: with a shared objective
provides chemical species data of fine particulate.

Supplemental speciation station means a PM2.5 chemical speciation 

station that is operated for monitoring agency needs and not 

part of the STN. 

Traceable means that a local standard has been compared and 

certified, either directly or via not more than one intermediate 

standard, to a National Institute of Standards and Technology 

(NIST)-certified primary standard such as a NIST-traceable 

Reference Material (NTRM) or a NIST-certified Gas Manufacturer's 

Internal Standard (GMIS). 

TSP (total suspended particulates) means particulate matter as 

measured by the method described in appendix B of part 50. 

Urbanized area means an area with a minimum residential 

population of at least 50,000 people and which generally 

includes core census block groups or blocks that have a 

population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile and 

surrounding census blocks that have an overall density of at 

least 500 people per square mile. The Census Bureau notes that 

under certain conditions, less densely settled territory may be 

part of each Urbanized Area. 

VOCs means volatile organic compounds. 

Deleted: of this chapter

Deleted: ¶

VOC
§58.10 Annual monitoring network plan and periodic network 

assessment. 

(a)(1) Beginning July 1, 2007, the state, or where 

applicable local, agency shall submit to the Regional 

Administrator an annual monitoring network plan which shall 

provide for the documentation of the establishment and 

maintenance of an air quality surveillance system that consists 

of a network of SLAMS monitoring stations that can include FRM, 

FEM, and ARM monitors that are part of SLAMS, NCore, CSN, PAMS, 

and SPM stations. The plan shall include a purpose statement for 

each monitor along with a statement of whether the operation of 

each monitor meets the requirements of appendices A, B, C, D, 

and E of this part, where applicable. The Regional Administrator 

may require the submission of additional information as needed 

to evaluate compliance with applicable requirements of part 58 

and its appendices. The annual monitoring network plan must be 

made available for public inspection and comment for at least 30 

days prior to submission to the EPA and the submitted plan shall 

reference and address any such received comments. 

 (2) Any annual monitoring network plan that proposes SLAMS 

network modifications (including new or discontinued monitoring 

sites, new determinations that data are not of sufficient 

quality to be compared to the NAAQS, and changes in

identification of monitors as suitable or not suitable for 

Deleted: adopt and 

Deleted: including 

Deleted: stations, STN stations, State 

speciation stations,

Deleted: , and/or, in serious, severe and 

extreme ozone nonattainment areas, PAMS 

stations, and SPM monitoring stations.

Deleted: of purposes 

Deleted: and evidence that siting and

Deleted: EPA
comparison against the annual PM2.5 NAAQS) is subject to the 

approval of the EPA Regional Administrator, who shall approve or 

disapprove the plan within 120 days of submission of a complete 

plan to the EPA. 

(* * * * * 

9) A detailed description of the PAMS network being 

operated in accordance with the requirements of appendix D to 

this part shall be submitted as part of the annual monitoring 

network plan for review by the EPA Administrator. The PAMS 

Network Description described in section 5 of appendix D may be 

used to meet this requirement. 

(b) * * * 

(14) The identification of any SPMs operating for a longer 

period than 24 months that utilize FRM, FEM, and/or ARM monitors 

accompanied by a discussion of the rationale for retention as an 

SPM rather than a reclassification to SLAMS. 

 

Deleted: provide opportunity for public 

comment and shall approve or disapprove 

the plan and schedule within 120 days. 

If the State or local agency has already 

provided a public comment opportunity on 

its plan and has made no changes 

subsequent to that comment opportunity, 

and has submitted the received comments 

together with the plan, the Regional 

Administrator is not required to provide 

a separate opportunity for comment.

Deleted: 3) The plan for establishing 

required NCore multipollutant stations 

shall be submitted to 

Deleted: (

Deleted: Administrator not later than July 

1, 2009. The plan shall provide for all 

required stations to be operational by 

January 1, 2011.¶

(4) A plan for establishing sourceoriented Pb monitoring sites

Deleted: for Pb sources emitting 1.0 tpy 

or greater 

Deleted: to the EPA Regional Administrator 

no later than July 1, 2009, 

Deleted: network plan required in 

paragraph (a)(1) of this section. The 

plan shall provide for the required 

source-oriented Pb monitoring sites for ... [1]

Deleted: required in paragraph (a) (1). 

The plan shall provide 

Deleted: all required SO2 monitoring sites 

to be operational

Deleted: January 1, 2013.¶

(7) A plan for establishing CO 

monitoring sites in accordance with the ... [2]

Deleted: Regional 

Deleted: Plans for required CO monitors 

shall be submitted at least six months 

prior to the date such monitors must be ... [3]

Deleted: §58.30.¶

(8) The MSA, CBSA, CSA or other area 

represented by the monitor.¶ ... [4]

Deleted: in the monitoring agency's 

network where the data are not of 

sufficient quality such that data are ... [5]

Deleted: the network design criteria 

described in appendix D to this part

Deleted: (c) The annual monitoring network 

plan must document how state and local 

agencies provide for the review of ... [6]
§58.11 Network technical requirements. 

 (a) * * * 

(3) The owner or operator of an existing or a proposed 

source shall follow the quality assurance criteria in appendix B

to this part that apply to PSD monitoring when operating a PSD 

site. 

* * * * * 

§58.12 Operating schedules. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(1)(i) Manual PM2.5 samplers at required SLAMS stations 

without a collocated continuously operating PM2.5 monitor must 

operate on at least a 1-in-3 day schedule unless a waiver for an 

alternative schedule has been approved per paragraph (d)(1)(ii) 

of this section. 

(ii) For SLAMS PM2.5 sites with both manual and continuous 

PM2.5 monitors operating, the monitoring agency may request 

approval for a reduction to 1-in-6 day PM2.5 sampling or for 

seasonal sampling from the EPA Regional Administrator. Other 

requests for a reduction to 1-in-6 day PM2.5 sampling or for 

seasonal sampling may be approved on a case-by-case basis. The 

EPA Regional Administrator may grant sampling frequency 

reductions after consideration of factors (including but not 

limited to the historical PM2.5 data quality assessments, the 

Deleted: (a)(1) State and local 

governments shall follow the applicable 

quality assurance criteria contained in 

appendix A to this part when operating 

the SLAMS networks.¶

(2) Beginning January 1, 2009, State and 

local governments shall follow the 

quality assurance criteria contained in 

appendix A to this part that apply to 

SPM sites when operating any SPM site 

which uses a FRM, FEM, or ARM and meets 

the requirements of appendix E to this 

part, unless the Regional Administrator 

approves an alternative to the 

requirements of appendix A with respect 

to such SPM sites because meeting those 

requirements would be physically and/or 

financially impractical due to physical 

conditions at the monitoring site and 

the requirements are not essential to 

achieving the intended data objectives 

of the SPM site. Alternatives to the 

requirements of appendix A may be 

approved for an SPM site as part of the 

approval of the annual monitoring plan, 

or separately.¶

Deleted: A

Deleted: (b) State and local governments 

must follow the criteria in appendix C 

to this part to determine acceptable 

monitoring methods or instruments for 

use in SLAMS networks. Appendix C 

criteria are optional at SPM stations.¶

(c) State and local governments must 

follow the network design criteria 

contained in appendix D to this part in 

designing and maintaining the SLAMS 

stations. The final network design and 

all changes in design are subject to 

approval of the Regional Administrator. 

NCore, STN, and PAMS network design and 

changes are also subject to approval of 

the Administrator. Changes in SPM 

stations do not require approvals, but a 

change in the designation of a 

monitoring site from SLAMS to SPM 

requires approval of the Regional 

Administrator.¶ ... [7]

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Deleted: State and local governments shall 

collect ambient air quality data at any 

SLAMS station on the following 

operational schedules:¶

(a) For continuous analyzers, 

consecutive hourly averages must be 

collected except during:¶

(1) Periods of routine maintenance,¶

(2) Periods of instrument calibration, ... [8]

Deleted: , 
location of current PM2.5 design value sites, and their 

regulatory data needs) if the Regional Administrator determines 

that the reduction in sampling frequency will not compromise 

data needed for implementation of the NAAQS. Required SLAMS 

stations whose measurements determine the design value for their 

area and that are within plus or minus 10 percent of the annual 

NAAQS, and all required sites where one or more 24-hour values 

have exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS each year for a consecutive 

period of at least 3 years are required to maintain at least a 

1-in-3 day sampling frequency until the design value no longer 

meets these criteria for 3 consecutive years. A continuously 

operating FEM or ARM PM2.5 monitor satisfies this requirement

unless it is identified in the monitoring agency's annual 

monitoring network plan as not appropriate for comparison to the 

NAAQS and the EPA Regional Administrator has approved that the 

data from that monitor may be excluded from comparison to the 

NAAQS. 

(iii) Required SLAMS stations whose measurements determine 

the 24-hour design value for their area and whose data are 

within plus or minus 5 percent of the level of the 24-hour PM2.5

NAAQS must have an FRM or FEM operate on a daily schedule if 

that area's design value for the annual NAAQS is less than the 

level of the annual PM2.5 standard. A continuously operating FEM 

or ARM PM2.5 monitor satisfies this requirement unless it is 

Deleted: .

Deleted: ;

Deleted: .
identified in the monitoring agency's annual monitoring network 

plan as not appropriate for comparison to the NAAQS and the EPA 

Regional Administrator has approved that the data from that 

monitor may be excluded from comparison to the NAAQS. The daily 

schedule must be maintained until the referenced design values 

no longer meets these criteria for 3 consecutive years. 

(2) Manual PM2.5 samplers at NCore stations and required 

regional background and regional transport sites must operate on 

at least a 1-in-3 day sampling frequency. 

(iv) Changes in sampling frequency attributable to changes 

in design values shall be implemented no later than January 1 of 

the calendar year following the certification of such data as 

described in §58.15. 

* * * * * 

(3) Manual PM2.5 speciation samplers at STN stations must 

operate on at least a 1-in-3 day sampling frequency unless a 

reduction in sampling frequency has been approved by the EPA 

Administrator based on factors such as area’s design value, the 

role of the particular site in national health studies, the 

correlation of the site’s species data with nearby sites, and 

presence of other leveraged measurements. 

* * * * * 

 

Deleted: (e) For PM10 samplers, a 24-hour 

sample must be taken from midnight to 

midnight (local standard time) to ensure 

national consistency. The minimum 

monitoring schedule for the site in the 

area of expected maximum concentration 

shall be based on the relative level of 

that monitoring site concentration with 

respect to the 24-hour standard as 

illustrated in Figure 1. If the 

operating agency demonstrates by 

monitoring data that during certain 

periods of the year conditions preclude 

violation of the PM10 24-hour standard, 

the increased sampling frequency for 

those periods or seasons may be exempted 

by the Regional Administrator and 

permitted to revert back to once in six 

days. The minimum sampling schedule for 

all other sites in the area remains once 

every six days. No less frequently than 

as part of each 5-year network 

assessment, the most recent year of data 

must be considered to estimate the air 

quality status at the site near the area 

of maximum concentration. Statistical 

models such as analysis of concentration 

frequency distributions as described in 

“Guideline for the Interpretation of 

Ozone Air Quality Standards,” EPA450/479-003, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Research Triangle 

Park, NC, January 1979, should be used. 

Adjustments to the monitoring schedule 

must be made on the basis of the 5-year 

network assessment. The site having the 

highest concentration in the most 

current year must be given first 

consideration when selecting the site 

for the more frequent sampling schedule. 

Other factors such as major change in 

sources of PM10 emissions or in sampling 

site characteristics could influence the 

location of the expected maximum 

concentration site. Also, the use of the 

most recent 3 years of data might, in 

some cases, be justified in order to 

provide a more representative database 

from which to estimate current air 

quality status and to provide stability 

to the network. This multiyear 

consideration reduces the possibility of 

an anomalous year biasing a site 

selected for accelerated sampling. If 

the maximum concentration site based on 

the most current year is not selected 

for the more frequent operating 

schedule, documentation of the 

justification for selection of an 

alternative site must be submitted to 

the Regional Office for approval during ... [9]

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt
§58.14 System modification. 

(a) The state, or where appropriate local, agency shall 

develop and implement a network modification plan and schedule 

to modify the ambient air quality monitoring network that 

implements the findings of the network assessment required every 

5 years by §58.10(d). The network modification plan shall be 

submitted as part of the Annual Monitoring Network Plan that is 

due no later than the year after submittal of the network 

assessment. 

* * * * * 

§58.15 Annual air monitoring data certification. 

(a) The state, or where appropriate local, agency shall 

submit to the EPA Regional Administrator an annual air monitoring 

data certification letter to certify data collected by FRM, FEM, 

and ARM monitors at SLAMS and SPM sites that meet criteria in 

appendix A to this part from January 1 to December 31 of the 

previous year. The head official in each monitoring agency, or 

his or her designee, shall certify that the previous year of 

ambient concentration and quality assurance data are completely 

submitted to AQS and that the ambient concentration data are 

accurate to the best of her or his knowledge, taking into 

consideration the quality assurance findings. The annual data 

certification letter is due by May 1 of each year. 

(b) Along with each certification letter, the state shall 

Deleted: complies with

Deleted: assessments

Deleted: e

Deleted: State or local agency shall 

consult with the EPA Regional 

Administrator during the development of 

the schedule to modify the monitoring 

program, and shall make the

Deleted: and schedule available to the 

public for 30 days prior to submission 

to the EPA Regional Administrator. The 

final plan and schedule with respect to 

the SLAMS network are subject to the 

approval of the EPA Regional 

Administrator. Plans containing 

modifications to NCore Stations or PAMS 

Stations 

Deleted: to the Administrator. The 

Regional Administrator shall provide 

opportunity for public comment and shall 

approve or disapprove submitted plans 

and schedules within 120 days.

Deleted: at all SLAMS and at all

Deleted: stations

Deleted: senior air pollution control 

officer

Deleted: ¶

(1) Through 2009, the annual data 

certification letter is due by July 1 of 

each year.¶

(2) Beginning in 2010,
submit to the Regional Administrator an annual summary report of 

all the ambient air quality data collected by FRM, FEM, and ARM 

monitors at SLAMS and SPM sites. The annual report(s) shall be 

submitted for data collected from January 1 to December 31 of the 

previous year. The annual summary serves as the record of the 

specific data that is the object of the certification letter. 

(c) Along with each certification letter, the state shall 

submit to the Regional Administrator a summary of the precision 

and accuracy data for all ambient air quality data collected by 

FRM, FEM, and ARM monitors at SLAMS and SPM sites. The summary of 

precision and accuracy shall be submitted for data collected from 

January 1 to December 31 of the previous year. 

§58.16 Data submittal and archiving requirements. 

(a) The state, or where appropriate, local agency, shall 

report to the Administrator, via AQS all ambient air quality 

data and associated quality assurance data for SO2; CO; O3; NO2; 

NO; NOy; NOx; Pb–TSP mass concentration; Pb–PM10 mass 

concentration; PM10 mass concentration; PM2.5 mass concentration; 

for filter-based PM2.5 FRM/FEM, the field blank mass; chemically 

speciated PM2.5 mass concentration data; PM10-2.5 mass 

concentration; meteorological data from NCore and PAMS sites; 

and metadata records and information specified by the AQS Data 

Coding Manual 

(http://www.epa.gov/ttn/airs/airsaqs/manuals/manuals.htm). Air 

Deleted: (through the appropriate Regional 

Office) 

Deleted: at all 

Deleted: at 

Deleted: stations using FRM, FEM, or ARMs

Deleted: The annual summary report(s) must 

contain all information and data required 

by the State's approved plan and must be 

submitted on the same schedule as the 

certification letter, unless an approved 

alternative date is included in the plan. 

Deleted: (through the appropriate Regional 

Office) 

Deleted: at all 

Deleted: at 

Deleted: stations using FRM, FEM, or ARMs

Deleted: The summary of precision and 

accuracy must be submitted on the same 

schedule as the certification letter, 

unless an approved alternative date is 

included in the plan. 

Deleted: -

Deleted: -

Deleted: , sampler-generated average daily 

temperature, and sampler-generated 

average daily pressure

Deleted: average daily temperature and 

average daily pressure for Pb sites if 

not already reported from sampler 

generated records; 

Deleted: The state, or where appropriate, 

local agency, may report site specific 

meteorological measurements generated by 

onsite equipment (meteorological 

instruments, or sampler generated) or 

measurements from the nearest airport 

reporting ambient pressure and 

temperature. Such 
quality data and information must be submitted directly to the 

AQS via electronic transmission on the specified schedule 

described in paragraphs (b) and (d) of this section. 

* * * * * 

(c) Air quality data submitted for each reporting period 

must be edited, validated, and entered into the AQS (within the 

time limits specified in paragraphs (b) and (d) of this section) 

pursuant to appropriate AQS procedures. The procedures for 

editing and validating data are described in the AQS Data Coding 

Manual and in each monitoring agency's quality assurance project 

plan. 

(d) The state shall report VOC and if collected, carbonyl, 

NH3, and HNO3 data from PAMS sites, and chemically speciated PM2.5

mass concentration data to AQS within 6 months following the end 

of each quarterly reporting period listed in paragraph (b) of 

this section. 

* * * * *

 

Deleted: quarterly 

Deleted: paragraph

Moved down [1]: * * * * *¶

Deleted: paragraph

Deleted: ,

Deleted: * * * * *

Moved (insertion) [1]
Appendix A to Part 58—Quality Assurance Requirements for 

Monitors used in Evaluations of National Ambient Air Quality 

Standards 

1. General Information 

2. Quality System Requirements 

3. Measurement Quality Check Requirements 

4. Calculations for Data Quality Assessments 

5. Reporting Requirements 

6. References 

1. General Information 

1.1 Applicability. (a) This appendix specifies the minimum 

quality system requirements applicable to SLAMS and other 

monitor types whose data are intended to be used to determine 

compliance with the NAAQS (e.g., SPMs, tribal, CASTNET, 

industrial, etc), unless the EPA Regional Administrator has 

reviewed and approved the monitor for exclusion from NAAQS use 

and these quality assurance requirements. 

(b) Primary quality assurance organizations are encouraged 

to develop and maintain quality systems more extensive than the 

Deleted: SLAMS, SPMs and PSD

Deleted: Monitoring

Deleted: .
required minimums. Additional guidance for the requirements 

reflected in this appendix can be found in the “Quality 

Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems,” 

Volume II (see reference 10 of this appendix) and at a national 

level in references 1, 2, and 3 of this appendix. 

1.2 Primary Quality Assurance Organization (PQAO). A PQAO 

is defined as a monitoring organization or a coordinated 

aggregation of such organizations that is responsible for a set 

of stations that monitors the same pollutant and for which data 

quality assessments will be pooled. Each criteria pollutant/ 

monitor must be associated with only one PQAO. In some cases, 

data quality is assessed at the PQAO level. 

