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Test Methods 

Test Methods

Test methods can be divided into several categories:

Category A: Methods Proposed or Promulgated in the FR

Category B: Source Category Approved Alternative Methods

Category C: Other Methods

Category D: Historic Conditional Methods

Interim Policy on Posting Methods

A fundamental component of the EMC web site is to provide information regarding relevant 

methods and procedures for emission testing and monitoring. We have modified our 

presentation of these methods into four different categories. The categories are based on

the legal status of the methods with regard to their application under federally enforceable 

regulations. 

Each category is explained below and each includes stipulations for use of the methods 

included therein. Further provisions regarding the use of a specific method are contained

within the applicability statement of the method. Please note that the guidance provided by 

these categories and methods is meant to supplement, not override the stationary source 

emission measurement requirements of Title 40 of the Codes of Federal Regulations (CFR) 

Parts 51, 60, 61, and 63. 

Category A: Methods Proposed or Promulgated in the FR 

These methods have been proposed or promulgated in the Federal Register and codified in 

the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). They carry an xx, 1xx, 2xx, or 3 xx alphanumeric

designation. The xx, 1xx, and 3xx numbered methods are directly cited by specific 

regulations for determining compliance under 40 CFR Parts 60, 61, and 63, and may be 

used by sources for application as cited by the regulations and the method itself without 

further EPA approval. 

The 2xx series methods are promulgated to facilitate incorporation in applicable State 

Implementation Plans. The 2xx methods, like the xx, 1xx, and 3xx series methods, include 

quality control and quality assurance procedures that must be met. 

Technology Transfer Network

Emission Measurement Center 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/tmethods.html#CatC/

Last updated on Tuesday, August 07, 2007

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EPA staff can provide technical support on all methods in this category. 

List of specific promulgated test methods List of specific proposed test methods

Category B: Source Category Approved Alternative 

Methods

These methods are approved alternatives to the methods required by 40 CFR Parts 60, 61 

and 63 as described by the General Provisions of the corresponding Parts and as further 

explained in a Federal Register notice dated January 30, 2007. As such, the methods may 

be used by sources for determining compliance with the requirements of these Parts per 

their specified applicability provisions without further EPA approval. The Administrator, or 

designee (currently Dr. Conniesue Oldham, Group Leader of the Measurement Technology 

Group in the Air Quality Assessment Division of the Office of Air Quality Planning and 

Standards), has approved these methods for the specified applications; this approval has 

been documented through an official EPA letter. These methods include quality control and 

quality assurance procedures that must be met. The EPA staff may not necessarily be the 

technical experts on these methods. 

Federal Register Notice and List of Source Category Approved Alternative Methods

Category C: Other Methods

This category includes test methods which have not yet been subject to the Federal 

rulemaking process. Each of these methods, as well as the available technical 

documentation supporting them, have been reviewed by the Emission Measurement Center 

staff and have been found to be potentially useful to the emission measurement 

community. The types of technical information reviewed include field and laboratory

validation studies; results of collaborative testing; articles from peer-reviewed journals; 

peer-review comments; and quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures in 

the method itself. A table summarizing the available technical information for each method 

can be found at the link below. The EPA strongly encourages the submission of additional 

supporting field and laboratory data as well as comments in regard to these methods. 

These methods may be considered for use in Federally enforceable State and local 

programs (e.g., Title V permits, State Implementation Plans (SIP)) provided they are 

subject to an EPA Regional SIP approval process or permit veto opportunity and public 

notice with the opportunity for comment. The methods may also be considered to be

candidates to be alternative methods to meet Federal requirements under 40 CFR Parts 60, 

61, and 63. However, they must be approved as alternatives under 60.8, 61.13, or 63.7(f) 

before a source may use them for this purpose. Consideration of a method's applicability for 

a particular purpose should be based on the stated applicability as well as the supporting 

technical information outlined in the table. The methods are available for application 

without EPA oversight for other non-EPA program uses including state permitting programs 

and scientific and engineering applications. 

As many of these methods are submitted by parties outside the Agency, the EPA staff may 

not necessarily be the technical experts on these methods. Therefore, technical support 

from EPA for these methods is limited, but the table contains contact information for the

developers so that you may contact them directly. Also, be aware that these methods are 

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subject to change based on the review of additional validation studies or on public comment 

as a part of adoption as a Federal test method, the Title V permitting process, or inclusion 

in a SIP. 

List of Other Methods

Category D: Historic Conditional Methods

This category includes methods that were categorized as conditional test methods before 

our method categories were revised. Because some of these methods have been cited in 

state rules and permits under their Conditional Test Method (CTM) designation, we have 

created a category for them and called it "Historic Conditional Methods". This category is 

closed and no new methods will be added to it. 

These CTMs have been evaluated by the Agency and may be applicable to one or more 

categories of stationary sources. The EPA confidence in a method included in this category 

is based upon review of various technical information including, but not limited to, field and 

laboratory validation studies; EPA understanding of the most significant quality assurance 

(QA) and quality control (QC) issues; and EPA confirmation that the method addresses 

these QA/QC issues sufficiently to identify when the method may not be acquiring 

representative data. The method's QA/QC procedures are required as a condition of 

applicability.

CTMs in Category D may be used by State and local programs in conjunction with Federally 

enforceable programs (e.g., Title V permits, State Implementation Plans (SIP)) provided 

they are subject to an EPA Regional SIP approval process or permit veto opportunity and 

public notice and opportunity for comment. They are available for application without EPA 

oversight for other non-EPA program uses including state permitting programs and scientific 

and engineering applications. 

The methods in Category D, however, must be approved as alternatives before a source

may use them to meet Federal requirements under 40 CFR Part 60, 61, and 63. The EPA 

encourages the submission of additional field and laboratory data to further support a 

method. 

The EPA staff may not necessarily be the technical experts on these methods. These 

methods are potentially subject to change based on the review of additional validation 

studies or on public comment as a part of adoption as a Federal test method (Category A). 

List of Historic Conditional Methods

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