Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196-0014
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Recent Postings of Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods
Posted Date: 2021-02-08T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 24 (Monday, February 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8627-8628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02519]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-10019-49-OAR]

Recent Postings of Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the broadly applicable alternative test 
method approval decisions that the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) made under and in support of New Source Performance Standards 
(NSPS) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 
(NESHAP) between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. This notice 
also announces the removal of a previously approved broadly applicable 
alternative test method.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: An electronic copy of each alternative 
test method approval document is available at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods. For questions 
about this notice, contact Mrs. Lula H. Melton, Air Quality Assessment 
Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (E143-02), 
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; 
telephone number: (919) 541-2910; fax number: (919) 541-0516; email 
address: melton.lula@epa.gov. For technical questions about individual 
alternative test method decisions, refer to the contact person 
identified in the individual approval document(s).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this notice apply to me?

    This notice will be of interest to entities regulated under 40 Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 59, 60, 61, 63 and 65; state, local, 
and tribal agencies; and the EPA Regional offices responsible for 
implementation and enforcement of regulations under 40 CFR parts 59, 
60, 61, 63, and 65.

B. How can I get copies of this information?

    You may access copies of the broadly applicable alternative test 
method approval documents at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods.

II. Background

    This notice identifies broadly applicable alternative test methods 
that the EPA approved in 2020 under the New Source Performance 
Standards (NSPS), 40 CFR part 60, and the National Emission Standards 
for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) programs, 40 CFR parts 61 and 63. 
See Table 1 of this notice for the summary of these test methods. 
Source owners and operators may voluntarily use these broadly 
applicable alternative test methods in lieu of otherwise required test 
methods or related testing procedures. Use of these broadly applicable 
alternative test methods are not intended to and should not change the 
applicable emission standards. This notice also announces the removal 
of ALT-109 as an approved broadly applicable alternative test method 
given our subsequent revisions to certain requirements in Method 22. 83 
FR 56713 (November 14, 2018).
    The Administrator has the authority to approve the use of 
alternative test methods for compliance with requirements under 40 CFR 
parts 60, 61, and 63. This authority is found in 40 CFR 60.8(b)(3), 
61.13(h)(1)(ii), and 63.7(e)(2)(ii). Additional and similar authority 
can be found in 40 CFR 59.104(f) and 65.158(a)(2). The criteria for 
approval and procedures for submission and review of broadly applicable 
alternative test methods are explained in a previous Federal Register 
notice published at 72 FR 4257 (January 30, 2007) and located at 
https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods. As explained in this notice, we will announce approvals for 
broadly applicable alternative test methods at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods as they are issued 
and publish an annual notice that summarizes approvals for broadly 
applicable alternative test methods during the preceding year.
    As also explained in the January 30, 2007 notice, our approval 
decisions involve thorough technical reviews of numerous source-
specific requests for alternatives and modifications to test methods 
and procedures. Based on these reviews, we have often found that these 
modifications or alternatives would be equally valid and appropriate to 
apply to other sources within a particular class, category, or 
subcategory. Consequently, we have concluded that where a method 
modification or an alternative method is clearly broadly applicable to 
a class, category, or subcategory of sources, it is both equitable and 
efficient to simultaneously approve its use for all appropriate sources 
and situations.
    Use of approved alternative test methods are not mandatory but 
rather permissive. Sources are not required to employ such a method but 
may choose to do so in appropriate circumstances. As specified in 40 
CFR 63.7(f)(5), however, a source owner or operator electing to use an 
alternative method for 40 CFR part 63 standards must continue to use 
the alternative method until otherwise authorized. Source owners or 
operators should, therefore, review the specific broadly applicable 
alternative method approval decision at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods

[[Page 8628]]

before electing to employ any alternative method.

III. Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications To Test 
Methods

    This notice specifies four broadly applicable alternative test 
methods that the EPA approved between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 
2020. The alternative method decision letter/memo designation numbers, 
test methods affected, sources allowed to use this alternative, and 
method modifications or alternative methods allowed are summarized in 
Table 1 of this notice. A summary of approval documents was previously 
made available on our Technology Transfer Network between January 1, 
2020, and December 31, 2020. For more detailed information, please 
refer to the complete copies of these approval documents available at 
https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods.
    As also explained in our January 30, 2007 notice, we will revisit 
approvals of alternative test methods in response to written requests 
or objections indicating that a particular approved alternative test 
method either should not be broadly applicable or that its use is not 
appropriate or should be limited in some way. Any objection to a 
broadly applicable alternative test method, as well as the resolution 
of that objection, will be announced at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods and in a 
subsequent Federal Register notice. If we decide to retract a broadly 
applicable test method, we will likely consider the need for an 
appropriate transition period for users either to request case-by-case 
approval or to transition to an approved method.
    This notice also announces our removal of ALT-109 as a broadly 
applicable alternative test method from the Broadly Applicable Approved 
Alternative Test Methods web page. In the February 10, 2016 Federal 
Register notice (81 FR 7092), we announced the approval of ALT-109 as 
an alternative method that would allow the use of digital photographs 
as a compliance option for specific recordkeeping requirements in 
Method 22. On November 14, 2018, we incorporated this compliance option 
into Method 22 (83 FR 56713). Therefore, ALT-109 is no longer an 
alternative test method.

    Dated: January 15, 2021.
Peter Tsirigotis,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.

  Table 1--Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications To Test Methods Referenced in or Published Under
            Appendices in 40 CFR Parts 60, 61, and 63 Posted Between January 2020 and December 2020 a
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 Alternative method  decision      As an alternative or
      letter/ memo number          modification to . . .            For . . .                You may . . .
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ALT-136.......................  Gas Chromatography (GC) in  Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use High-Performance
                                 Method 18.                  parts 59, 60, 61, 63,      Liquid Chromatograph
                                                             and 65.                    (HPLC) to measure acetic
                                                                                        acid, formic acid, and
                                                                                        lactic acid under Method
                                                                                        18.
ALT-137.......................  ASTM D2879................  Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use ASTM D6377-16 and
                                                             part 60, subparts K, Ka,   ASTM D6378-20 in
                                                             and Kb; 40 CFR part 61,    accordance with the
                                                             subpart FF; 40 CFR part    provisions specified in
                                                             63, subparts G, Y, CC,     the approval letter
                                                             WW, EEEE, and GGGGG; and   dated June 19, 2020.
                                                             40 CFR part 65, subpart
                                                             C.
ALT-138.......................  ASTM D6522-00.............  Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use Other Test Method-39.
                                                             part 60, subpart JJJJ
                                                             and 40 CFR part 63,
                                                             subparts ZZZZ and DDDDD.
ALT-139.......................  Method 29-Determination of  Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use Method 30B-
                                 Total Vapor Phase Mercury   part 63, subpart LL-       Determination of Total
                                 Emissions from Coal-Fired   National Emission          Vapor Phase Mercury
                                 Combustion Sources Using    Standards for Hazardous    Emissions from Coal-
                                 Carbon Sorbent Traps.       Air Pollutants for         Fired Combustion Sources
                                                             Primary Aluminum           Using Carbon Sorbent
                                                             Reduction Plants.          Traps.
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\a\ Source owners or operators should review the specific broadly applicable alternative method approval letter
  at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods before electing to employ any
  alternative test method.

[FR Doc. 2021-02519 Filed 2-5-21; 8:45 am]
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