1.2.1 Each PQAO shall be defined such that measurement 

uncertainty among all stations in the organization can be 

expected to be reasonably homogeneous as a result of common 

factors. Common factors that should be considered in defining 

PQAOs include: 

(a) Operation by a common team of field operators according 

to a common set of procedures;

(b) Use of a common quality assurance project plan (QAPP) 

or standard operating procedures; 

Moved (insertion) [2]
(c) Common calibration facilities and standards;

(d) Oversight by a common quality assurance organization; 

and

(e) Support by a common management organization (i.e., 

state agency) or laboratory. 

Since data quality assessments are made and data certified 

at the PQAO level, the monitoring organization identified as the 

PQAO will be responsible for the oversight of the quality of 

data of all monitoring organizations within the PQAO. 

1.2.2 Monitoring organizations having difficulty describing 

its PQAO or in assigning specific monitors to primary quality 

assurance organizations should consult with the appropriate EPA 

regional office. Any consolidation of monitoring organizations 

to PQAOs shall be subject to final approval by the appropriate 

EPA regional office. 

.2.3 Each PQAO is required to implement a quality system 

that provides sufficient information to assess the quality of 

the monitoring data. The quality system must, at a minimum, 

include the specific requirements described in this appendix.

Failure to conduct or pass a required check or procedure, or a 

series of required checks or procedures, does not by itself 

Moved (insertion) [3]

Deleted: ) Each 

Deleted: 1

Deleted: of this subpart.
invalidate data for regulatory decision making. Rather, PQAOs

and the EPA shall use the checks and procedures required in this 

appendix in combination with other data quality information, 

reports, and similar documentation that demonstrate overall 

compliance with part 58. Accordingly, the EPA and PQAOs shall 

use a “weight of evidence” approach when determining the 

suitability of data for regulatory decisions. The EPA reserves 

the authority to use or not use monitoring data submitted by a 

monitoring organization when making regulatory decisions based 

on the EPA's assessment of the quality of the data. Consensus 

built validation templates or validation criteria already 

approved in Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) should be 

used as the basis for the weight of evidence approach. 

1.2 1.3 Definitions. 

a) Measurement Uncertainty. A term used to describe 

deviations from a true concentration or estimate that are 

related to the measurement process and not to spatial or 

temporal population attributes of the air being measured. 

( (b) Precision. A measurement of mutual agreement among 

individual measurements of the same property usually under 

prescribed similar conditions, expressed generally in terms of 

the standard deviation. 

Deleted: monitoring agencies

Deleted: documents showing

Deleted: monitoring agencies

Deleted: Generally, 

Deleted: (b) This appendix specifies the 

minimum quality system requirements 

applicable to SLAMS air monitoring data 

and PSD data for the pollutants SO2, 

NO2, O3, CO, Pb, PM2.5, PM10 and PM10-

2.5 submitted to EPA. This appendix also 

applies to all SPM stations using FRM, 

FEM, or ARM methods which also meet the 

requirements of appendix E of this part, 

unless alternatives to this appendix for 

SPMs have been approved in accordance 

with §58.11(a)(2). Monitoring 

organizations are encouraged to develop 

and maintain quality systems more 

extensive than the required minimums. 

The permit-granting authority for PSD 

may require more frequent or more 

stringent requirements. Monitoring 

organizations may, based on their 

quality objectives, develop and maintain 

quality systems beyond the required 

minimum. Additional guidance for the 

requirements reflected in this appendix 

can be found in the “Quality Assurance 

Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement 

Systems”, Volume II (see reference 10 of 

this appendix) and at a national level 

in references 1, 2, and 3 of this 

appendix.¶

1.1 Similarities and Differences 

Between SLAMS and PSD Monitoring. In 

most cases, the quality assurance 

requirements for SLAMS, SPMs if 

applicable, and PSD are the same. 

Affected SPMs are subject to all the 

SLAMS requirements, even where not 

specifically stated in each section. 

Table A-1 of this appendix summarizes 

the major similarities and differences 

of the requirements for SLAMS and PSD. 

Both programs require:¶

(a) The development, documentation, and 

implementation of an approved quality 

system;¶ ... [10]

Deleted: (

Deleted: Measurement uncertainty is

Deleted: Monitoring organizations must 

develop quality assurance project plans 

(QAPP) which describe how the 

organization intends to control 

measurement uncertainty to an 

appropriate level in order to achieve ... [11]

Deleted: a
(c) Bias. The systematic or persistent distortion of a 

measurement process which causes errors in one direction. 

(d) Accuracy. The degree of agreement between an observed 

value and an accepted reference value. Accuracy includes a 

combination of random error (imprecision) and systematic error 

(bias) components which are due to sampling and analytical 

operations. 

(e) Completeness. A measure of the amount of valid data 

obtained from a measurement system compared to the amount that 

was expected to be obtained under correct, normal conditions. 

(f) Detection Limit. The lowest concentration or amount of 

target analyte that can be determined to be different from zero 

by a single measurement at a stated level of probability. 

.4 Measurement Quality Checks. The measurement quality 

checks described in sections 3 of this appendix shall be 

reported to AQS and are included in the data required for 

certification. 

1.5 Assessments and Reports. Periodic assessments and 

documentation of data quality are required to be reported to the 

EPA. To provide national uniformity in this assessment and 

reporting of data quality for all networks, specific assessment 

Deleted: b

Deleted: c

Deleted: d

Deleted: (e) Detectability. The low 

critical range value of a characteristic 

that a method specific procedure can 

reliably discern.¶

Deleted: 1

Deleted: 3 

Deleted: SLAMS

Deleted: 3.2 and 3.

Deleted: The PSD network is required to 

implement the measurement quality checks 

and submit this information quarterly 

along with assessment information to the 

permit-granting authority.

Deleted: 4 

Deleted: EPA or to the permit granting 

authority (PSD).
and reporting procedures are prescribed in detail in sections 3, 

4, and 5 of this appendix. On the other hand, the selection and 

extent of the quality assurance and quality control activities 

used by a monitoring organization depend on a number of local 

factors such as field and laboratory conditions, the objectives 

for monitoring, the level of data quality needed, the expertise 

of assigned personnel, the cost of control procedures, pollutant 

concentration levels, etc. Therefore, quality system 

requirements in section 2 of this appendix are specified in 

general terms to allow each monitoring organization to develop a 

quality system that is most efficient and effective for its own 

circumstances while achieving the data quality objectives 

described in this appendix.

2. Quality System Requirements 

A quality system (reference 1 of this appendix) is the 

means by which an organization manages the quality of the 

monitoring information it produces in a systematic, organized 

manner. It provides a framework for planning, implementing, 

assessing and reporting work performed by an organization and 

for carrying out required quality assurance and quality control 

activities. 

2.1 Quality Management Plans and Quality Assurance Project 

Deleted: required for the SLAMS sites. 
Plans. All PQAOs must develop a quality system that is described 

and approved in quality management plans (QMP) and QAPPs to 

ensure that the monitoring results: 

(a) Meet a well-defined need, use, or purpose (reference 5 

of this appendix);

(b) Provide data of adequate quality for the intended 

monitoring objectives; 

(c) Satisfy stakeholder expectations; 

(d) Comply with applicable standards specifications; 

(e) Comply with statutory (and other legal) requirements; 

and 

(f) Reflect consideration of cost and economics. 

2.1.1 The QMP describes the quality system in terms of the 

organizational structure, functional responsibilities of 

management and staff, lines of authority, and required 

interfaces for those planning, implementing, assessing and 

reporting activities involving environmental data operations 

(EDO). The QMP must be suitably documented in accordance with 

EPA requirements (reference 2 of this appendix), and approved by 

the appropriate Regional Administrator, or his or her 

Deleted: monitoring organizations

Deleted: quality assurance project plans 

(QAPP)

Deleted: ;

Deleted: of society
representative. The quality system described in the QMP will be 

reviewed during the systems audits described in section 2.5 of 

this appendix. Organizations that implement long-term monitoring 

programs with EPA funds should have a separate QMP document. 

Smaller organizations, organizations that do infrequent work 

with the EPA or have monitoring programs of limited size or 

scope may combine the QMP with the QAPP if approved by, and 

subject to any conditions of the EPA. Additional guidance on 

this process can be found in reference 10 of this appendix. 

Approval of the recipient's QMP by the appropriate Regional 

Administrator or his or her representative may allow delegation 

of authority to review and approve environmental data collection 

activities adequately described and covered under the scope of 

the QMP and documented in appropriate planning documents (QAPP)

to the PQAOs independent quality assurance function. Where a 

PQAO or monitoring organization has been delegated authority to 

review and approve their QAPP, an electronic copy must be 

submitted to the EPA region at the time it is submitted to the 

PQAO/monitoring organizations QAPP approving authority. The QAPP 

will be reviewed by the EPA during systems audits or 

circumstances related to data quality. The QMP submission and 

approval dates for PQAOs/monitoring organizations must be 

reported to AQS. 

Deleted: or

Deleted: funds

Deleted: based on negotiations with the 

funding agency

Deleted: ,

Deleted: the 

Deleted: the 

Deleted: recipient, based on adequacy of 

Deleted: procedures described and 

documented in the QMP.
2.1.2 The QAPP is a formal document describing, in 

sufficient detail, the quality system that must be implemented 

to ensure that the results of work performed will satisfy the 

stated objectives. PQAOs must develop QAPPs that describe how 

the organization intends to control measurement uncertainty to 

an appropriate level in order to achieve the data quality 

objectives for the EDO. The quality assurance policy of the EPA 

requires every EDO to have a written and approved QAPP prior to 

the start of the EDO. It is the responsibility of the 

PQAO/monitoring organization to adhere to this policy. The QAPP 

must be suitably documented in accordance with EPA requirements 

(reference 3 of this appendix) which include standard operating 

procedures for all EDOs either within the document or by 

appropriate reference. The QAPP must identify each PQAO 

operating monitors under the QAPP as well as generally identify 

the sites and monitors to which it is applicable. The QAPP 

submission and approval dates must be reported to AQS.

2.1.3 The PQAO/monitoring organization's quality system 

must have adequate resources both in personnel and funding to 

plan, implement, assess and report on the achievement of the 

requirements of this appendix and its approved QAPP. 

2.2 Independence of Quality Assurance. The PQAO must 

provide for a quality assurance management function; that aspect 

Deleted: environmental data operation 

(EDO)

Deleted: ).

Deleted: monitoring organization

Deleted: -
of the overall management system of the organization that 

determines and implements the quality policy defined in a PQAO's

QMP. Quality management includes strategic planning, allocation 

of resources and other systematic planning activities (e.g., 

planning, implementation, assessing and reporting) pertaining to 

the quality system. The quality assurance management function 

must have sufficient technical expertise and management 

authority to conduct independent oversight and assure the 

implementation of the organization's quality system relative to 

the ambient air quality monitoring program and should be 

organizationally independent of environmental data generation 

activities. 

2.3. Data Quality Performance Requirements. 

2.3.1 Data Quality Objectives. The DQOs, or the results of 

other systematic planning processes, are statements that define 

the appropriate type of data to collect and specify the 

tolerable levels of potential decision errors that will be used 

as a basis for establishing the quality and quantity of data 

needed to support the monitoring objectives (reference 5 of this 

appendix). The DQOs will be developed by the EPA to support the 

primary regulatory objectives for each criteria pollutant. As 

they are developed, they will be added to the regulation. The 

quality of the conclusions derived from data interpretation can 

Deleted: monitoring organization's

Deleted: Data quality objectives (DQO)

Deleted: the SLAMS stations. DQO

Deleted: SLAMS

Deleted: DQO or the results of other 

systematic planning processes for PSD or 

other monitoring will be the 

responsibility of the monitoring 

organizations. The 

Deleted: made
be affected by population uncertainty (spatial or temporal 

uncertainty) and measurement uncertainty (uncertainty associated 

with collecting, analyzing, reducing and reporting concentration 

data). This appendix focuses on assessing and controlling 

measurement uncertainty. 

2.3.1.1 Measurement Uncertainty for Automated and Manual 

PM2.5 Methods. The goal for acceptable measurement uncertainty is 

defined for precision as an upper 90 percent confidence limit 

for the coefficient of variation (CV) of 10 percent and plus or 

minus 10 percent for total bias. 

2.3.1.2 Measurement Uncertainty for Automated O3 Methods. 

The goal for acceptable measurement uncertainty is defined for 

precision as an upper 90 percent confidence limit for the CV of 

7 percent and for bias as an upper 95 percent confidence limit 

for the absolute bias of 7 percent. 

.3.1.3 2.3.1.4 Measurement Uncertainty for Pb Methods. 

The goal for acceptable measurement uncertainty is defined for 

precision as an upper 90 percent confidence limit for the CV of 

20 percent and for bias as an upper 95 percent confidence limit 

for the absolute bias of 15 percent. 

2.3.1.4 Measurement Uncertainty for NO2. The goal for 

acceptable measurement uncertainty is defined for precision as 

Deleted: 10

Deleted: for total precision 

Deleted: Ozone

Deleted: coefficient variation (CV)

Deleted: 2

Deleted: Measurement Uncertainty for 

PM10-2.5 Methods. The goal for 

acceptable measurement uncertainty is 

defined for precision as an upper 90 

percent confidence limit for the 

coefficient variation (CV) of 15 percent 

and for bias as an upper 95 percent 

confidence limit for the absolute bias 

of 15 percent.¶

Deleted: coefficient variation (CV)

Deleted: 5 
an upper 90 percent confidence limit for the CV of 15 percent 

and for bias as an upper 95 percent confidence limit for the 

absolute bias of 15 percent. 

2.3.1.5 Measurement Uncertainty for SO2. The goal for 

acceptable measurement uncertainty for precision is defined as 

an upper 90 percent confidence limit for the CV of 10 percent 

and for bias as an upper 95 percent confidence limit for the 

absolute bias of 10 percent. 

2.4 National Performance Evaluation Programs. The PQAO

shall provide for the implementation of a program of independent 

and adequate audits of all monitors providing data for NAAQS 

compliance purposes including the provision of adequate 

resources for such audit programs. A monitoring plan (or QAPP) 

which provides for PQAO participation in the EPA's National 

Performance Audit Program (NPAP), the PM2.5 Performance 

Evaluation Program (PM2.5-PEP) program and the Pb Performance 

Evaluation Program (Pb-PEP) and indicates the consent of the 

PQAO for the EPA to apply an appropriate portion of the grant 

funds, which the EPA would otherwise award to the PQAO for these 

QA activities, will be deemed by the EPA to meet this 

requirement. For clarification and to participate, PQAOs should 

contact either the appropriate EPA regional quality assurance 

(QA) coordinator at the appropriate EPA regional office 

Deleted: coefficient of variation (CV)

Deleted: 6 

Deleted: coefficient of variation (CV)

Deleted: Monitoring plans or the QAPP

Deleted: SLAMS and PSD

Deleted: monitoring organization

Deleted: ) and

Deleted: PM

Deleted: which 

Deleted: monitoring organization

Deleted: monitoring organization

Deleted: monitoring

Deleted: monitoring organizations
location, or the NPAP coordinator at the EPA Air Quality 

Assessment Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and 

Standards, in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The PQAOs 

that plan to implement these programs (self-implement) rather 

than use the federal programs must meet the adequacy 

requirements found in the appropriate sections that follow, as 

well as meet the definition of independent assessment that 

follows. 

2.4.1 Independent assessment. An assessment performed by a 

qualified individual, group, or organization that is not part of 

the organization directly performing and accountable for the 

work being assessed. This auditing organization must not be 

involved with the generation of the ambient air monitoring data. 

An organization can conduct the performance evaluation (PE) if 

it can meet this definition and has a management structure that, 

at a minimum, will allow for the separation of its routine 

sampling personnel from its auditing personnel by two levels of 

management. In addition, the sample analysis of audit filters 

must be performed by a laboratory facility and laboratory 

equipment separate from the facilities used for routine sample 

analysis. Field and laboratory personnel will be required to 

meet PE field and laboratory training and certification 

requirements to establish comparability to federally implemented 

Deleted: U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency 
programs. 

2.5 Technical Systems Audit Program. Technical systems 

audits of each PQAO shall be conducted at least every 3 years by 

the appropriate EPA regional office and reported to the AQS. If 

a PQAO is made up of more than one monitoring organization, all 

monitoring organizations in the PQAO should be audited within 6 

years (two TSA cycles of the PQAO). As an example, if a state 

has five local monitoring organizations that are consolidated 

under one PQAO, all five local monitoring organizations will 

receive a technical systems audit within a 6-year period. 

Systems audit programs are described in reference 10 of this 

appendix. For further instructions, PQAOs should contact the 

appropriate EPA regional QA coordinator. 

2.6 Gaseous and Flow Rate Audit Standards. 

2.6.1 Gaseous pollutant concentration standards (permeation 

devices or cylinders of compressed gas) used to obtain test 

concentrations for carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), 

nitrogen oxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) must be traceable 

to either a National Institute of Standards and Technology 

(NIST) Traceable Reference Material (NTRM) or a NIST-certified 

Gas Manufacturer's Internal Standard (GMIS), certified in 

accordance with one of the procedures given in reference 4 of 

Deleted: ambient air monitoring 

organization

Deleted: monitoring organizations
this appendix. Vendors advertising certification with the 

procedures provided in reference 4 of this appendix and 

distributing gases as “EPA Protocol Gas” for ambient air 

monitoring purposes must participate in the EPA Ambient Air 

Protocol Gas Verification Program or not use “EPA” in any form 

of advertising. Monitoring organizations must provide 

information to the EPA on the gas producers they use on an 

annual basis and those PQAOs purchasing standards will be 

obligated, at the request of the EPA, to participate in the 

program at least once every 5 years by sending a new unused 

standard to a designated verification laboratory. 

2.6.2 Test concentrations for ozone (O3) must be obtained in 

accordance with the ultraviolet photometric calibration 

procedure specified in appendix D to part 50 of this chapter and

by means of a certified NIST-traceable O3 transfer standard. 

Consult references 7 and 8 of this appendix for guidance on 

transfer standards for O3. 

2.6.3 Flow rate measurements must be made by a flow

measuring instrument that is NIST-traceable to an authoritative 

volume or other applicable standard. Guidance for certifying 

some types of flowmeters is provided in reference 10 of this 

appendix. 

Deleted: gasses

Deleted: ultra violet

Deleted: , or

Deleted: primary and 
2.7 Primary Requirements and Guidance. Requirements and 

guidance documents for developing the quality system are 

contained in references 1 through 11 of this appendix, which 

also contain many suggested procedures, checks, and control 

specifications. Reference 10 describes specific guidance for the 

development of a quality system for data collected for 

comparison to the NAAQS. Many specific quality control checks 

and specifications for methods are included in the respective 

reference methods described in part 50 of this chapter or in the 

respective equivalent method descriptions available from the EPA 

(reference 6 of this appendix). Similarly, quality control 

procedures related to specifically designated reference and 

equivalent method monitors are contained in the respective 

operation or instruction manuals associated with those monitors.

