Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196-0016
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Recent Postings of Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods
Posted Date: 2023-01-19T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3408-3409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01004]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-10485-01-OAR]

Recent Postings of Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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, 2022, and December 31, 2022.

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: [email protected]. 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 2022 under the NSPS, 40 CFR part 60 and the 
NESHAP, and 40 CFR part 63 programs. 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.
    The Administrator has the authority to approve the use of 
alternative test methods for compliance with requirements under 40 CFR 
parts 59, 60, 61, 63, and 65. 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 either 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 is 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 before electing to 
employ any alternative method. Source owners or operators choosing to 
use a broadly applicable alternative should also notify their 
regulatory agency prior to using the alternative.

III. Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications to Test 
Methods

    This notice specifies five broadly applicable alternative test 
methods that the EPA approved between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 
2022. 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, 
2022, and December 31, 2022. 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

[[Page 3409]]

transition period for users either to request case-by-case approval or 
to transition to an approved method.

    Dated: January 13, 2023.
Richard A. Wayland,
Director, Air Quality Assessment Division.

  Table 1--Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications to Test Methods Referenced in or Published Under
             Appendices in 40 CFR Parts 60 and 63 Posted Between January 2022 and December 2022 \a\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Alternative method decision      As an alternative or
        letter/memo No.            modification to . . .            For . . .                You may . . .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALT-146.......................  ASTM E2779-10--Standard     Certification testing of   Use the modified
                                 Test Method for             pellet heaters subject     methodology in the
                                 Determining Particulate     to 40 CFR part 60,         Agency's memorandum
                                 Matter Emissions from       subpart AAA--Standards     dated February 2, 2022,
                                 Pellet Heaters.             of Performance for New     entitled ``Appropriate
                                                             Residential Wood Heaters.  Calculation of Medium
                                                                                        Burn Rate Category in
                                                                                        ASTM E-2779 Testing to
                                                                                        calculate the Medium
                                                                                        Burn Rate Category to
                                                                                        conduct certification
                                                                                        testing on pellet
                                                                                        heaters with the caveats
                                                                                        in the Agency's approval
                                                                                        letter dated February 4,
                                                                                        2022.
ALT 147.......................  GRI-GLYCalc software for    Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use Pro-Max, Version 5.0
                                 modeling glycol             part 63, subpart HH--      or higher for modeling
                                 dehydration unit            National Emission          glycol dehydration unit
                                 emissions.                  Standards for Hazardous    emissions with the
                                                             Air Pollutants From Oil    provisos specified in
                                                             and Natural Gas            the Agency's approval
                                                             Production Facilities.     letter dated March 31,
                                                                                        2022.
ALT 148.......................  Flow test methods           Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use Method 2B--Exhaust
                                 specified in 40 CFR         part 63, subpart Y--       Volume Flow Rate.
                                 63.565(d)(3)(iii).          National Emission
                                                             Standards for Marine
                                                             Tank Vessel Loading
                                                             Operations.
ALT 149.......................  SW-846 Method 8270D and SW- Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use SW-846 Method 8270E
                                 846 Method 8015C.           part 63, subpart           and SW-846 Method 8015D
                                                             HHHHHHH--Polyvinyl         with the provisos
                                                             Chloride and Copolymers    specified in the
                                                             Production: National       Agency's approval letter
                                                             Emission Standards for     dated July 27, 2022.
                                                             Hazardous Air Pollutants.
ALT 150.......................  Surface Emission            Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use Other Test Method 51
                                 Monitoring (SEM)            part 60, subparts WWW,     (OTM-51) with the
                                 procedures required under   XXX, and Cf (Emission      provisos specified in
                                 the cited sections of the   Guidelines), 40 CFR part   the Agency's approval
                                 following subparts: 40      62, subpart OOO (Federal   letter dated December
                                 CFR 60, Subpart WWW, Sec.   Plan), and 40 CFR part     15, 2022.
                                  Sec.   60.753(d) and       63, subpart AAAA.
                                 60.755(c)-(e); 40 CFR 60,
                                 Subpart XXX, Sec.  Sec.
                                 60.763(d) and 60.765(c)-
                                 (d); 40 CFR 60, Subpart
                                 Cf, Sec.  Sec.
                                 60.34f(d) and 60.36f(c)-
                                 (e); 40 CFR 62, Subpart
                                 OOO, Sec.  Sec.
                                 62.16716(d) and 62.16720;
                                 40 CFR 63, Subpart AAAA,
                                 Sec.  Sec.   63.1958(d)
                                 and 63.1960(c)-(d).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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. 2023-01004 Filed 1-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P