3. Measurement Quality Check Requirements 

his section provides the requirements for PQAOs to perform 

the measurement quality checks that can be used to assess data 

quality. Data from these checks are required to be submitted to 

the AQS within the same time frame as routinely-collected

ambient concentration data as described (a) Operation by a 

common team of field operators according to a common set of 

procedures; 

Deleted: 10

Deleted: of this appendix 

Deleted: SLAMS

Deleted: analyzers

Deleted: analyzers. 

Deleted: T

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organizations (

Deleted: )

Deleted: With the exception of the flow 

rate verifications (sections 3.2.3 and 

3.3.2 of this appendix), 

Deleted: routine

Deleted: . Section 3.2 of this appendix 

describes checks of automated or 

continuous instruments while section 3.3 

describe checks associated with manual 

sampling instruments. Other quality 

control samples are identified in the 

various references 

Deleted: earlier and can be used to 

control certain aspects of the 

measurement system.¶

3.1 Primary Quality Assurance 

Organization. A primary quality 

assurance organization is defined as a 

monitoring organization or a coordinated 

aggregation of such organizations that 

is responsible for a set of stations 

that monitors the same pollutant and for 

which data quality assessments can 

logically be pooled. Each criteria 

pollutant sampler/monitor at a 

monitoring station in the SLAMS network 

must be associated with one, and only 

one, primary quality assurance 

organization.¶

3.1.1 Each primary quality assurance 

organization shall be defined such that 

measurement uncertainty among all 

stations in the organization can be 

expected to be reasonably homogeneous, 

as a result of common factors. Common 

factors that should be considered by 

monitoring organizations in defining 

primary quality assurance organizations 

include:¶

Moved up [2]: (a) Operation by a common 

team of field operators according to a 

common set of procedures;¶
(c) Common calibration facilities and standards; 

( 

3.2 Measurement Quality Checks of Automated Methods.in 40 

CFR 58.16. Table A–1 of this appendix provides a summary of the 

types and frequency of the measurement quality checks that will 

be described in this section. 

3.1. Gaseous Monitors of SO2, NO2, O3, and CO. 

.1.1 One-Point Quality Control (QC) Check for SO2, NO2, O3, 

and CO. (a) A one-point QC check must be performed at least once 

every 2 weeks on each automated monitor used to measure SO2, NO2, 

O3 and CO. With the advent of automated calibration systems, more 

frequent checking is strongly encouraged. See Reference 10 of 

this appendix for guidance on the review procedure. The QC check 

is made by challenging the monitor with a QC check gas of known 

concentration (effective concentration for open path monitors) 

between the prescribed range of 0.005 and 0.08 parts per million 

(ppm) for SO2, NO2, and O3, and between the prescribed range of 

0.5 and 5 ppm for CO monitors. The QC check gas concentration 

selected within the prescribed range must be related to the mean 

or median of the ambient air concentrations normally measured at 

sites within the monitoring network in order to appropriately 

reflect the precision and bias at these ambient air 

Deleted: (b) Use of a common QAPP or 

standard operating procedures;¶

Moved up [3]: (c) Common calibration 

facilities and standards;¶

(d) Oversight by a common quality 

assurance organization; and¶

(e) Support by a common management

Deleted: (

Deleted: , laboratory or headquarters.¶

3.1.2 Primary quality assurance 

organizations are not necessarily 

related to the organization reporting 

data to the AQS. Monitoring 

organizations having difficulty in 

defining the primary quality assurance 

organizations or in assigning specific 

sites to primary quality assurance 

organizations should consult with the 

appropriate EPA Regional Office. All 

definitions of primary quality assurance 

organizations shall be subject to final 

approval by the appropriate EPA Regional 

Office during scheduled network reviews 

or systems audits.¶

3.1.3 Data quality assessment results 

shall be reported as specified in 

section 5 of this appendix.¶

Deleted: -2

Deleted: 2.

Deleted: 3

Deleted: quality control (

Deleted: )

Deleted: analyzer

Deleted: The frequency of QC checks may be 

reduced based upon review, assessment 

and approval of the EPA Regional ... [12]

Deleted: analyzer

Deleted: analyzers

Deleted: 01

Deleted: 10

Deleted: 1

Deleted: 10

Deleted: analyzers. The ranges allow for 

appropriate check gas selection for ... [13]

Deleted: should

Deleted: routine

Deleted: routine concentration ranges. To 

check the precision and bias of SLAMS ... [14]
concentration ranges. If the mean or median concentrations at 

the sites are below or above the prescribed range for the 

relevant pollutant, select the lowest or highest concentration 

in the range. An additional QC check point is encouraged for 

those organizations that may have occasional high values or 

would like to confirm the monitors’ linearity at the higher end 

of the operational range or around NAAQS concentrations. 

3(b) Point analyzers must operate in their normal sampling 

mode during the QC check and the test atmosphere must pass 

through all filters, scrubbers, conditioners and other 

components used during normal ambient sampling and as much of 

the ambient air inlet system as is practicable. The QC check 

must be conducted before any calibration or adjustment to the 

monitor. 

3(c) Open path monitors are tested by inserting a test cell 

containing a QC check gas concentration into the optical 

measurement beam of the instrument. If possible, the normally 

used transmitter, receiver, and as appropriate, reflecting 

devices should be used during the test, and the normal 

monitoring configuration of the instrument should be altered as 

little as possible to accommodate the test cell for the test. 

However, if permitted by the associated operation or instruction 

manual, an alternate local light source or an alternate optical 

Deleted: .2.1.1 Except for certain CO 

analyzers described below,

Deleted: ,

Deleted: If permitted by the associated 

operation or instruction manual, a CO 

point analyzer may be temporarily 

modified during the QC check to reduce 

vent or purge flows, or the test 

atmosphere may enter the analyzer at a 

point other than the normal sample 

inlet, provided that the analyzer's 

response is not likely to be altered by 

these deviations from the normal 

operational mode. If a QC check is made 

in conjunction with a zero or span 

adjustment, it must be made prior to 

such zero or span adjustments.

Deleted: .2.1.2 

Deleted: analyzers
path that does not include the normal atmospheric monitoring 

path may be used. The actual concentration of the QC check gas 

in the test cell must be selected to produce an effective 

concentration in the range specified earlier in this section. 

Generally, the QC test concentration measurement will be the sum 

of the atmospheric pollutant concentration and the QC test 

concentration. As such, the result must be corrected to remove 

the atmospheric concentration contribution. The corrected 

concentration is obtained by subtracting the average of the 

atmospheric concentrations measured by the open path instrument 

under test immediately before and immediately after the QC test 

from the QC check gas concentration measurement. If the 

difference between these before and after measurements is 

greater than 20 percent of the effective concentration of the 

test gas, discard the test result and repeat the test. If 

possible, open path monitors should be tested during periods 

when the atmospheric pollutant concentrations are relatively low 

and steady. 

3(d) Report the audit concentration of the QC gas and the 

corresponding measured concentration indicated by the monitor to 

AQS. The percent differences between these concentrations are 

used to assess the precision and bias of the monitoring data as 

described in sections 4.1.2 (precision) and 4.1.3 (bias) of this 

Deleted: If so

Deleted: analyzers

Deleted: .2.1.3 

Deleted: (effective concentration for open 

path analyzers) 

Deleted: (corrected concentration, if 

applicable, for open path analyzers) 

Deleted: analyzer
appendix. 

3.1.2 Annual performance evaluation for SO2, NO2, O3, or CO. 

A performance evaluation must be conducted on each primary 

monitor once a year. This can be accomplished by evaluating 25 

percent of the primary monitors each quarter. The evaluation 

should be conducted by a trained experienced technician other 

than the routine site operator. 

3.1.2.1 The evaluation is made by challenging the monitor

with audit gas standards of known concentration from at least 

three audit levels. Two of the audit levels selected will

represent a range of 10-80 percent of the typical ambient air 

concentrations either measured by the monitor or in the PQAOs 

network of monitors. The third point should be at the NAAQS 

level or above the highest 3-year ambient air hourly 

concentration, whichever is greater. An additional 4th level is 

encouraged for those agencies that would like to confirm the 

monitors’ linearity at the higher end of the operational range. 

In rare circumstances, there may be sites measuring

concentrations above audit level 10. Notify the appropriate EPA 

region and the AQS program in order to make accommodations for 

auditing at levels above level 10.

Audit Concentration Range, ppm

Deleted: .2 

Deleted: Each calendar quarter (during 

which analyzers are operated), evaluate 

at least

Deleted: SLAMS analyzers that monitor for 

SO2, NO2, O3, or CO such that each 

analyzer is evaluated at least once per 

year. If there are fewer than four 

analyzers for a pollutant within a 

primary quality assurance organization, 

it is suggested to randomly evaluate one 

or more analyzers so that at least one 

analyzer for that pollutant is evaluated

Deleted: calendar 

Deleted: 2.

Deleted: (a)

Deleted: analyzer

Deleted: standard

Deleted: (effective concentration for open 

path analyzers) 

Deleted: consecutive 

Deleted: should

Deleted: or bracket 

Deleted: analyzer being evaluated: 
Level O3 SO2 NO2 CO

1 0.004-

0.0059

0.0003-

0.0029

0.0003-0.0029 0.020-0.059

2 0.006-0.019 0.0030-

0.0049

0.0030-0.0049 0.060-0.199

3 0.020-0.039 0.0050-

0.0079

0.0050-0.0079 10.200-0.899

4 0.040-0.069 0.0080-

0.0199 

0.0080-0.0199 0.900-2.999 

5 0.070-0.089 0.0200-

0.0499 

0.0200-0.0499 3.000-7.999 

6 0.090-0.119 0.0500-

0.0999 

0.0500-0.0999 8.000-15.999 

47 0.120-0.139 0.1000-

0.1499

0.1000-0.2999 516.000-

30.999

58 0.140-0.169 0.1500-

0.2599

0.3000-0.4999 231.000-

39.999

9 0.170-0.189 0.2600-

0.7999 

0.5000-0.7999 40.000-

49.999 

10 0.190-0.259 0.8000-1.000 0.8000-1.000 50.000-

60.000 

1.2.2 The NO2 audit techniques may vary depending on the 

ambient monitoring method. For chemiluminescence-type NO2

analyzers, gas phase titration (GPT) techniques should be based 

on EPA guidance documents and monitoring agency experience. The 

NO2 gas standards may be more appropriate than GPT for direct NO2

methods that do not employ converters. Care should be taken to 

ensure the stability of such gas standards prior to use. 

Deleted: 02...04-0.05 ... [15]

Deleted: 005

Deleted: 0002...003-0.002 ... [16]

Deleted: 08...20-0.10 ... [17]

Deleted: 06...06-0.10 ... [18]

Deleted: 006...030-0.01 ... [19]

Deleted: 003...030-0.005 ... [20]

Deleted: 50-1.00 

Deleted: 11...20-0.20 ... [21]

Deleted: 02...050-0.10 ... [22]

Deleted: 006...050-0.10 ... [23]

Deleted: .50-4.00 

Deleted: 21...20-0.30 ... [24]

Deleted: 11...000-0.40 ... [25]

Deleted: 11...000-0.30 ... [26]

Deleted: -15 

Deleted: 31...40-0.90 ... [27]

Deleted: 41...500-0.90 ... [28]

Deleted: 31...000-0.60 ... [29]

Deleted: 0-50

Deleted: (b) An additional 4th level is 

encouraged for those monitors that have 

the potential for exceeding the 

concentration ranges described by the 

initial three selected.¶

3.....2.2.2 (a)...The NO2 audit gas 

techniques may vary depending on the 

ambient monitoring method. For 

chemiluminescence-type NO2 analyzers must 

also contain at least 0.08 ppm NO. NO 

concentrations substantially higher than 

0.08 ppm, as may occur when using some... 

gas phase titration (GPT) techniques, 

may lead to evaluation errors in 

chemiluminescence analyzers due to 

inevitable minor NO-NOX channel 

imbalance. Such errors may be 

atypical...should be based on EPA guidance 

documents and monitoring agency 

experience. The NO2 gas standards may be 

more appropriate than GPT for direct NO2

methods that do not employ converters. 

Care should be taken to ensure the 

stability of routine monitoring errors 

to the extent that ...uch NO 

concentrations exceed typical ambient NO 

concentrations at the site. These errors 

may be minimized by modifying the GPT ... [30]
3.1.2.3 The standards from which audit gas test 

concentrations are obtained must meet the specifications of 

section 2.6.1 of this appendix. The gas standards and equipment 

used for the performance evaluation must not be the same as the 

standards and equipment used for one-point QC, calibrations, 

span evaluations or NPAP. 

3.1.2.4 For point analyzers, the evaluation shall be 

carried out by allowing the monitor to analyze the audit gas 

test atmosphere in its normal sampling mode such that the test 

atmosphere passes through all filters, scrubbers, conditioners, 

and other sample inlet components used during normal ambient 

sampling and as much of the ambient air inlet system as is 

practicable. 

3.1.2.5 Open path monitors are evaluated by inserting a 

test cell containing the various audit gas concentrations into 

the optical measurement beam of the instrument. If possible, the 

normally used transmitter, receiver, and, as appropriate, 

reflecting devices should be used during the evaluation, and the 

normal monitoring configuration of the instrument should be 

modified as little as possible to accommodate the test cell for 

the evaluation. However, if permitted by the associated 

operation or instruction manual, an alternate local light source 

or an alternate optical path that does not include the normal 

Deleted: 2

Deleted: evaluations 

Deleted: calibration or calibration span 

adjustments. For SLAMS sites, the 

auditor should not be the operator or 

analyst who conducts the routine 

monitoring, calibration, and analysis. 

For PSD sites the auditor must not be 

the operator or analyst who conducts the 

routine monitoring, calibration, and 

analysis.

Deleted: 2

Deleted: analyzer

Deleted: The exception provided in section 

3.2.1 of this appendix for certain CO 

analyzers does not apply for 

evaluations.

Deleted: 2

Deleted: analyzers
atmospheric monitoring path may be used. The actual

concentrations of the audit gas in the test cell must be 

selected to produce effective concentrations in the evaluation 

level ranges specified in this section of this appendix. 

Generally, each evaluation concentration measurement result will 

be the sum of the atmospheric pollutant concentration and the 

evaluation test concentration. As such, the result must be 

corrected to remove the atmospheric concentration contribution. 

The corrected concentration is obtained by subtracting the 

average of the atmospheric concentrations measured by the open 

path instrument under test immediately before and immediately 

after the evaluation test (or preferably before and after each 

evaluation concentration level) from the evaluation

concentration measurement. If the difference between the before 

and after measurements is greater than 20 percent of the 

effective concentration of the test gas standard, discard the 

test result for that concentration level and repeat the test for 

that level. If possible, open path monitors should be evaluated 

during periods when the atmospheric pollutant concentrations are 

relatively low and steady. Also, if the open path instrument is 

not installed in a permanent manner, the monitoring path length 

must be reverified to be within plus or minus 3 percent to 

validate the evaluation since the monitoring path length is 

critical to the determination of the effective concentration. 

Deleted: If so

Deleted: analyzers

Deleted: ,
3.1.2.6 Report both the evaluation concentrations 

(effective concentrations for open path monitors) of the audit 

gases and the corresponding measured concentration (corrected 

concentrations, if applicable, for open path monitors) indicated 

or produced by the monitor being tested to AQS. The percent 

differences between these concentrations are used to assess the 

quality of the monitoring data as described in section 4.1.1 of 

this appendix. 

3.1.3 National Performance Audit Program (NPAP). 

The NPAP is a performance evaluation which is a type of audit 

where quantitative data are collected independently in order to 

evaluate the proficiency of an analyst, monitoring instrument or 

laboratory. Details of the program can be found in reference 11 of 

this appendix. The program requirements include: 

3.1.3.1 Performing audits of the primary monitors at 20 

percent of monitoring sites per year, and 100 percent of the sites 

in 6 years. High-priority sites may be visited more often. Since 

not all gaseous criteria pollutants are monitored at every site 

within a PQAO, it is not required that 20 percent of the primary 

monitors for each pollutant receive an NPAP audit each year only 

that 20 percent of the PQAOs monitoring sites receive an NPAP 

Deleted: 2

Deleted: analyzers

Deleted: analyzers

Deleted: analyzer

Deleted: 4
audit. It is expected that over the 6-year period all primary 

monitors for all gaseous pollutants will receive an NPAP audit. 

3.1.3.2 Developing a delivery system that will allow for the 

audit concentration gasses to be introduced to the probe inlet 

where logistically feasible. 

3.1.3.3 Using audit gases that are verified against the 

NIST standard reference methods or special review procedures and 

validated annually for CO, SO2 and NO2, and at the beginning of 

each quarter of audits for O3. 

3.1.3.4 As described in section 2.4 of this appendix, the 

PQAO may elect, on an annual basis, to utilize the federally 

implemented NPAP program. If the PQAO plans to self-implement 

NPAP, the EPA will establish training and other technical 

requirements for PQAOs to establish comparability to federally 

implemented programs. In addition to meeting the requirements in 

sections 3.1.3.1 through 3.1.3.3 of this appendix, the PQAO 

must: 

(a) Utilize an audit system equivalent to the federally 

implemented NPAP audit system and is separate from equipment used 

in annual performance evaluations. 

(b) Perform a whole system check by having the NPAP system 

tested against an independent and qualified EPA lab, or equivalent. 

Deleted: .3 
(c) Evaluate the system with the EPA NPAP program through 

collocated auditing at an acceptable number of sites each year (at 

least one for an agency network of five or less sites; at least 

two for a network with more than five sites). 

(d) Incorporate the NPAP in the PQAO’s quality assurance 

project plan. 

(e) Be subject to review by independent, EPA-trained 

personnel. 

(f) Participate in initial and update 

training/certification sessions. 

3.2 PM2.5. 

.2.1 Flow Rate Verification for PM2.5. A one-point flow rate 

verification check must be performed at least once every month 

(each verification minimally separated by 14 days) on each 

monitor used to measure PM2.5. The verification is made by 

checking the operational flow rate of the monitor. If the 

verification is made in conjunction with a flow rate adjustment, 

it must be made prior to such flow rate adjustment. For the 

standard procedure, use a flow rate transfer standard certified 

in accordance with section 2.6 of this appendix to check the 

monitor's normal flow rate. Care should be used in selecting and 

using the flow rate measurement device such that it does not 

alter the normal operating flow rate of the monitor. Report the 

Deleted: 3

Deleted: Particulate Matter.

Deleted: on each automated analyzer

Deleted: PM10, PM10-2.5 and 
flow rate of the transfer standard and the corresponding flow 

rate measured by the monitor to AQS. The percent differences 

between the audit and measured flow rates are used to assess the 

bias of the monitoring data as described in section 4.2.2 of 

this appendix (using flow rates in lieu of concentrations). 

3.2.2 Semi-Annual Flow Rate Audit for PM2.5. Audit the flow 

rate of the particulate monitor twice a year. The two audits 

should ideally be spaced between 5 and 7 months apart. The EPA 

strongly encourages more frequent auditing. The audit should 

(preferably) be conducted by a trained experienced technician 

other than the routine site operator. The audit is made by 

measuring the monitor's normal operating flow rate(s) using a 

flow rate transfer standard certified in accordance with section 

2.6 of this appendix. The flow rate standard used for auditing 

must not be the same flow rate standard used for verifications 

or to calibrate the monitor. However, both the calibration 

standard and the audit standard may be referenced to the same 

primary flow rate or volume standard. Care must be taken in 

auditing the flow rate to be certain that the flow measurement 

device does not alter the normal operating flow rate of the 

monitor. Report the audit flow rate of the transfer standard and 

the corresponding flow rate measured by the monitor to AQS. The 

percent differences between these flow rates are used to 

Moved (insertion) [4]
evaluate monitor performance. 

3.2.3 Collocated Quality Control Sampling Procedures for 

PM2.5. For each pair of collocated monitors, designate one sampler 

as the primary monitor whose concentrations will be used to 

report air quality for the site, and designate the other as the 

quality control monitor. There can be only one primary monitor 

at a monitoring site for a given time period. 

3.2.3.1 For each distinct monitoring method designation 

(FRM or FEM) that a PQAO is using for a primary monitor, the 

PQAO must: 

(a) Have 15 percent of the primary monitors of each method 

designation collocated (values of 0.5 and greater round up); and 

have at least one collocated quality control monitor (if the 

total number of monitors is less than three). The first 

collocated monitor must be a designated FRM monitor. 

3.2.3.2 In addition, monitors selected for collocation must 

also meet the following requirements: 

(a) A primary monitor designated as an EPA FRM shall be 

collocated with a quality control monitor having the same EPA 

FRM method designation. 

(b) For each primary monitor designated as an EPA FEM used 
by the PQAO, 50 percent of the monitors designated for 

collocation, or the first if only one collocation is necessary, 

shall be collocated with a FRM quality control monitor and 50 

percent of the monitors shall be collocated with a monitor 

having the same method designation as the FEM primary monitor. 

If an odd number of collocated monitors is required, the 

additional monitor shall be a FRM quality control monitor. An 

example of the distribution of collocated monitors for each 

unique FEM is provided below. Table A–2 of this appendix 

demonstrates the procedure with a PQAO having an FRM and 

multiple FEMs. 

#Primary FEMS 

of a unique 

method 

designation 

#Collocated #Collocated 

with an FRM 

#Collocated 

with same 

method 

designation 

"1-9" 1 1 0 

"10-16" 2 1 1 

"17-23" 3 2 1 

"24-29" 4 2 2 

"30-36" 5 3 2 

"37-43" 6 3 3 

3.2.3.3 Since the collocation requirements are used to 

assess precision of the primary monitors and there can only be 

one primary monitor at a monitoring site, a site can only count 

for the collocation of the method designation of the primary 
monitor at that site. 

3.2.3.4 The collocated monitors should be deployed 

according to the following protocol: 

(a) Fifty percent of the collocated quality control 

monitors should be deployed at sites with annual average or 

daily concentrations estimated to be within ±20 percent of 

either the annual or 24-hour NAAQS and the remainder at the 

PQAOs discretion; 

(b) If an organization has no sites with annual average or 

daily concentrations within ±20 percent of the annual NAAQS or 

24-hour NAAQS, 50 percent of the collocated quality control 

monitors should be deployed at those sites with the annual mean 

concentrations or 24-hour concentrations among the highest for 

all sites in the network and the remainder at the PQAOs 

discretion. 

(c) The two collocated monitors must be within 4 meters 

(inlet to inlet) of each other and at least 2 meters apart for 

flow rates greater than 200 liters/min or at least 1 meter apart 

for samplers having flow rates less than 200 liters/min to 

preclude airflow interference. A waiver allowing up to 10 meters 

horizontal distance and up to 3 meters vertical distance (inlet 

to inlet) between a primary and collocated sampler may be 
approved by the Regional Administrator for sites at a 

neighborhood or larger scale of representation during the annual 

network plan approval process. Calibration, sampling, and 

analysis must be the same for both primary and collocated 

quality control samplers and the same as for all other samplers 

in the network. 

(d) Sample the collocated quality control monitor on a 1-

in-12 day schedule. Report the measurements from both primary 

and collocated quality control monitors at each collocated 

sampling site to AQS. The calculations for evaluating precision 

between the two collocated monitors are described in section 

4.2.1 of this appendix. 

3.2.4 PM2.5 Performance Evaluation Program (PEP) Procedures. 

The PEP is an independent assessment used to estimate total 

measurement system bias. These evaluations will be performed 

under the NPEP as described in section 2.4 of this appendix or a 

comparable program. Performance evaluations will be performed 

annually within each PQAO. For PQAOs with less than or equal to 

five monitoring sites, five valid performance evaluation audits 

must be collected and reported each year. For PQAOs with greater 

than five monitoring sites, eight valid performance evaluation 

audits must be collected and reported each year. A valid 

performance evaluation audit means that both the primary monitor 

Moved (insertion) [5]

Moved (insertion) [6]
and PEP audit concentrations are valid and above 3 μg/m3. Siting 

of the PEP monitor should be consistent with section 3.2.3.7. 

However, any horizontal distance greater than 4 meters and any 

vertical distance greater than one meter must be reported to the 

EPA regional PEP coordinator. Additionally for every monitor 

designated as a primary monitor, a primary quality assurance 

organization must: 

3.2.4.1 Have each method designation evaluated each year; 

and, 

3.2.4.2 Have all FRM, FEM or ARM samplers subject to a PEP 

audit at least once every six years; which equates to 

approximately 15 percent of the monitoring sites audited each 

year. 

3.2.4.3. Additional information concerning the PEP is 

contained in reference 10 of this appendix. The calculations for 

evaluating bias between the primary monitor and the performance 

evaluation monitor for PM2.5 are described in section 4.2.5 of 

this appendix. 

3.3 PM10. 

3.3.1 Flow Rate Verification for PM10 Low Volume Samplers 

(less than 200 liter/minute). A one-point flow rate verification 

Deleted: analyzer
check must be performed at least once every month (each 

verification minimally separated by 14 days) on each monitor 

used to measure PM10. The verification is made by checking the 

operational flow rate of the monitor. If the verification is 

made in conjunction with a flow rate adjustment, it must be made 

prior to such flow rate adjustment. For the standard procedure, 

use a flow rate transfer standard certified in accordance with 

section 2.6 of this appendix to check the monitor's normal flow 

rate. Care should be taken in selecting and using the flow rate 

measurement device such that it does not alter the normal 

operating flow rate of the monitor. The percent differences 

between the audit and measured flow rates are reported to AQS 

and used to assess the bias of the monitoring data as described 

in section 4.2.2 of this appendix (using flow rates in lieu of 

concentrations). 

3.3.2 Flow Rate Verification for PM10 High Volume Samplers 

(greater than 200 liters/minute). For PM10 high volume samplers, 

the verification frequency is one verification every 90 days 

(quarter) with 4 in a year. Other than verification frequency, 

follow the same technical procedure as described in section 

3.3.1 of this appendix. 

.3.3 Semi-Annual Flow Rate Audit for PM10. Audit the flow 

rate of the particulate monitor twice a year. The two audits 

Deleted: Randomization of the flow rate 

verification with respect to time of 

day, day of week, and routine service 

and adjustments is encouraged where 

possible. 

Deleted: analyzer's

Deleted: used

Deleted: analyzer. Report the flow rate of 

the transfer standard and the 

corresponding flow rate measured 

(indicated) by the analyzer.

Deleted: .

Deleted: 3

Deleted: Particulate Matter. Every 6 

months,

Deleted: PM10, PM10-2.5 and PM2.5 

Deleted: analyzers. Where possible,

Moved up [4]: EPA strongly encourages more 

frequent auditing. The audit should 

(preferably) be conducted by a trained 

experienced technician other than the 

routine site operator. 
should ideally be spaced between 5 and 7 months apart. The EPA 

strongly encourages more frequent auditing. The audit should 

(preferably) be conducted by a trained experienced technician 

other than the routine site operator. The audit is made by 

measuring the monitor's normal operating flow rate using a flow 

rate transfer standard certified in accordance with section 2.6 

of this appendix. The flow rate standard used for auditing must 

not be the same flow rate standard used for verifications or to 

calibrate the monitor. However, both the calibration standard 

and the audit standard may be referenced to the same primary 

flow rate or volume standard. Care must be taken in auditing the 

flow rate to be certain that the flow measurement device does 

not alter the normal operating flow rate of the monitor. Report 

the audit flow rate of the transfer standard and the 

corresponding flow rate measured by the monitor to AQS. The 

percent differences between these flow rates are used to 

evaluate monitor performance. 

3.3.4 Collocated Quality Control Sampling Procedures for 

Manual PM10. Collocated sampling for PM10 is only required for 

manual samplers. For each pair of collocated monitors, designate 

one sampler as the primary monitor whose concentrations will be 

used to report air quality for the site and designate the other 

as the quality control monitor. 

Deleted: analyzer's

Deleted: analyzer

Deleted: Great 

Deleted: used

Deleted: analyzer

Deleted: (indicated) 

Deleted: analyzer

Deleted: validate the one-point flow rate 

verification checks used to estimate 

bias as described in section 4.2.3 of 

this appendix.

Deleted: 2.5 

Deleted: PM2.5.

Deleted: ,

Deleted: audit 
3.3.4.1 For manual PM10 samplers, a PQAO must: 

(a) Have 15 percent of the primary monitors collocated 

(values of 0.5 and greater round up); and 

(b) Have at least one collocated quality control monitor 

(if the total number of monitors is less than three). 

3.3.4.2 The collocated quality control monitors should be 

deployed according to the following protocol: 

(a) Fifty percent of the collocated quality control

monitors should be deployed at sites with daily concentrations 

estimated to be within ±20 percent of the applicable NAAQS and 

the remainder at the PQAOs discretion; 

(b) If an organization has no sites with daily 

concentrations within ±20 percent of the NAAQS, 50 percent of 

the collocated quality control monitors should be deployed at 

those sites with the daily mean concentrations among the highest 

for all sites in the network and the remainder at the PQAOs 

discretion. 

3(c) The two collocated monitors must be within 4 meters 

(inlet to inlet) of each other and at least 2 meters apart for 

flow rates greater than 200 liters/min or at least 1 meter apart 

for samplers having flow rates less than 200 liters/min to 

Deleted: 3.2.5.1 Each EPA designated 

Federal reference method (FRM) or 

Federal equivalent method (FEM) within a 

primary quality assurance organization 

must:¶

Deleted: 1

Deleted: 3). The first collocated monitor 

must be a designated FRM monitor.

Deleted: .5.2 In addition,

Deleted: selected for collocation must 

also meet

Deleted: requirements

Deleted: (a) A primary monitor designated 

as an EPA FRM shall be 

Deleted: with an audit monitor having the 

same EPA FRM method designation.¶

(b) For each primary monitor model 

designated as an EPA FEM used by the 

PQAO, 50 percent of the monitors 

designated for collocation shall be 

collocated with an audit monitor having 

the same method designation and 50 

percent of the monitors shall be 

collocated with an FRM audit monitor. If 

the primary quality assurance 

organization only has one FEM monitor it 

shall be collocated with an FRM audit 

monitor. If there are an odd number of 

collocated monitors required, the 

additional monitor shall be an FRM audit 

monitor. An example of this procedure is 

found in Table A-3 of this appendix.¶

3.2.5.3 The collocated monitors should 

be deployed according to the following 

protocol:¶

(a) 80 percent of the collocated audit

Deleted: annual average or 

Deleted: what the monitoring organizations 

designate as high value sites

Deleted: annual average or 

Deleted: annual 

Deleted: (or 24-hour NAAQS if that is 

affecting the area), 60

Deleted: audit

Deleted: annual

Deleted: (or 24-hour NAAQS if that is 

affecting the area) 

Deleted: 25 percent 

Deleted: .2.5.4 In determining the 

number of collocated sites required for ... [31]
preclude airflow interference. A waiver allowing up to 10 meters 

horizontal distance and up to 3 meters vertical distance (inlet 

to inlet) between a primary and collocated sampler may be 

approved by the Regional Administrator for sites at a 

neighborhood or larger scale of representation. This waiver may 

be approved during the annual network plan approval process. 

Calibration, sampling, and analysis must be the same for both 

collocated samplers and the same as for all other samplers in 

the network. 

(d) Sample the collocated quality control monitor on a 1-

in-12 day schedule. Report the measurements from both primary 

and collocated quality control monitors at each collocated 

sampling site to AQS. The calculations for evaluating precision 

between the two collocated monitors are described in section 

4.2.1 of this appendix. 

(e) In determining the number of collocated quality control 

sites required for PM10, monitoring networks for lead (Pb-PM10) 

should be treated independently from networks for particulate 

matter (PM), even though the separate networks may share one or 

more common samplers. However, a single quality control monitor 

that meets the collocation requirements for Pb-PM10 and PM10 may 

serve as a collocated quality control monitor for both networks. 

Extreme care must be taken when using the filter from a quality 

Deleted: , as

Deleted: for Class I visibility areas, EPA 

will accept visibility aerosol mass 

measurement instead of a PM2.5 

measurement if the latter measurement is 

unavailable. Any PM2.5 monitoring site 

which does not have 

Deleted: monitor which is an EPA FRM, FEM 

or ARM is not required to be included in 

the number of sites which are used to 

determine the number of collocated 

monitors.¶

3.2.5.5 For each PSD monitoring 

network, one site must be 

Deleted: . A site with the predicted 

highest 24-hour pollutant concentration 

must be selected.
control monitor for both PM10 and Pb analysis. A PM10 filter 

weighing should occur prior to any Pb analysis. 

3.4 Pb. 

3.4.1 Flow Rate Verification for Pb-PM10 Low Volume Samplers 

(less than 200 liter/minute). A one-point flow rate verification 

check must be performed at least once every month (each 

verification minimally separated by 14 days) on each monitor 

used to measure Pb. The verification is made by checking the 

operational flow rate of the monitor. If the verification is 

made in conjunction with a flow rate adjustment, it must be made 

prior to such flow rate adjustment. For the standard procedure, 

use a flow rate transfer standard certified in accordance with 

section 2.6 of this appendix to check the monitor's normal flow 

rate. Care should be taken in selecting and using the flow rate 

measurement device such that it does not alter the normal 

operating flow rate of the monitor. The percent differences 

between the audit and measured flow rates are reported to AQS 

and used to assess the bias of the monitoring data as described 

in section 4.2.2 of this appendix (using flow rates in lieu of 

concentrations). 

 3.4.2 Flow Rate Verification for Pb High Volume Samplers 

(greater than 200 liters/minute). For high volume samplers, the 
verification frequency is one verification every 90 days 

(quarter) with four in a year. Other than verification 

frequency, follow the same technical procedure as described in 

section 3.4.1 of this appendix. 

3.4.3 Semi-Annual Flow Rate Audit for Pb. Audit the flow 

rate of the particulate monitor twice a year. The two audits 

should ideally be spaced between 5 and 7 months apart. The EPA 

strongly encourages more frequent auditing. The audit should 

(preferably) be conducted by a trained experienced technician 

other than the routine site operator. The audit is made by 

measuring the monitor's normal operating flow rate using a flow 

rate transfer standard certified in accordance with section 2.6 

of this appendix. The flow rate standard used for auditing must 

not be the same flow rate standard used for verifications or to 

calibrate the monitor. However, both the calibration standard 

and the audit standard may be referenced to the same primary 

flow rate or volume standard. Care must be taken in auditing the 

flow rate to be certain that the flow measurement device does 

not alter the normal operating flow rate of the monitor. Report 

the audit flow rate of the transfer standard and the 

corresponding flow rate measured by the monitor to AQS. The 

percent differences between these flow rates are used to 

evaluate monitor performance. 
3.4.4 Collocated Quality Control Sampling for TSP Pb for 

monitoring sites other than non-source NCore. For each pair of 

collocated monitors for manual TSP Pb samplers, designate one 

sampler as the primary monitor whose concentrations will be used 

to report air quality for the site, and designate the other as 

the quality control monitor. 

3.4.4.1 A PQAO must: 

(a) Have 15 percent of the primary monitors (not counting 

non-source NCore sites in PQAO) collocated. Values of 0.5 and 

greater round up; and 

(b) Have at least one collocated quality control monitor 

(if the total number of monitors is less than three). 

3.4.4.2 The collocated quality control monitors should be 

deployed according to the following protocol: 

(a) The first collocated Pb site selected must be the site 

measuring the highest Pb concentrations in the network. If the 

site is impractical, alternative sites, approved by the EPA 

Regional Administrator, may be selected. If additional 

collocated sites are necessary, collocated sites may be chosen 

that reflect average ambient air Pb concentrations in the 

network. 

Moved (insertion) [7]

Deleted: .6 
(b) The two collocated monitors must be within 4 meters

(inlet to inlet) of each other and at least 2 meters apart for 

flow rates greater than 200 liters/min or at least 1 meter apart 

for samplers having flow rates less than 200 liters/min to 

preclude airflow interference. 

(c) Sample the collocated quality control monitor on a 1-

in-12 day schedule. Report the measurements from both primary 

and collocated quality control monitors at each collocated 

sampling site to AQS. The calculations for evaluating precision 

between the two collocated monitors are described in section 

4.2.1 of this appendix. 

3.4.5 Collocated Quality Control Sampling for Pb-PM10 at 

monitoring sites other than non-source NCore. If a PQAO is 

monitoring for Pb-PM10 at sites other than at a non-source 

oriented NCore site then the PQAO must: 

3.4.5.1 Have 15 percent of the primary monitors (not 

counting non-source NCore sites in PQAO) collocated. Values of 

0.5 and greater round up; and 

3.4.5.2 Have at least one collocated quality control 

monitor (if the total number of monitors is less than three). 

3.4.5.3 The collocated monitors should be deployed 
according to the following protocol: 

(a) Fifty percent of the collocated quality control

monitors should be deployed at sites with the highest 3–month 

average concentrations and the remainder at the PQAOs 

discretion. 

(b) The two collocated monitors must be within 4 meters 

(inlet to inlet) of each other and at least 2 meters apart for 

flow rates greater than 200 liters/min or at least 1 meter apart 

for samplers having flow rates less than 200 liters/min to 

preclude airflow interference. A waiver allowing up to 10 meters 

horizontal distance and up to 3 meters vertical distance (inlet 

to inlet) between a primary and collocated sampler may be 

approved by the Regional Administrator for sites at a 

neighborhood or larger scale of representation. This waiver may 

be approved during the annual network plan approval process. 

Calibration, sampling, and analysis must be the same for both

collocated samplers and the same as for all other samplers in 

the network. 

(c) Sample the collocated quality control monitor on a 1-

in-12 day schedule. Report the measurements from both primary 

and collocated quality control monitors at each collocated 

sampling site to AQS. The calculations for evaluating precision 

Deleted: all the

Deleted: each agency's

Deleted: 3.2.5.7 

Deleted: audit

Deleted: for SLAMS sites 

Deleted: -

Deleted: ; sample PSD sites on a 6-day 

schedule or every third day for PSD 

daily monitors. If a primary quality 

assurance organization has only one 

collocated monitor, higher sampling 

frequencies than the 12-day schedule may 

be needed in order to produce about 25 

valid sample pairs a year.

Deleted: audit
between the two collocated monitors are described in section 

4.2.1 of this appendix. 

3.3.1.1 (d) In determining the number of collocated 

quality control sites required for Pb-PM10, monitoring networks 

for PM10 should be treated independently from networks for PbPM10, even though the separate networks may share one or more 

common samplers. However, a single quality control monitor that 

meets the collocation requirements for Pb-PM10 and PM10 may serve 

as a collocated quality control monitor for both networks.

Extreme care must be taken when using a using the filter from a 

quality control monitor for both PM10 and Pb analysis. A PM10

filter weighing should occur prior to any Pb analysis. 

3.4.6 Pb Analysis Audits. Each calendar quarter, audit the 

Pb reference or equivalent method analytical procedure using 

filters containing a known quantity of Pb. These audit filters 

are prepared by depositing a Pb standard on unexposed filters 

and allowing them to dry thoroughly. The audit samples must be 

prepared using batches of reagents different from those used to 

calibrate the Pb analytical equipment being audited. Prepare 

audit samples in the following concentration ranges: 

Range Equivalent ambient Pb concentration, μg/m3

1 30–100% of Pb NAAQS. 

Deleted: 3

Deleted: 3.2.6 Collocated Sampling 

Procedures for PM10−2.5. For the PM10-

2.5 network, all automated methods must 

be designated as Federal equivalent 

methods (FEMs). For each pair of 

collocated monitors, designate one 

sampler as the primary monitor whose 

concentrations will be used to report 

air quality for the site, and designate 

the other as the audit monitor.¶

3.2.6.1 The EPA shall ensure that each 

EPA designated FEM within the national 

PM10-2.5 monitoring network must:¶

(a) Have 15 percent of the monitors ... [32]

Moved up [5]: PM2.5 Performance Evaluation 

Program (PEP) Procedures. The PEP is an 

Deleted: These evaluations will be 

performed under the PM Performance ... [33]

Moved up [6]: with greater than five 

monitoring sites, eight valid 

Deleted: Additionally, each year, every 

designated FRM or FEM within a primary ... [34]

Deleted: PM10, monitoring networks for 

lead (

Deleted: )

Deleted: particulate matter (PM),

Deleted: pair of samplers collocated at a 

common-sampler monitoring site

Deleted: both a collocated 

Deleted: site

Deleted: a collocated PM site

Deleted: site

Deleted: ¶

3.3.1.2 The two collocated monitors ... [35]

Deleted: used in auditing high-volume 

particulate matter samplers having flow ... [36]

Deleted: to assure that flow patterns are 

not perturbed at the point of flow ... [37]

Deleted: the same procedures described in 

sections 3.3.2 and 3.3.3 of this ... [38]

Deleted: 3.

Deleted: 2 

Deleted: or sampling quarter (PSD),

Deleted: solution

Deleted: -
2 200–300% of Pb NAAQS. 

(a) Extract the audit samples using the same extraction 

procedure used for exposed filters. 

(b) Analyze three audit samples in each of the two ranges 

each quarter samples are analyzed. The audit sample analyses 

shall be distributed as much as possible over the entire 

calendar quarter. 

(c) Report the audit concentrations (in μg Pb/filter or 

strip) and the corresponding measured concentrations (in μg 

Pb/filter or strip) to AQS using AQS unit code 077. The percent 

differences between the concentrations are used to calculate 

analytical accuracy as described in section 4.2.6 of this 

appendix. 

3.4.7 Pb PEP Procedures for 3.3.4.3 Collocated Sampling. 

PQAO that have a combination of source andmonitoring sites other 

than non-source NCore. The PEP is an independent assessment used 

to estimate total measurement system bias. These evaluations

will be performed under the NPEP described in section 2.4 of 

this appendix 3.3.4.4 Pb Performance Evaluation Program (PEP) 

Proceduresor a comparable program. Each year, one performance 

evaluation audit must be performed at one Pb site in each 

primary quality assurance organization that has less than or 

Deleted: -

Deleted: must be extracted

Deleted: 1.3

Deleted: (d) The audits of an equivalent 

Deleted: method are conducted and assessed 

in the same manner as

Deleted: the reference method. The flow 

auditing device and Pb analysis audit 

samples must be compatible with the 

specific requirements of the equivalent 

method.¶

Deleted: -oriented sites (unless the only 

non-source-oriented site

Deleted: NCore site)

Deleted: follow the procedures described 

in sections 3.3.1 of this appendix with 

the exception that the first collocated 

Pb site selected must be the site 

measuring the highest Pb concentrations 

in the network. If the site is 

impractical, alternative sites, approved 

by the EPA Regional Administrator, may 

be selected.

Moved up [7]: If additional collocated 

sites are necessary, collocated sites 

may be chosen that reflect average 

ambient air Pb concentrations in the 

network. 

Deleted: The collocated sampling 

requirements for PQAO that only have Pb 

monitoring at a non-source-oriented 

NCore site for sampling required

Deleted: 40 CFR 58, Appendix D, paragraph 

4.5(b) shall be implemented as

Deleted: 3.

Deleted: 6

Deleted: with the exception that the 

collocated monitor will be the same 

method designation as the primary 

monitor.¶

Deleted: , as described in section 3.2.7 

of this appendix,
equal to five sites and two audits at PQAOs with greater than 

five sites. Non-source oriented NCore sites are not counted. In 

addition, each year, four collocated samples from PQAOs with 

less than or equal to five sites and six collocated samples at 

PQAOs with greater than five sites must be sent to an 

independent laboratory, the same laboratory as the performance 

evaluation audit, for analysis. Siting of this PEP monitor 

should be consistent with section 3.4.5.4. However, any 

horizontal distance greater than 4 meters and any vertical 

distance greater than 1 meter must be reported to the EPA 

regional PEP coordinator. The calculations for evaluating bias 

between the primary monitor and the performance evaluation 

monitor for Pb are described in section 4.2.4 of this appendix.

4. Calculations for Data Quality Assessment 

(a) Calculations of measurement uncertainty are carried out 

by the EPA according to the following procedures. The PQAOs must

report the data to AQS for all measurement quality checks as 

specified in this appendix even though they may elect to perform 

some or all of the calculations in this section on their own. 

(b) The EPA will provide annual assessments of data quality 

aggregated by site and PQAO for SO2, NO2, O3 and CO and by PQAO

for PM10, PM2.5, and Pb. 

Deleted: 5

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organizations

Deleted: 5

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organizations

Deleted: 5

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organizations

Deleted: 5

Deleted: 3.3.5 Collocated Sampling 

Procedures for PM2.5. Follow the same 

procedure as described in section 3.2.5 

of this appendix. PM2.5 samplers used in 

the PM10-2.5 network, may be counted 

along with the PM2.5 samplers in the 

PM2.5 network as long as the PM2.5 

samplers in both networks are the same 

method designation.¶

3.3.6 Collocated Sampling Procedures 

for PM10-2.5. All designated FRMs within 

the PM10-2.5 monitoring network must 

have 15 percent of the monitors 

collocated (values of 0.5 and greater 

round up) at the PM10-2.5 sites. All FRM 

method designations can be aggregated.¶

3.3.6.1 The EPA shall ensure that each 

designated FEM within the PM10-2.5 

monitoring network must:¶

(a) Have 15 percent of the monitors 

collocated (values of 0.5 and greater 

round up); and¶

(b) Have at least 2 collocated monitors 

(if the total number of monitors is less 

than 10). The first collocated monitor 

must be a designated FRM monitor and the 

second must be a monitor of the same 

method designation. Both collocated FRM 

and FEM monitors can be located at the 

same site.¶

3.3.6.2 The Regional Administrator for 

the EPA Region where the FRM or FEMs are 

implemented will select the sites for 

collocated monitoring. The collocation 

site selection process shall consider 

sites at primary quality assurance ... [39]

Deleted: Primary quality assurance 

organizations should

Deleted: appropriate

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organization

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organization

Deleted: PM10-2.5
(c) At low concentrations, agreement between the 

measurements of collocated quality control samplers, expressed 

as relative percent difference or percent difference, may be 

relatively poor. For this reason, collocated measurement pairs 

are selected for use in the precision and bias calculations only 

when both measurements are equal to or above the following 

limits: 

(1) Pb: 0.002 μg/m3 (Methods approved after 3/04/2010, with 

exception of manual equivalent method EQLA-0813-803). 

(2) Pb: 0.02 μg/m3 (Methods approved before 3/04/2010, and 

manual equivalent method EQLA-0813-803).

(3) PM10(Hi-Vol): 15 μg/m3. 

(4) PM10(Lo-Vol): 3 μg/m3. 

(5) PM2.5: 3 μg/m3. 

4.1 Statistics for the Assessment of QC Checks for SO2, NO2, 

O3 and CO. 

4.1.1 Percent Difference. Many of the measurement quality 

checks start with a comparison of an audit concentration or 

value (flow rate) to the concentration/value measured by the 

monitor and use percent difference as the comparison statistic 

Deleted: (1) TSP: 20 μg/m3.¶

Deleted: .

Deleted: PM10-2.5 and 

Deleted: All

Deleted: flowrate

Deleted: analyzer
as described in equation 1 of this section. For each single 

point check, calculate the percent difference, di, as follows: 

Equation 1 

where, meas is the concentration indicated by the PQAO's

instrument and audit is the audit concentration of the standard 

used in the QC check being measured. 

4.1.2 Precision Estimate. The precision estimate is used to 

assess the one-point QC checks for SO2, NO2, O3, or CO described 

in section 3.1.1 of this appendix. The precision estimator is 

the coefficient of variation upper bound and is calculated using 

equation 2 of this section: 

Equation 2 

( ) 2

,1.0 1

1

2

1

2

1

1 −

= = −

⋅

−













⋅ −

=

∑ ∑

n

n

i

n

i

i i

n

n n

n d d

CV

χ

where, n is the number of single point checks being aggregated; 

X2

0.1,n–1is the 10th percentile of a chi-squared distribution with 

n–1 degrees of freedom. 

.1.3 Bias Estimate. The bias estimate is calculated using 

d

meas audit

audit i =

−

⋅100 Deleted: ¶

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt

Deleted: monitoring organization's

Deleted: 2

Deleted: ¶

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Deleted: X20.1,

Deleted: -1

Deleted: -

Deleted: 4
the one-point QC checks for SO2, NO2, O3, or CO described in 

section 3.1.1 of this appendix. The bias estimator is an upper

bound on the mean absolute value of the percent differences as 

described in equation 3 of this section: 

Equation 3 

where, n is the number of single point checks being aggregated; 

t0.95,n–1is the 95th quantile of a t-distribution with n–1 degrees 

of freedom; the quantity AB is the mean of the absolute values 

of the d i's and is calculated using equation 4 of this section: 

Equation 4 

and the quantity AS is the standard deviation of the absolute 

value of the di's and is calculated using equation 5 of this 

section: 

Equation 5 

bias AB t

AS

n

= + ⋅ 0. , 95 n−1

AB

n

d i

i

n

= ⋅

=

∑

1

1

( ) AS

n d d

n n

i

i

n

i

i

n

=

⋅ −

















−

= =

∑ ∑ 2

1 1

2

1

Deleted: 2

Deleted: and the performance evaluation 

program for PM10-2.5 described in 

sections 3.2.8 and 3.3.8 of this 

appendix

Deleted: ¶

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt

Deleted: -1 is

Deleted: -

Deleted: di's

Deleted: ¶

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt

Deleted: ¶

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt
4.1.3.1 Assigning a sign (positive/negative) to the bias 

estimate. Since the bias statistic as calculated in equation 3 

of this appendix uses absolute values, it does not have a 

tendency (negative or positive bias) associated with it. A sign 

will be designated by rank ordering the percent differences of 

the QC check samples from a given site for a particular 

assessment interval. 

4.1.3.2 Calculate the 25th and 75th percentiles of the 

percent differences for each site. The absolute bias upper bound 

should be flagged as positive if both percentiles are positive 

and negative if both percentiles are negative. The absolute bias 

upper bound would not be flagged if the 25th and 75th 

percentiles are of different signs. 

4.2 Statistics for the Assessment of PM10, PM2.5, and Pb. 

4.2.1 Collocated Quality Control Sampler Precision Estimate 

for PM10, PM2.5 and Pb. Precision is estimated via duplicate 

measurements from collocated samplers. It is recommended that 

the precision be aggregated at the PQAO level quarterly, 

annually, and at the 3-year level. The data pair would only be 

considered valid if both concentrations are greater than or 

equal to the minimum values specified in section 4(c) of this 

appendix. For each collocated data pair, calculate the relative 

Deleted: 4.1.4 Validation of Bias Using 

the one-point QC Checks. The annual 

performance evaluations for SO2, NO2, 

O3, or CO described in section 3.2.2 of 

this appendix are used to verify the 

results obtained from the one-point QC 

checks and to validate those results 

across a range of concentration levels. 

To quantify this annually at the site 

level and at the 3-year primary quality 

assurance organization level, 

probability limits will be calculated 

from the one-point QC checks using 

equations 6 and 7 of this appendix: ¶

¶

¶

¶

¶

where, m is the mean (equation 8 of this 

appendix):¶

¶

¶

where, k is the total number of one 

point QC checks for the interval being 

evaluated and S is the standard 

deviation of the percent differences 

(equation 9 of this appendix) as 

follows:¶

¶

¶

4.1.5 Percent Difference. Percent 

differences for the performance 

evaluations, calculated using equation 1 

of this appendix can be compared to the ... [40]

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Deleted: from Collocated Samplers.

Deleted: of the same type.

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organization
percent difference, di, using equation 6 of this appendix: 

Equation 6 

100

X Y /2

X Y

d

i i

i i

i

⋅

+

−

=













where, Xi is the concentration from the primary sampler and Yi is 

the concentration value from the audit sampler. The coefficient 

of variation upper bound is calculated using equation 7 of this 

appendix: 

Equation 7 

2

0.1,n 1

2

n

i 1

i

n

i 1

2

i

X

n 1

2n(n 1)-

n d d

CV

−

= = −

⋅













⋅ −

=

∑ ∑

where, n is the number of valid data pairs being aggregated, and 

X2

0.1,n–1 is the 10th percentile of a chi-squared distribution 

with n–1 degrees of freedom. The factor of 2 in the denominator 

adjusts for the fact that each di is calculated from two values 

with error. 

4.2.2 One-Point Flow Rate Verification Bias Estimate for 

PM10, PM2.5 and Pb. For each one-point flow rate verification, 

calculate the percent difference in volume using equation 1 of 

this appendix where meas is the value indicated by the sampler's 

volume measurement and audit is the actual volume indicated by 

Deleted: 10

Deleted: ¶

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Deleted: the 

Deleted: 11

Deleted: ¶

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Deleted: -

Deleted: -

Deleted: Bias Estimate Using 

Deleted: Verifications.

Deleted: described in sections 3.2.3 and 

3.3.2 of this appendix
the auditing flow meter. The absolute volume bias upper bound is 

then calculated using equation 3, where n is the number of flow 

rate audits being aggregated; t0.95,n–1is the 95th quantile of a tdistribution with n-1 degrees of freedom, the quantity AB is the 

mean of the absolute values of the di's and is calculated using 

equation 4 of this appendix, and the quantity AS in equation 3 

of this appendix is the standard deviation of the absolute 

values if the di's and is calculated using equation 5 of this

appendix.

4.2.3 Semi-Annual Flow Rate Audit Bias Estimate for PM10, 

PM2.5 and Pb. Use the same procedure described in section 4.2.2 

for the evaluation of flow rate audits. 

4.2.4 Performance Evaluation Programs Bias Estimate for Pb. 

The Pb bias estimate is calculated using the paired routine and 

the PEP monitor as described in section 3.4.7. Use the same 

procedures as described in section 4.1.3 of this appendix. 

 4.2.5 Performance Evaluation Programs Bias Estimate for 

PM2.5. The bias estimate is calculated using the PEP audits 

described in section 4.1.3 of this appendix. The bias estimator 

is based on the mean percent differences (Equation 1). The mean 

percent difference, D, is calculated by Equation 8 below. 

Equation 8 

Deleted: -1 is
∑=

= ⋅

n j

i 1

i

j

d

n

1

D 5. 

where, nj is the number of pairs and d1,d2,...dnj are the biases 

for each pair to be averaged. 

4.2.6 Pb Analysis Audit Bias Estimate. The bias estimate is 

calculated using the analysis audit data described in section 

3.4.6. Use the same bias estimate procedure as described in 

section 4.1.3 of this appendix. 

5. Reporting Requirements 

5.1 Reporting Requirements. For each pollutant, prepare a 

list of all monitoring sites and their AQS site identification 

codes in each PQAO and submit the list to the appropriate EPA 

regional office, with a copy to AQS. Whenever there is a change 

in this list of monitoring sites in a PQAO, report this change 

to the EPA regional office and to AQS. 

5.1.1 Quarterly Reports. For each quarter, each PQAO shall 

report to AQS directly (or via the appropriate EPA regional 

office for organizations not direct users of AQS) the results of 

all valid measurement quality checks it has carried out during 

the quarter. The quarterly reports must be submitted consistent 

with the data reporting requirements specified for air quality 

Deleted: 4.2.3 Assessment Semi-Annual 

Flow Rate Audits. The flow rate audits 

described in sections 3.2.4 and 3.3.3 of 

this appendix are used to assess the 

results obtained from the one-point flow 

rate verifications and to provide an 

estimate of flow rate acceptability. For 

each flow rate audit, calculate the 

percent difference in volume using 

equation 1 of this appendix where meas 

is the value indicated by the sampler's 

volume measurement and audit is the 

actual volume indicated by the auditing 

flow meter. To quantify this annually 

and at the 3-year primary quality 

assurance organization level, 

probability limits are calculated from 

the percent differences using equations 

6 and 7 of this appendix where m is the 

mean described in equation 8 of this 

appendix and k is the total number of 

one-point flow rate verifications for 

the year and S is the standard deviation 

of the percent differences as described 

in equation 9 of this appendix.¶

4.2.4 Percent Difference. Percent 

differences for the annual flow rate 

audit concentration, calculated using 

equation 1 of this appendix, can be 

compared to the probability intervals 

for the one-point flow rate 

verifications for the respective primary 

quality assurance organization. Ninetyfive percent of the individual percent 

differences (all audit concentration 

levels) for the performance evaluations 

should be captured within the 

probability intervals for primary 

quality assurance organization.¶

4.3 Statistics for the Assessment of 

PM2.5 and PM10-2.5.¶

4.3.1 Precision Estimate. Precision 

for collocated instruments for PM2.5 and 

PM10-2.5 may be estimated where both the 

primary and collocated instruments are 

the same method designation and when the ... [41]

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, 12 pt

Deleted: SLAMS

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organization

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organization

Deleted: primary quality assurance 

organization
data as set forth in 40 CFR 58.16. The EPA strongly encourages 

early submission of the quality assurance data in order to 

assist the PQAOs ability to control and evaluate the quality of 

the ambient air data. 

5.1.2 Annual Reports. 

5.1.2.1 When the PQAO has certified relevant data for the 

calendar year, the EPA will calculate and report the measurement 

uncertainty for the entire calendar year. 

6.0 References 

(1) American National Standard—Specifications and 

Guidelines for Quality Systems for Environmental Data Collection 

and Environmental Technology Programs. ANSI/ASQC E4–2004. 

February 2004. Available from American Society for Quality 

Control, 611 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202. 

(2) EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans. EPA 

QA/R–2. EPA/240/B–01/002. March 2001, Reissue May 2006. Office 

of Environmental Information, Washington DC 20460. 

http://www.epa.gov/quality/qs-docs/r2-final.pdf. 

(3) EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans 

for Environmental Data Operations. EPA QA/R–5. EPA/240/B–01/003. 

March 2001, Reissue May 2006. Office of Environmental 

Deleted: §

Deleted: monitoring organizations

Deleted: monitoring organization

Deleted: 5.2 PSD Reporting Requirements. 

At the end of each sampling quarter, the 

organization must report the appropriate 

statistical assessments in section 4 of 

this appendix for the pollutants 

measured. All data used to calculate 

reported estimates of precision and bias 

including span checks, collocated 

sampler and audit results must be made 

available to the permit granting 

authority upon request. ¶

Deleted: -

Deleted: -

Deleted: -

Deleted: -

Deleted: -
Information, Washington DC 20460. http://www.epa.gov/quality/qsdocs/r5-final.pdf. 

(4) EPA Traceability Protocol for Assay and Certification 

of Gaseous Calibration Standards. EPA–600/R–12/531. May, 2012.

Available from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National 

Risk Management Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park NC 

27711. http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/appcd/mmd/db-traceabilityprotocol.html.

(5) Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process. EPA 

QA/G–4. EPA/240/B–06/001. February, 2006. Office of 

Environmental Information, Washington DC 20460. 

http://www.epa.gov/quality/qs-docs/g4-final.pdf. 

(6) List of Designated Reference and Equivalent Methods. 

Available from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National 

Exposure Research Laboratory, Human Exposure and Atmospheric 

Sciences Division, MD-D205–03, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/criteria.html. 

(7) Transfer Standards for the Calibration of Ambient Air 

Monitoring Analyzers for Ozone. EPA–454/B-13-004 U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 

27711, October, 2013. 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qapollutant.html. 

Deleted: -

Deleted: -97/121. September 1997.

Deleted: ORD Publications Office, Center 

for Environmental

Deleted: Information (CERI), 26 W. Martin 

Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268.

Deleted: -

Deleted: -

Deleted: -

Deleted: McElroy, F.F.
(8) Paur, R.J. and F.F. McElroy. Technical Assistance 

Document for the Calibration of Ambient Ozone Monitors. EPA–

600/4–79–057. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research 

Triangle Park, NC 27711, September, 1979. 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.html. 

(9) Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution 

Measurement Systems, Volume 1—A Field Guide to Environmental 

Quality Assurance. EPA–600/R–94/038a. April 1994. Available from 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD Publications Office, 

Center for Environmental Research Information (CERI), 26 W. 

Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268. 

http://www.epa.gov/ ttn/amtic/qabook.html. 

(10) Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution 

Measurement Systems, Volume II: Ambient Air Quality Monitoring 

Program Quality System Development. EPA–454/B-13–003. 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qabook.html. 

(11) National Performance Evaluation Program Standard 

Operating Procedures. http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/npapsop.html.

Table A-1 of Appendix A to Part 58—Minimum Data Assessment

Requirements for NAAQS Related Criteria Pollutant Monitors

TMethod

SAsses

sment 

method

PCovera

ge

Minimu

m

Parameter

s

reported

AQS 

Assessm

Moved (insertion) [8]

Deleted: -

Deleted: -

Deleted: -056

Moved up [8]: (8) Paur, R.J. and F.F. 

McElroy. Technical Assistance Document 

for the Calibration of Ambient Ozone 

Monitors. 

Deleted: (...) Paur, R.J. and F.F. McElroy. 

Deleted: EPA-600/4-79-057. U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, 

September, 1979. 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/cpreldoc.ht

ml.¶

Deleted: -

Deleted: -

Deleted: Part 1—

Deleted: -

Deleted: R-98-004

Deleted: Difference and Similarities 

Between SLAMS and PSD

Deleted: opic

Deleted: LAMS

Deleted: SD

Moved (insertion) [9]

Inserted Cells

Moved (insertion) [10]

Inserted Cells

Inserted Cells
Freque

ncy

ent 

Type

Gaseous Methods (CO, NO2, SO2, O3)

R1-Point QC for 

SO2, NO2, O3, CO

1Respo

nse 

check 

at 

concen

tratio

n 

0.005-

0.08 

ppm 

SO2, 

NO2, 

O3, 

and 

0.5 

and 5 

ppm CO

SEach 

analyzer

Once 

per 2 

weeks.

Audit 

concentra

tion 1

and 

measured 

concentra

tion2.

1-Point 

QC 

Annual 

performance 

evaluation for 

SO2, NO2, O3, CO 

See 

sectio

n 

3.1.2 

of 

this 

append

ix 

Each 

analyzer

Once 

per 

year

Audit 

concentra

tion 1

and 

measured 

concentra

tion 2

for each 

level. 

Annual 

PE 

 

Deleted: equirements

Deleted: . The development, documentation, 

and implementation of an approved 

quality system

Deleted: ame as SLAMS.

Inserted Cells

Inserted Cells

Inserted Cells

Moved (insertion) [11]
Appendix D to Part 58—Network Design Criteria for Ambient Air 

Quality Monitoring 

* * * * * 

3. * * * 

(b) The NCore sites must measure, at a minimum, PM2.5

particle mass using continuous and integrated/filter-based 

samplers, speciated PM2.5, PM10-2.5 particle mass, O3, SO2, CO, 

NO/NOY, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, and 

ambient temperature. 

(1) Although the measurement of NOy is required in support 

of a number of monitoring objectives, available commercial 

instruments may indicate little difference in their measurement 

of NOy compared to the conventional measurement of NOX, 

particularly in areas with relatively fresh sources of nitrogen 

emissions. Therefore, in areas with negligible expected 

difference between NOy and NOX measured concentrations, the 

Administrator may allow for waivers that permit NOX monitoring to 

be substituted for the required NOy monitoring at applicable 

NCore sites. 

(2) EPA recognizes that, in some cases, the physical 

location of the NCore site may not be suitable for 

representative meteorological measurements due to the site's 

physical surroundings. It is also possible that nearby 

meteorological measurements may be able to fulfill this data 

need. In these cases, the requirement for meteorological 

Deleted: speciated PM10-2.5, 

Deleted: NCore sites in CBSA with a 

population of 500,000 people (as 

determined in the latest Census) or 

greater shall also measure Pb either as 

Pb-TSP or Pb-PM10. The EPA Regional 

Administrator may approve an alternative 

location for the Pb measurement where 

the alternative location would be more 

appropriate for logistical reasons and 

the measurement would provide data on 

typical Pb concentrations in the CBSA.
monitoring can be waived by the Administrator. 

* * * * * 

4.5 * * * 

(b) [Reserved] 

(c) The EPA Regional Administrator may require additional 

monitoring beyond the minimum monitoring requirements contained 

in paragraph 4.5(a) of this appendix where the likelihood of Pb 

air quality violations is significant or where the emissions 

density, topography, or population locations are complex and 

varied. EPA Regional Administrators may require additional 

monitoring at locations including, but not limited to, those 

near existing additional industrial sources of Pb, recently 

closed industrial sources of Pb, airports where piston-engine 

aircraft emit Pb, and other sources of re-entrained Pb dust. 

* * * * *

 

Deleted: (b) State and, where 

appropriate, local agencies are required 

to conduct non-source-oriented Pb 

monitoring at each NCore site required 

under paragraph 3 of this appendix in a 

CBSA with a population of 500,000 or 

more.¶

Deleted: paragraphs

Deleted: and 4.5(b)
 

NPAP for SO2, 

NO2, O3, CO 

Indepe

ndent 

Audit 

20% of 

sites 

each 

year 

Once 

per 

year 

Audit 

concentra

tion 1

and 

measured 

concentra

tion 2

for each 

level. 

NPAP 

Particulate Methods 

 

2Continuous

4 method – 

collocated 

quality 

control 

sampling 

PM2.5

Colloca

ted 

sampler

s. 

15%

1-in12 

days 

Primary 

sampler 

concentra

tion and 

duplicate 

sampler 

concentra

tion. 3

No 

Transac

tion 

reporte

d as 

raw 

data

Manual methodcollocated 

quality control 

sampling PM10, 

PM2.5, Pb-TSP, 

Pb-PM10. 

Colloca

ted 

sampler

s. 

15% 

1-in12 

days 

Primary 

sampler 

concentra

tion and 

duplicate 

sampler 

concentra

tion. 3

No 

Transac

tion 

reporte

d as 

raw 

data 

Flow rate 

verification 

PM10 (low Vol) 

PM2.5, Pb-PM10

3Check 

of 

sampler 

Each 

sampler

Once 

every 

month

Audit 

flow rate 

and 

measured 

Flow 

Rate 

Verific

ation

Deleted Cells

Deleted: 

Deleted: . The assessment of data quality

Inserted Cells

Inserted Cells

Moved (insertion) [12]

Inserted Cells

Inserted Cells

Moved (insertion) [13]

Deleted: . The use of reference, 

equivalent, or approved methods

Inserted Cells

Moved (insertion) [14]

Inserted Cells

Inserted Cells
flow 

rate.

flow rate 

indicated 

by the 

sampler.

Flow rate 

verification 

PM10 (High-Vol), 

Pb-TSP 

Check 

of 

sampler 

flow 

rate. 

Each 

sampler 

Once 

every 

quarte

r 

Audit 

flow rate 

and 

measured 

flow rate 

indicated 

by the 

sampler.

Flow 

Rate 

Verific

ation 

Semi-annual flow 

rate audit 

PM10, TSP, PM10-

2.5, PM2.5, PbTSP, Pb-PM10.

4Check

of 

sampler 

flow 

rate 

using 

indepen

dent

standar

d.

Each 

sampler

, 

Once 

every 

6 

months

.

Audit 

flow rate 

and 

measured 

flow rate 

indicated 

by the 

sampler

Semi 

Annual 

Flow 

Rate 

Audit

Pb analysis 

audits 

Pb-TSP, Pb-PM10

5Check 

of 

analyti

cal 

system 

with Pb 

audit 

strips/

SAnalyt

ical.

Once 

each 

quarte

r.

Measured 

value 

and audit 

value (ug 

Pb/filter

) using 

AQS unit 

code 077 

Pb 

Analysi

s 

Audits

Moved (insertion) [15]

Deleted: . The use

Deleted: calibration standards traceable 

to NIST or other primary

Inserted Cells

Moved (insertion) [16]

Inserted Cells

Inserted Cells

Moved (insertion) [17]

Deleted: . The participation in EPA 

performance evaluations and the 

permission for EPA to conduct system 

audits

Deleted: ame as SLAMS
filters

.

MPerformance 

Evaluation 

Program PM2.5 

Colloca

ted 

sampler

s.

S(1) 5 

valid 

audits 

for 

primary 

QA 

orgs, 

with <= 

5 

sites. 

(2) 8 

valid 

audits 

for 

primary 

QA 

orgs, 

with > 

5 

sites. 

(3) All 

sampler

s in 6 

years

SDistr

ibuted 

over 

all 4 

quarte

rs

Primary 

sampler 

concentra

tion and 

performan

ce 

evaluatio

n sampler 

concentra

tion.

PEP

Annual 

Performance 

Evaluation 

Program Pb-TSP, 

Pb-PM10

Colloca

ted 

sampler

s.

S(1) 1 

valid 

audit 

and 4 

colloca

Distri

buted 

over 

all 4 

Primary 

sampler 

concentra

tion and 

performan

PEP 

Deleted: onitoring and QA Responsibility

Inserted Cells

Deleted: tate/local agency via the 

“primary quality assurance organization”

Deleted: ource owner/operator.

Moved (insertion) [18]

Deleted: Monitoring Duration ... [42]

Deleted: (PE)

Inserted Cells

Deleted: tandards and equipment different 

from those used for spanning, 

calibration, and verifications. Prefer 

different personnel

Inserted Cells

Moved (insertion) [19]

Inserted Cells
ted 

samples 

for 

primary 

QA 

orgs, 

with 

<=5 

sites. 

(2) 2 

valid 

audits 

and 6 

colloca

ted 

samples 

for 

primary 

QA orgs 

with > 

5 

sites.

quarte

rs

ce 

evaluatio

n sampler 

concentra

tion. 

Primary 

sampler 

concentra

tion and 

duplicate 

sampler 

concentra

tion.

Effective concentration for open path analyzers

2Corrected concentration, if applicable for open path analyzers 

3Both primary and collocated sampler values are reported as raw data 

4PM2.5 is the only particulate criteria pollutant requiring collocation 

of continuous and manual primary monitors 

Table A-2 of Appendix A to Part 58 – Summary of PM2.5 Number and 

Type of Collocation (15% Collocation Requirement) Required 

Using an example of a PQAO that has 54 Primary Monitors (54 

sites) with One Federal Reference Method Type and Three types of 

Approved Federal Equivalent Methods. 

Performance 

evaluation 

CTotal no. 

of monitors

1Total 

no. of 

ONo. of 

collocated 

No. of 

collocated 

Moved (insertion) [20]

Deleted: Personnel, standards and 

equipment different from those used for 

spanning, calibration, and 

verifications.

Deleted: PE audit rate: ... [43]

Moved (insertion) [21]

Deleted: Table A-2 of Appendix A to Part 

58—Minimum Data Assessment Requirements 

for SLAMS Sites¶

Deleted: Method ... [44]

Moved up [9]: Minimum

Moved up [10]: Parameters

Moved up [11]: Once per year

Moved up [20]: Primary sampler 

concentration and duplicate sampler 

concentration.

Moved up [19]: Primary sampler 

concentration and performance evaluation 

sampler concentration.

Moved up [13]: Primary sampler 

concentration and duplicate sampler 

concentration.

Moved up [14]: Audit flow rate and measured 

flow rate indicated by the sampler.

Moved up [15]: Audit flow rate and measured 

flow rate indicated by the sampler.

Moved up [16]: Audit flow rate and measured 

flow rate indicated by the sampler

Deleted: ollocated samplers

Deleted: . 1 valid audit and 4 collocated 

samples for primary QA orgs, with >5 

sites

2. 2 valid audits and 6 collocated 

samples for primary QA orgs, with >5 

sites

Deleted: ver all 4 quarters
program 

Primary 

sampler 

method 

designation

collocate

d

with FRM with same 

method 

designation 

as primary

FRM 20 3 3 3

FEM (A) 20 3 2 1

FEM (B) 2 1 1 0

FEM (C) 12 2 1 1

 

Moved up [17]: Pb-TSP, Pb-PM10

Moved up [18]: Primary sampler concentration and 

performance evaluation sampler concentration.Primary 

Moved up [12]: Primary sampler concentration and 

duplicate sampler concentration.

Moved up [21]: 1Effective concentration for open path 

Deleted: 1...ffective concentration for open path analyzers.¶

Deleted: .¶

2Corrected concentration, if applicable, 

for open path analyzers.¶

Table A-3 of Appendix A to Part 58—

Summary of PM2.5 Number and Type of 

Collocation (15% Collocation 

Requirement) Needed as an Example of a 

Primary Quality Assurance Organization 

That Has 54 Monitors and Procured FRMs 

and Three Other Equivalent Method Types¶

Primary sampler method designation ... [45]

Page 18: [1] Deleted Author 

network plan required in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. The 

plan shall provide for the required source-oriented Pb 

monitoring sites for Pb sources emitting 1.0 tpy or greater to 

be operational by January 1, 2010. A plan for establishing 

source-oriented Pb monitoring sites in accordance with the 

requirements of appendix D to this part for Pb sources emitting 

equal to or greater than 0.50 tpy but less than 1.0 tpy shall be 

submitted to the EPA Regional Administrator no later than July 

1, 2011. The plan shall provide for the required source-oriented 

Pb monitoring sites for Pb sources emitting equal to or greater 

than 0.50 tpy but less than 1.0 tpy to be operational by 

December 27, 2011. 

(5)(i) A plan for establishing or identifying an area-wide NO2 

monitor, in accordance with the requirements of Appendix D, 

section 4.3.3 to this part, shall be submitted as part of the 

Annual Monitoring Network Plan to the EPA Regional Administrator 

by July 1, 2012. The plan shall provide for these required 

monitors to be operational by January 1, 2013. 

(ii) A plan for establishing or identifying any NO2 monitor 

intended to characterize vulnerable and susceptible populations, 

as required in Appendix D, section 4.3.4 to this part, shall be 

submitted as part of the Annual Monitoring Network Plan to the 

EPA Regional Administrator by July 1, 2012. The plan shall 
provide for these required monitors to be operational by January 

1, 2013. 

(iii) A plan for establishing a single near-road NO2 monitor in 

CBSAs having 1,000,000 or more persons, in accordance with the 

requirements of Appendix D, section 4.3.2 to this part, shall be 

submitted as part of the Annual Monitoring Network Plan to the 

EPA Regional Administrator by July 1, 2013. The plan shall 

provide for these required monitors to be operational by January 

1, 2014. 

(iv) A plan for establishing a second near-road NO2 monitor in 

any CBSA with a population of 2,500,000 or more persons, or a 

second monitor in any CBSA with a population of 500,000 or more 

persons that has one or more roadway segments with 250,000 or 

greater AADT counts, in accordance with the requirements of 

Appendix D, section 4.3.2 to this part, shall be submitted as 

part of the Annual Monitoring Network Plan to the EPA Regional 

Administrator by July 1, 2014. The plan shall provide for these 

required monitors to be operational by January 1, 2015. 

(v) A plan for establishing a single near-road NO2 monitor in 

all CBSAs having 500,000 or more persons, but less than 

1,000,000, not already required by paragraph (a)(5)(iv) of this 

section, in accordance with the requirements of Appendix D, 

section 4.3.2 to this part, shall be submitted as part of the 

Annual Monitoring Network Plan to the EPA Regional Administrator 
by July 1, 2016. The plan shall provide for these monitors to be 

operational by January 1, 2017. 

(6) A plan for establishing SO2 monitoring sites in accordance 

with the requirements of appendix D to this part shall be 

submitted to the EPA Regional Administrator by July 1, 2011 as 

part of the annual 

Page 18: [2] Deleted Author 

January 1, 2013. 

(7) A plan for establishing CO monitoring sites in accordance 

with the requirements of appendix D to this part shall be 

submitted to 

Page 18: [3] Deleted Author 

Plans for required CO monitors shall be submitted at least six 

months prior to the date such monitors must be established as 

required by section 58.13. 

(8)(i) A plan for establishing near-road PM2.5 monitoring sites 

in CBSAs having 2.5 million or more persons, in accordance with 

the requirements of appendix D to this part, shall be submitted 

as part of the annual monitoring network plan to the EPA 

Regional Administrator by July 1, 2014. The plan shall provide 

for these required monitoring stations to be operational by 

January 1, 2015. 

(ii) A plan for establishing near-road PM2.5 monitoring sites in 

CBSAs having 1 million or more persons, but less than 2.5 
million persons, in accordance with the requirements of appendix 

D to this part, shall be submitted as part of the annual 

monitoring network plan to the EPA Regional Administrator by 

July 1, 2016. The plan shall provide for these required 

monitoring stations to be operational by January 1, 2017. 

(b) The annual monitoring network plan must contain the 

following information for each existing and proposed site: 

(1) The AQS site identification number. 

(2) The location, including street address and geographical 

coordinates. 

(3) The sampling and analysis method(s) for each measured 

parameter. 

(4) The operating schedules for each monitor. 

(5) Any proposals to remove or move a monitoring station within 

a period of 18 months following plan submittal. 

(6) The monitoring objective and spatial scale of 

representativeness for each monitor as defined in appendix D to 

this part. 

(7) The identification of any sites that are suitable and sites 

that are not suitable for comparison against the annual PM2.5 

NAAQS as 

Page 18: [4] Deleted Author 

§58.30. 

(8) The MSA, CBSA, CSA or other area represented by the monitor. 
(9) The designation of any Pb monitors as either source-oriented 

or non-source-oriented according to Appendix D to 40 CFR part 

58. 

(10) Any source-oriented monitors for which a waiver has been 

requested or granted by the EPA Regional Administrator as 

allowed for under paragraph 4.5(a)(ii) of Appendix D to 40 CFR 

part 58. 

(11) Any source-oriented or non-source-oriented site for which a 

waiver has been requested or granted by the EPA Regional 

Administrator for the use of Pb-PM10 monitoring in lieu of PbTSP monitoring as allowed for under paragraph 2.10 of Appendix C 

to 40 CFR part 58. 

(12) The identification of required NO2 monitors as near-road, 

area-wide, or vulnerable and susceptible population monitors in 

accordance with Appendix D, section 4.3 of this part. 

(13) The identification of any PM2.5 FEMs and/or ARMs 

Page 18: [5] Deleted Author 

in the monitoring agency's network where the data are not of 

sufficient quality such that data are not to be compared to the 

NAAQS. For required SLAMS where the agency identifies that the 

PM2.5 Class III FEM or ARM does not produce data of sufficient 

quality for comparison to the NAAQS, the monitoring agency must 

ensure that an operating FRM or filter-based FEM meeting the 

sample frequency requirements described in §58.12 or other Class 
III PM2.5 FEM or ARM with data of sufficient quality is 

operating and reporting data 

Page 18: [6] Deleted Author 

(c) The annual monitoring network plan must document how state 

and local agencies provide for the review of changes to a PM2.5 

monitoring network that impact the location of a violating PM2.5 

monitor. The affected state or local agency must document the 

process for obtaining public comment and include any comments 

received through the public notification process within their 

submitted plan. 

(d) The state, or where applicable local, agency shall perform 

and submit to the EPA Regional Administrator an assessment of 

the air quality surveillance system every 5 years to determine, 

at a minimum, if the network meets the monitoring objectives 

defined in appendix D to this part, whether new sites are 

needed, whether existing sites are no longer needed and can be 

terminated, and whether new technologies are appropriate for 

incorporation into the ambient air monitoring network. The 

network assessment must consider the ability of existing and 

proposed sites to support air quality characterization for areas 

with relatively high populations of susceptible individuals 

(e.g., children with asthma), and, for any sites that are being 

proposed for discontinuance, the effect on data users other than 

the agency itself, such as nearby states and tribes or health 
effects studies. The state, or where applicable local, agency 

must submit a copy of this 5-year assessment, along with a 

revised annual network plan, to the Regional Administrator. The 

assessments are due every five years beginning July 1, 2010. 

(e) All proposed additions and discontinuations of SLAMS 

monitors in annual monitoring network plans and periodic network 

assessments are subject to approval according to §58.14. 

Page 19: [7] Deleted Author 

(b) State and local governments must follow the criteria in 

appendix C to this part to determine acceptable monitoring 

methods or instruments for use in SLAMS networks. Appendix C 

criteria are optional at SPM stations. 

(c) State and local governments must follow the network design 

criteria contained in appendix D to this part in designing and 

maintaining the SLAMS stations. The final network design and all 

changes in design are subject to approval of the Regional 

Administrator. NCore, STN, and PAMS network design and changes 

are also subject to approval of the Administrator. Changes in 

SPM stations do not require approvals, but a change in the 

designation of a monitoring site from SLAMS to SPM requires 

approval of the Regional Administrator. 

(d) State and local governments must follow the criteria 

contained in appendix E to this part for siting monitor inlets, 

paths or probes at SLAMS stations. Appendix E adherence is 
optional for SPM stations. 

(e) State and local governments must assess data from Class III 

PM2.5 FEM and ARM monitors operated within their network using 

the performance criteria described in table C-4 to subpart C of 

part 53 of this chapter, for cases where the data are identified 

as not of sufficient comparability to a collocated FRM, and the 

monitoring agency requests that the FEM or ARM data should not 

be used in comparison to the NAAQS. These assessments are 

required in the monitoring agency's annual monitoring network 

plan described in §58.10(b) for cases where the FEM or ARM is 

identified as not of sufficient comparability to a collocated 

FRM. For these collocated PM2.5 monitors the performance 

criteria apply with the following additional provisions: 

(1) The acceptable concentration range (Rj), μg/m3 may include 

values down to 0 μg/m3. 

(2) The minimum number of test sites shall be at least one; 

however, the number of test sites will generally include all 

locations within an agency's network with collocated FRMs and 

FEMs or ARMs. 

(3) The minimum number of methods shall include at least one FRM 

and at least one FEM or ARM. 

(4) Since multiple FRMs and FEMs may not be present at each 

site; the precision statistic requirement does not apply, even 

if precision data are available. 
(5) All seasons must be covered with no more than thirty-six 

consecutive months of data in total aggregated together. 

(6) The key statistical metric to include in an assessment is 

the bias (both additive and multiplicative) of the PM2.5 

continuous FEM(s) compared to a collocated FRM(s). Correlation 

is required to be reported in the assessment, but failure to 

meet the correlation criteria, by itself, is not cause to 

exclude data from a continuous FEM monitor. 

[71 FR 61298, Oct. 17, 2006, as amended at 78 FR 3282, Jan. 15, 

2013] 

Back to Top 

Page 19: [8] Deleted Author 

State and local governments shall collect ambient air quality 

data at any SLAMS station on the following operational 

schedules: 

(a) For continuous analyzers, consecutive hourly averages must 

be collected except during: 

(1) Periods of routine maintenance, 

(2) Periods of instrument calibration, or 

(3) Periods or monitoring seasons exempted by the Regional 

Administrator. 

(b) For Pb manual methods, at least one 24-hour sample must be 

collected every 6 days except during periods or seasons exempted 

by the Regional Administrator. 
(c) For PAMS VOC samplers, samples must be collected as 

specified in section 5 of appendix D to this part. Area-specific 

PAMS operating schedules must be included as part of the PAMS 

network description and must be approved by the Regional 

Administrator. 

(d) For manual PM2.5 samplers: 

Page 21: [9] Deleted Author 

(e) For PM10 samplers, a 24-hour sample must be taken from 

midnight to midnight (local standard time) to ensure national 

consistency. The minimum monitoring schedule for the site in the 

area of expected maximum concentration shall be based on the 

relative level of that monitoring site concentration with 

respect to the 24-hour standard as illustrated in Figure 1. If 

the operating agency demonstrates by monitoring data that during 

certain periods of the year conditions preclude violation of the 

PM10 24-hour standard, the increased sampling frequency for 

those periods or seasons may be exempted by the Regional 

Administrator and permitted to revert back to once in six days. 

The minimum sampling schedule for all other sites in the area 

remains once every six days. No less frequently than as part of 

each 5-year network assessment, the most recent year of data 

must be considered to estimate the air quality status at the 

site near the area of maximum concentration. Statistical models 

such as analysis of concentration frequency distributions as 
described in “Guideline for the Interpretation of Ozone Air 

Quality Standards,” EPA-450/479-003, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, January 1979, 

should be used. Adjustments to the monitoring schedule must be 

made on the basis of the 5-year network assessment. The site 

having the highest concentration in the most current year must 

be given first consideration when selecting the site for the 

more frequent sampling schedule. Other factors such as major 

change in sources of PM10 emissions or in sampling site 

characteristics could influence the location of the expected 

maximum concentration site. Also, the use of the most recent 3 

years of data might, in some cases, be justified in order to 

provide a more representative database from which to estimate 

current air quality status and to provide stability to the 

network. This multiyear consideration reduces the possibility of 

an anomalous year biasing a site selected for accelerated 

sampling. If the maximum concentration site based on the most 

current year is not selected for the more frequent operating 

schedule, documentation of the justification for selection of an 

alternative site must be submitted to the Regional Office for 

approval during the 5-year network assessment process. Minimum 

data completeness criteria, number of years of data and sampling 

frequency for judging attainment of the NAAQS are discussed in 

appendix K of part 50 of this chapter. 
View or download PDF 

(f) For manual PM10-2.5 samplers: 

(1) Manual PM10-2.5 samplers at NCore stations must operate on 

at least a 1-in-3 day schedule at sites without a collocated 

continuously operating federal equivalent PM10-2.5 method that 

has been designated in accordance with part 53 of this chapter. 

(2) [Reserved] 

(g) For continuous SO2 analyzers, the maximum 5-minute block 

average concentration of the twelve 5-minute blocks in each hour 

must be collected except as noted in §58.12 (a). 

Page 28: [10] Deleted Author 

(b) This appendix specifies the minimum quality system 

requirements applicable to SLAMS air monitoring data and PSD 

data for the pollutants SO2, NO2, O3, CO, Pb, PM2.5, PM10 and 

PM10-2.5 submitted to EPA. This appendix also applies to all SPM 

stations using FRM, FEM, or ARM methods which also meet the 

requirements of appendix E of this part, unless alternatives to 
this appendix for SPMs have been approved in accordance with 

§58.11(a)(2). Monitoring organizations are encouraged to develop 

and maintain quality systems more extensive than the required 

minimums. The permit-granting authority for PSD may require more 

frequent or more stringent requirements. Monitoring

organizations may, based on their quality objectives, develop 

and maintain quality systems beyond the required minimum. 

Additional guidance for the requirements reflected in this 

appendix can be found in the “Quality Assurance Handbook for Air 

Pollution Measurement Systems”, Volume II (see reference 10 of 

this appendix) and at a national level in references 1, 2, and 3 

of this appendix. 

1.1 Similarities and Differences Between SLAMS and PSD 

Monitoring. In most cases, the quality assurance requirements 

for SLAMS, SPMs if applicable, and PSD are the same. Affected 

SPMs are subject to all the SLAMS requirements, even where not 

specifically stated in each section. Table A-1 of this appendix 

summarizes the major similarities and differences of the 

requirements for SLAMS and PSD. Both programs require: 

(a) The development, documentation, and implementation of an 

approved quality system; 

(b) The assessment of data quality; 
(c) The use of reference, equivalent, or approved methods. The 

requirements of this appendix do not apply to a SPM that does 

not use a FRM, FEM, or ARM; 

(d) The use of calibration standards traceable to NIST or other 

primary standard; 

(e) Performance evaluations and systems. 

1.1.1 The monitoring and quality assurance responsibilities 

for SLAMS are with the State or local agency, hereafter called 

the monitoring organization, whereas for PSD they are with the 

owner/operator seeking the permit. The monitoring duration for 

SLAMS is indefinite, whereas for PSD the duration is usually 12 

months. Whereas the reporting period for precision and accuracy 

data is on an annual or calendar quarter basis for SLAMS, it is 

on a continuing sampler quarter basis for PSD, since the 

monitoring may not commence at the beginning of a calendar 

quarter. 

1.1.2 The annual performance evaluations (described in section 

3.2.2 of this appendix) for PSD must be conducted by personnel 

different from those who perform routine span checks and 

calibrations, whereas for SLAMS, it is the preferred but not the 

required condition. For PSD, the evaluation rate is 100 percent 

of the sites per reporting quarter whereas for SLAMS it is 25 
percent of the sites or instruments quarterly. Monitoring for 

sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for PSD must be 

done with automated analyzers—the manual bubbler methods are not 

permitted. 

1.1.3 The requirements for precision assessment for the 

automated methods are the same for both SLAMS and PSD. However, 

for manual methods, only one collocated site is required for 

PSD. 

1.1.4 The precision, accuracy and bias data for PSD are 

reported separately for each sampler (site), whereas for SLAMS, 

the report may be by sampler (site), by primary quality 

assurance organization, or nationally, depending on the 

pollutant. SLAMS data are required to be reported to the AQS, 

PSD data are required to be reported to the permit-granting 

authority. Requirements in this appendix, with the exception of 

the differences discussed in this section, and in Table A-1 of 

this appendix will be expected to be followed by both SLAMS and 

PSD networks unless directly specified in a particular section. 

Page 28: [11] Deleted Author 

Monitoring organizations must develop quality assurance project 

plans (QAPP) which describe how the organization intends to 

control measurement uncertainty to an appropriate level in order 
to achieve the objectives for which the data are collected. The 

process by which one determines the quality of data needed to 

meet the monitoring objective is sometimes referred to the Data 

Quality Objectives Process. Data quality indicators associated 

with measurement uncertainty include: 

Page 41: [12] Deleted Author 

The frequency of QC checks may be reduced based upon review, 

assessment and approval of the EPA Regional Administrator. 

However, 

Page 41: [13] Deleted Author 

analyzers. The ranges allow for appropriate check gas selection 

for SLAMS sites that may be sampling for different objectives, 

i.e., trace gas monitoring vs. comparison to National Ambient 

Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). 

Page 41: [14] Deleted Author 

routine concentration ranges. To check the precision and bias of 

SLAMS analyzers operating at ranges either above or below the 

levels identified, use check gases of appropriate concentrations 

as approved by the appropriate EPA Regional Administrator or 
their designee. The standards from which check concentrations 

are obtained must meet the specifications of section 2.6 of this 

appendix 

Page 45: [15] Deleted Author 

02 

Page 45: [15] Deleted Author 

02 

Page 45: [16] Deleted Author 

0002 

Page 45: [16] Deleted Author 

0002 

Page 45: [17] Deleted Author 

08 

Page 45: [17] Deleted Author 

08 

Page 45: [18] Deleted Author 

06 

Page 45: [18] Deleted Author 

06 

Page 45: [19] Deleted Author 

006 

Page 45: [19] Deleted Author 

006 

Page 45: [20] Deleted Author 

003 

Page 45: [20] Deleted Author 

003 
Page 45: [21] Deleted Author 

11 

Page 45: [21] Deleted Author 

11 

Page 45: [22] Deleted Author 

02 

Page 45: [22] Deleted Author 

02 

Page 45: [23] Deleted Author 

006 

Page 45: [23] Deleted Author 

006 

Page 45: [24] Deleted Author 

21 

Page 45: [24] Deleted Author 

21 

Page 45: [25] Deleted Author 

11 

Page 45: [25] Deleted Author 

11 

Page 45: [26] Deleted Author 

11 

Page 45: [26] Deleted Author 

11 

Page 45: [27] Deleted Author 

31 

Page 45: [27] Deleted Author 

31 
Page 45: [28] Deleted Author 

41 

Page 45: [28] Deleted Author 

41 

Page 45: [29] Deleted Author 

31 

Page 45: [29] Deleted Author 

31 

Page 45: [30] Deleted Author 

(b) An additional 4th level is encouraged for those monitors 

that have the potential for exceeding the concentration ranges 

described by the initial three selected. 

3. 

Page 45: [30] Deleted Author 

(b) An additional 4th level is encouraged for those monitors 

that have the potential for exceeding the concentration ranges 

described by the initial three selected. 

3. 

Page 45: [30] Deleted Author 

(b) An additional 4th level is encouraged for those monitors 

that have the potential for exceeding the concentration ranges 

described by the initial three selected. 

3. 
Page 45: [30] Deleted Author 

(b) An additional 4th level is encouraged for those monitors 

that have the potential for exceeding the concentration ranges 

described by the initial three selected. 

3. 

Page 45: [30] Deleted Author 

(b) An additional 4th level is encouraged for those monitors 

that have the potential for exceeding the concentration ranges 

described by the initial three selected. 

3. 

Page 45: [30] Deleted Author 

(b) An additional 4th level is encouraged for those monitors 

that have the potential for exceeding the concentration ranges 

described by the initial three selected. 

3. 

Page 45: [30] Deleted Author 

(b) An additional 4th level is encouraged for those monitors 

that have the potential for exceeding the concentration ranges 

described by the initial three selected. 

3. 
Page 45: [30] Deleted Author 

(b) An additional 4th level is encouraged for those monitors 

that have the potential for exceeding the concentration ranges 

described by the initial three selected. 

3. 

Page 59: [31] Deleted Author 

.2.5.4 In determining the number of collocated sites required 

for PM2.5, monitoring networks for visibility assessments should 

not 

Page 66: [32] Deleted Author 

3.2.6 Collocated Sampling Procedures for PM10−2.5. For the 

PM10-2.5 network, all automated methods must be designated as 

Federal equivalent methods (FEMs). For each pair of collocated 

monitors, designate one sampler as the primary monitor whose 

concentrations will be used to report air quality for the site, 

and designate the other as the audit monitor. 

3.2.6.1 The EPA shall ensure that each EPA designated FEM 

within the national PM10-2.5 monitoring network must: 

(a) Have 15 percent of the monitors collocated (values of 0.5 

and greater round up); and 
(b) Have at least 2 collocated monitors (if the total number of 

monitors is less than 10). The first collocated monitor must be 

a designated FRM monitor and the second must be a monitor of the 

same method designation. Both collocated FRM and FEM monitors 

can be located at the same site. 

3.2.6.2 The Regional Administrator for the EPA Regions where 

the FEMs are implemented will select the sites for collocated 

monitoring. The site selection process shall consider giving 

priority to sites at primary quality assurance organizations or 

States with more than one PM10-2.5 site, sites considered 

important from a regional perspective, and sites needed for an 

appropriate distribution among rural and urban NCore sites. 

Depending on the speed at which the PM10-2.5 network is 

deployed, the first sites implementing FEMs shall be required to 

perform collocation until there is a larger distribution of FEM 

monitors implemented in the network. 

3.2.6.3 The two collocated monitors must be within 4 meters of 

each other and at least 2 meters apart for flow rates greater 

than 200 liters/min or at least 1 meter apart for samplers 

having flow rates less than 200 liters/min to preclude airflow 

interference. A waiver allowing up to 10 meters horizontal 

distance and up to 3 meters vertical distance (inlet to inlet) 

between a primary and a collocated sampler may be approved by 
the Regional Administrator for sites at a neighborhood or larger 

scale of representation taking into consideration safety, 

logistics, and space availability. This waiver may be approved 

during the annual network plan approval process. Calibration, 

sampling, and analysis must be the same for all the collocated 

samplers in each agency's network. 

3.2.6.4 Sample the collocated audit monitor for SLAMS sites on 

a 12-day schedule. Report the measurements from both primary and 

collocated audit monitors at each collocated sampling site. The 

calculations for evaluating precision between the two collocated 

monitors are described in section 4.3.1 of this appendix. 

3.2.7 

Page 66: [33] Deleted Author 

These evaluations will be performed under the PM Performance 

Evaluation Program (PEP) (section 2.4 of this appendix) or a 

comparable program. Performance evaluations will be performed on 

the SLAMS monitors annually within each primary quality 

assurance organization. For primary quality assurance 

organizations with less than or equal to five monitoring sites, 

five valid performance evaluation audits must be collected and 

reported each year. For primary quality assurance organizations 
Page 66: [34] Deleted Author 

Additionally, each year, every designated FRM or FEM within a 

primary quality assurance organization must: 

(1) Have each method designation evaluated each year; and, 

(2) Have all FRM or FEM samplers subject to a PEP audit at least 

once every six years; which equates to approximately 15 percent 

of the monitoring sites audited each year. 

(b) Additional information concerning the Performance Evaluation 

Program is contained in reference 10 of this appendix. The 

calculations for evaluating bias between the primary monitor and 

the performance evaluation monitor for PM2.5 are described in 

section 4.3.2 of this appendix. 

3.2.8 PM10-2.5 Performance Evaluation Program. For the PM10-

2.5 network, all automated methods will be designated as federal 

equivalent methods (FEMs). One performance evaluation audit, as 

described in section 3.2.7 must be performed at one PM10-2.5 

site in each primary quality assurance organization each year. 

The calculations for evaluating bias between the primary 

monitor(s) and the performance evaluation monitors for PM10-2.5 

are described in section 4.1.3 of this appendix. 
3.3 Measurement Quality Checks of Manual Methods. Table A-2 of 

this appendix provides a summary of the types and frequency of 

the measurement quality checks that will be described in this 

section. 

3.3.1 Collocated Sampling Procedures for PM10. For each 

network of manual PM10 methods, select 15 percent (or at least 

one) of the monitoring sites within the primary quality 

assurance organization for collocated sampling. For purposes of 

precision assessment, networks for measuring total suspended 

particulate (TSP) and PM10 shall be considered separately from 

one another. However, PM10 samplers used in the PM10-2.5 

network, may be counted along with the PM10 samplers in the PM10 

network as long as the PM10 samplers in both networks are the 

same method designation. PM10 and TSP sites having annual mean 

particulate matter concentrations among the highest 25 percent 

of the annual mean concentrations for all the sites in the 

network must be selected or, if such sites are impractical, 

alternative sites approved by the EPA Regional Administrator may 

be selected. 

Page 66: [35] Deleted Author 

3.3.1.2 The two collocated monitors must be within 4 meters of 
each other and at least 2 meters apart for flow rates greater 

than 200 liters/min or at least 1 meter apart for samplers 

having flow rates less than 200 liters/min to preclude airflow 

interference. Calibration, sampling, analysis and 

verification/validation procedures must be the same for both 

collocated samplers and the same as for all other samplers in 

the network. 

3.3.1.3 For each pair of collocated samplers, designate one 

sampler as the primary sampler whose samples will be used to 

report air quality for the site, and designate the other as the 

audit sampler. Sample SLAMS sites on a 12-day schedule; sample 

PSD sites on a 6-day schedule or every third day for PSD daily 

samplers. If a primary quality assurance organization has only 

one collocated monitor, higher sampling frequencies than the 12-

day schedule may be needed in order to produce approximately 25 

valid sample pairs a year. Report the measurements from both 

samplers at each collocated sampling site. The calculations for 

evaluating precision between the two collocated samplers are 

described in section 4.2.1 of this appendix. 

3.3.2 Flow Rate Verification for Particulate Matter. Follow 

the same procedure as described in section 3.2.3 of this 

appendix for PM2.5, PM10 (low-volume instruments), and PM10−2.5. 

High-volume PM10 and TSP instruments can also follow the 
procedure in section 3.2.3 but the audits are required to be 

conducted quarterly. The percent differences between the audit 

and measured flow rates are used to assess the bias of the 

monitoring data as described in section 4.2.2 of this appendix. 

3.3.3 Semi-Annual Flow Rate Audit for Particulate Matter. 

Follow the same procedure as described in section 3.2.4 of this 

appendix for PM2.5, PM10, PM10-2.5 and TSP instruments. The 

percent differences between these flow rates are used to 

validate the one-point flow rate verification checks used to 

estimate bias as described in section 4.2.3 of this appendix. 

Great 

Page 66: [36] Deleted Author 

used in auditing high-volume particulate matter samplers having 

flow regulators because the introduction of resistance plates in 

the audit flow standard device can cause abnormal flow patterns 

at the point of flow sensing. For this reason, the flow audit 

standard should be used with a normal filter in place and 

without resistance plates in auditing flow-regulated high-volume 

samplers, or other steps should be 

Page 66: [37] Deleted Author 
to assure that flow patterns are not perturbed at the point of 

flow sensing. 

3.3.4 Pb Methods. 

3.3.4.1 Flow Rates. For the Pb Reference Methods (40 CFR Part 

50, appendix G and appendix Q) and associated FEMs, the flow 

rates of the Pb samplers shall be verified and audited 

Page 66: [38] Deleted Author 

the same procedures described in sections 3.3.2 and 3.3.3 of 

this appendix. 

Page 68: [39] Deleted Author 

3.3.5 Collocated Sampling Procedures for PM2.5. Follow the 

same procedure as described in section 3.2.5 of this appendix. 

PM2.5 samplers used in the PM10-2.5 network, may be counted 

along with the PM2.5 samplers in the PM2.5 network as long as 

the PM2.5 samplers in both networks are the same method 

designation. 

3.3.6 Collocated Sampling Procedures for PM10-2.5. All 

designated FRMs within the PM10-2.5 monitoring network must have 

15 percent of the monitors collocated (values of 0.5 and greater 
round up) at the PM10-2.5 sites. All FRM method designations can 

be aggregated. 

3.3.6.1 The EPA shall ensure that each designated FEM within 

the PM10-2.5 monitoring network must: 

(a) Have 15 percent of the monitors collocated (values of 0.5 

and greater round up); and 

(b) Have at least 2 collocated monitors (if the total number of 

monitors is less than 10). The first collocated monitor must be 

a designated FRM monitor and the second must be a monitor of the 

same method designation. Both collocated FRM and FEM monitors 

can be located at the same site. 

3.3.6.2 The Regional Administrator for the EPA Region where 

the FRM or FEMs are implemented will select the sites for 

collocated monitoring. The collocation site selection process 

shall consider sites at primary quality assurance organizations 

or States with more than one PM10-2.5 site; primary quality 

assurance organizations already monitoring for PM10 and PM2.5 

using FRMs or FEMs; and an appropriate distribution among rural 

and urban NCore sites. Monitoring organizations implementing 

PM10 samplers and PM2.5 FRM samplers of the same method 

designation as the PM10-2.5 FRM can include the PM10-2.5 

monitors in their respective PM10 and PM2.5 count. Follow the 
same procedures as described in sections 3.2.6.2 and 3.2.6.3 of 

this appendix. 

3.3.7 PM2.5 Performance Evaluation Program (PEP) Procedures. 

Follow the same procedure as described in section 3.2.7 of this 

appendix. 

3.3.8 PM10-2.5 Performance Evaluation Program (PEP) 

Procedures. One performance evaluation audit, as described in 

section 3.2.7 of this appendix must be performed at one PM10-2.5 

site in each primary quality assurance organization each year. 

Monitoring organizations implementing PM2.5 FRM samplers of the 

same method designation in both the PM2.5 and the PM10-2.5 

networks can include the PM10-2.5 performance evaluation audit 

in their respective PM2.5 performance evaluation count as long 

as the performance evaluation is conducted at the PM10-2.5 site. 

The calculations for evaluating bias between the primary 

monitor(s) and the performance evaluation monitors for PM10-2.5 

are described in section 4.1.3 of this appendix. 

Page 72: [40] Deleted Author 

4.1.4 Validation of Bias Using the one-point QC Checks. The 

annual performance evaluations for SO2, NO2, O3, or CO described 

in section 3.2.2 of this appendix are used to verify the results 

obtained from the one-point QC checks and to validate those 
results across a range of concentration levels. To quantify this 

annually at the site level and at the 3-year primary quality 

assurance organization level, probability limits will be 

calculated from the one-point QC checks using equations 6 and 7 

of this appendix: 

where, m is the mean (equation 8 of this appendix):

where, k is the total number of one point QC checks for the 

interval being evaluated and S is the standard deviation of the 

percent differences (equation 9 of this appendix) as follows: 
4.1.5 Percent Difference. Percent differences for the 

performance evaluations, calculated using equation 1 of this 

appendix can be compared to the probability intervals for the 

respective site or at the primary quality assurance organization 

level. Ninety-five percent of the individual percent differences 

(all audit concentration levels) for the performance evaluations 

should be captured within the probability intervals for the 

primary quality assurance organization. 

Page 75: [41] Deleted Author 

4.2.3 Assessment Semi-Annual Flow Rate Audits. The flow rate 

audits described in sections 3.2.4 and 3.3.3 of this appendix 

are used to assess the results obtained from the one-point flow 

rate verifications and to provide an estimate of flow rate 

acceptability. For each flow rate audit, calculate the percent 

difference in volume using equation 1 of this appendix where 

meas is the value indicated by the sampler's volume measurement 

and audit is the actual volume indicated by the auditing flow 

meter. To quantify this annually and at the 3-year primary 
quality assurance organization level, probability limits are 

calculated from the percent differences using equations 6 and 7 

of this appendix where m is the mean described in equation 8 of 

this appendix and k is the total number of one-point flow rate 

verifications for the year and S is the standard deviation of 

the percent differences as described in equation 9 of this 

appendix. 

4.2.4 Percent Difference. Percent differences for the annual 

flow rate audit concentration, calculated using equation 1 of 

this appendix, can be compared to the probability intervals for 

the one-point flow rate verifications for the respective primary 

quality assurance organization. Ninety-five percent of the 

individual percent differences (all audit concentration levels) 

for the performance evaluations should be captured within the 

probability intervals for primary quality assurance

organization. 

4.3 Statistics for the Assessment of PM2.5 and PM10-2.5. 

4.3.1 Precision Estimate. Precision for collocated instruments 

for PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 may be estimated where both the primary 

and collocated instruments are the same method designation and 

when the method designations are not similar. Follow the 

procedure described in section 4.2.1 of this appendix. In 
addition, one may want to perform an estimate of bias when the 

primary monitor is an FEM and the collocated monitor is an FRM. 

Follow the procedure described in section 4.1.3 of this appendix 

in order to provide an estimate of bias using the collocated 

data. 

4.3.2 Bias Estimate. Follow the procedure described in section 

4.1.3 of this appendix for the bias estimate of PM10-2.5. The 

PM2.5 bias estimate is calculated using the paired routine and 

the PEP monitor data described in section 3.2.6 of this 

appendix. Calculate the percent difference, di, using equation 1 

of this appendix, where meas is the measured concentration from 

agency's primary monitor and audit is the concentration from the 

PEP monitor. The data pair would only be considered valid if 

both concentrations are greater than the minimum values 

specified in section 4(c) of this appendix. Estimates of bias 

are presented for various levels of aggregation, sometimes 

aggregating over time, sometimes aggregating over samplers, and 

sometimes aggregating over both time and samplers. These various 

levels of aggregation are achieved using the same basic 

statistic. 

4.3.2.1 This statistic averages the individual biases 

described in equation 1 of this appendix to the desired level of 

aggregation using equation 12 of this appendix: 
where, nj is the number of pairs and d1, d2, * * *, dnj are 

the biases for each of the pairs to be averaged. 

4.3.2.2 Confidence intervals can be constructed for these 

average bias estimates in equation 12 of this appendix using 

equations 13 and 14 of this appendix: 

Where, t0.95,df is the 95th quantile of a t-distribution with 

degrees of freedom df = nj − 1 and s is an estimate of the 

variability of the average bias calculated using equation 15 of 

this appendix: 
4.4 Statistics for the Assessment of Pb. 

4.4.1 Precision Estimate. Follow the same procedures as 

described for PM10 in section 4.2.1 of this appendix using the 

data from the collocated instruments. The data pair would only 

be considered valid if both concentrations are greater than the 

minimum values specified in section 4(c) of this appendix. 

4.4.2 Bias Estimate. For the Pb analysis audits described in 

section 3.3.4.2 and the Pb Performance Evaluation Program 

described in section 3.3.4.4, follow the same procedure as 

described in section 4.1.3 for the bias estimate. 

4.4.3 Flow rate calculations. For the one point flow rate 

verifications, follow the same procedures as described for PM10 

in section 4.2.2; for the flow rate audits, follow the same 

procedures as described in section 4.2.3. 

Page 84: [42] Deleted Author 

Monitoring Duration Indefinitely Usually up to 12 
months. 

Page 85: [43] Deleted Author 

PE audit rate: 

—Automated 100% per year 100% per quarter. 

—Manual 

Varies depending on 

pollutant. See Table 

A-2 of this appendix 

100% per quarter. 

Precision 

Assessment: 

 

—Automated 

One-point QC check 

biweekly but data 

quality dependent 

One point QC check 

biweekly. 

—Manual 

Varies depending on 

pollutant. See Table 

A-2 of this appendix 

One site: 1 every 6 

days or every third 

day for daily 

monitoring (TSP and 

Pb). 

Reporting 

—Automated 

By site—EPA performs 

calculations annually 

By site—source 

owner/operator 

performs calculations 

each sampling 
quarter. 

—Manual 

By reporting 

organization—EPA 

performs calculations 

annually 

By site—source 

owner/operator 

performs calculations 

each sampling 

quarter. 

1 

Page 85: [44] Deleted Author 

Method 

Assessment 

method 

Coverage 

Minimum 

frequency

Parameters 

reported 

Automated Methods 

1-Point QC 

for SO2, 

NO2, O3, CO 

Response 

check at 

concentration 

0.01-0.1 ppm 

SO2, NO2, O3, 

and 1-10 ppm 

CO 

Each 

analyzer 

Once per 

2 weeks 

Audit 

concentration1 

and measured 

concentration2.

Annual 

performance 

evaluation 

for SO2, 

NO2, O3, CO 

See section 

3.2.2 of this 

appendix 

Each 

analyzer 

Once per 

year 

Audit 

concentration1 

and measured 

concentration2 

for each level.
Flow rate 

verification 

PM10, PM2.5, 

PM10-2.5 

Check of 

sampler flow 

rate 

Each 

sampler 

Once 

every 

month 

Audit flow rate 

and measured 

flow rate 

indicated by 

the sampler. 

Semi-annual 

flow rate 

audit PM10, 

PM2.5, PM10-

2.5 

Check of 

sampler flow 

rate using 

independent 

standard 

Each 

sampler 

Once 

every 6 

months 

Audit flow rate 

and measured 

flow rate 

indicated by 

the sampler. 

Collocated 

sampling 

PM2.5, PM10-

2.5 

Collocated 

samplers 

15% 

Every 12 

days 

Primary sampler 

concentration 

and duplicate 

sampler 

concentration. 

Performance 

evaluation 

program 

PM2.5, PM10-

2.5 

Collocated 

samplers 

1. 5 valid 

audits for 

primary QA 

orgs, with 

≤5 sites 

2. 8 valid 

audits for 

primary QA 

Over all 

4 

quarters 

Primary sampler 

concentration 

and performance 

evaluation 

sampler 

concentration. 
orgs, with 

>5 sites 

3. All 

samplers 

in 6 years

Manual Methods 

Collocated 

sampling 

PM10, TSP, 

PM10-2.5, 

PM2.5, PbTSP, Pb-PM10

Collocated 

samplers 

15% 

Every 12 

days PSD—

every 6 

days 

Primary sampler 

concentration 

and duplicate 

sampler 

concentration. 

Flow rate 

verification 

PM10 (low 

Vol), PM10-

2.5, PM2.5, 

Pb-PM10 

Check of 

sampler flow 

rate 

Each 

sampler 

Once 

every 

month 

Audit flow rate 

and measured 

flow rate 

indicated by 

the sampler. 

Flow rate 

verification 

PM10 (HighVol), TSP, 

Pb-TSP 

Check of 

sampler flow 

rate 

Each 

sampler 

Once 

every 

quarter 

Audit flow rate 

and measured 

flow rate 

indicated by 

the sampler. 
Semi-annual 

flow rate 

audit PM10, 

TSP, PM10-

2.5, PM2.5, 

Pb-TSP, PbPM10 

Check of 

sampler flow 

rate using 

independent 

standard 

Each 

sampler, 

all 

locations 

Once 

every 6 

months 

Audit flow rate 

and measured 

flow rate 

indicated by 

the sampler. 

Pb audit 

strips PbTSP, Pb-PM10

Check of 

analytical 

system with 

Pb audit 

strips 

Analytical

Each 

quarter 

Actual 

concentration 

and audit 

concentration. 

Performance 

evaluation 

program 

PM2.5, PM10-

2.5 

Collocated 

samplers 

1. 5 valid 

audits for 

primary QA 

orgs, with 

≤5 sites 

2. 8 valid 

audits for 

primary QA 

orgs, with 

>5 sites 

3. All 

Over all 

4 

quarters 

Primary sampler 

concentration 

and performance 

evaluation 

sampler 

concentration. 
samplers 

in 6 years

Page 86: [45] Deleted Author 

. 

2Corrected concentration, if applicable, for open path 

analyzers. 

Table A-3 of Appendix A to Part 58—Summary of PM2.5 Number and 

Type of Collocation (15% Collocation Requirement) Needed as an 

Example of a Primary Quality Assurance Organization That Has 54 

Monitors and Procured FRMs and Three Other Equivalent Method 

Types 

Primary 

sampler 

method 

designation 

Total no. 

of 

monitors 

Total no. 

collocated 

No. of 

collocated 

FRM 

No. of 

collocated 

monitors of same 

method 

designation as 

primary 

FRM 20 3 3 n/a 

FEM (A) 20 3 2 1 

FEM (C) 2 1 1 0 

FEM (D) 12 2 1 1