Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Recent Postings of Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods
Posted Date: 2008-04-07T04:00Z

[Federal Register: April 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 67)]
[Notices]               
[Page 18794-18795]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap08-59]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-8551-8]

 
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 the EPA has made under and in support of New 
Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and the National Emission Standards 
for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) in 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: An electronic copy of each alternative 
test method approval document is available on EPA's Web site at http://
www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html. For questions about this notice, 
contact Jason M. DeWees, 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-
9724; fax number: 919-541-0516; e-mail address: dewees.jason@epa.gov. 
For technical questions about individual alternative test method 
decisions, refer to the contact person identified in the individual 
approval documents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Notice Apply to Me?

    This notice will be of interest to entities regulated under 40 CFR 
parts 60, 61, and 63, and State, local, Tribal agencies, and EPA 
Regional Offices responsible for implementation and enforcement of 
regulations under 40 CFR parts 60, 61, and 63.

B. How Can I Get Copies Of this Information?

    You may access copies of the broadly applicable alternative test 
method approval documents from the EPA's Web site at http://
www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html.

II. Background

    This notice identifies EPA's broadly applicable alternative test 
method approval decisions issued between February 1, 2007, and December 
31, 2007, under the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), 40 part 
60, and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 
(NESHAP), 40 CFR parts 61 and 63 (see Table 1). Source owners and 
operators may voluntarily use these broadly applicable alternative test 
methods. Use of these broadly applicable alternative test methods does 
not change the applicable emission standards.
    As explained in a previous Federal Register notice published at 72 
FR 4257, 1/30/07, the EPA Administrator has the authority to approve 
the use of alternative test methods to comply with requirements under 
40 CFR parts 60, 61, and 63. This authority is found in sections 
60.8(b)(3), 61.13(h)(1)(ii), and 63.7(e)(2)(ii). Over the years, we 
have performed thorough technical reviews of numerous requests for 
alternatives and modifications to test methods and procedures. Based on 
these experiences, we have found that often these changes 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 a 
change or alternative is clearly broadly applicable to a class, 
category, or subcategory of sources, it is both more equitable and 
efficient to approve its use for all appropriate sources and situations 
at the same time. It is important to clarify that alternative methods 
are not mandatory but permissive. Sources are not required to employ 
such a method but may choose to do so in appropriate cases. By electing 
to use an alternative method, the source owner or operator consents to 
thereafter demonstrating compliance with applicable requirements based 
on the results of the alternative method until approved to do so 
otherwise. The criteria for approval and procedures for submission and 
review of broadly applicable alternative test methods are outlined at 
72 FR 4257, 1/30/07. EPA will continue to announce approvals for 
broadly applicable alternative test methods on the EPA's Web site 
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html and intends to publish a 
notice annually that summarizes approvals for broadly applicable 
alternative test methods.
    This notice comprises a summary of six such approval documents 
added to our technology transfer network from February 1, 2007, through 
December 31, 2007. The alternative test number, the reference method 
affected, sources affected, and modification or alternative method 
allowed are listed in Table 1 of this notice. Complete copies of these 
approval documents can be obtained from the EPA's Web site at http://
www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html. If you are aware of reasons why a 
particular alternative test method approval that we issue should not be 
broadly applicable, we request that you make us aware of the reasons 
within 60

[[Page 18795]]

days of the Federal Register notice announcing the broad approval, and 
we will revisit the broad approval. Any objection to a broadly 
applicable alternative test method as well as the resolution of that 
objection will be announced on the EPA's Web site http://www.epa.gov/
ttn/emc/approalt.html and in the subsequent Federal Register notice. If 
we should decide to retract a broadly applicable test method, we would 
continue to grant case-by-case approvals, as appropriate, and would (as 
States, local and Tribal agencies and EPA Regional Offices should) 
consider the need for an appropriate transition period for users either 
to request case-by-case approval or to transition to an approved 
method.

    Dated: March 28, 2008.
Jennie N. Edmonds,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.

 TABLE 1.--Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications To Test Methods Under Appendices A or B In CFR 60, 61, and 63 Made Between February 2007
                                                                    and December 2007
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                                       As an alternative or modification to . .
           Alternative No.                                .                                      For . . .                          You may . . .
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Alt-032.............................  Default thermal efficiency values in       Wood Stoves affected under the NSPS for    Use CSA B415.1 test protocol
                                       Subpart AAA in Sec.   60.536(i)(3).        Residential Wood Heaters in 40 CFR part    for determination of actual
                                                                                  60, subpart AAA.                           thermal efficiency rating
                                                                                                                             in lieu of default values.
Alt-034.............................  Method 23--Determination of                Sources subject to 40 CFR part 63,         Omit the sample gas
                                       Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p dioxins and      subpart RRR, National Emission Standards   filtration temperature
                                       Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans from         for Hazardous Air Pollutants for           sensor;
                                       Municipal Waste Combustors.                Secondary Aluminum Production.            Omit the methylene chloride
                                                                                                                             rinse; and
                                                                                                                            Use a Teflon coated
                                                                                                                             stainless steel nozzle in
                                                                                                                             gas streams less than
                                                                                                                             290[deg]C (554[deg]F).
Alt-035.............................  Method 308--Procedure for Determination    Sources subject to 40 CFR part 63,         Use NCASI Method CI/SG/PULP-
                                       of Methanol Emission from Stationary       subpart S, National Emission Standards     94.03 in lieu of Method
                                       Sources.                                   for Hazardous Air Pollutants from the      308.
                                                                                  Pulp and Paper Industry.
Alt-036.............................  Method 23--Determination of                Sources subject to 40 CFR part 63,         Substitute the toluene rinse
                                       Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p dioxins and      subpart LLL--National Emission Standards   for the methylene chloride
                                       Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans from         for Hazardous Air Pollutants from the      rinse; and
                                       Municipal Waste Combustors.                Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry.   Combine all fractions
                                                                                                                             including the toluene rinse
                                                                                                                             before analysis.
Alt-037.............................  Method 18--Measurement of Gaseous Organic  Sources subject to 40 CFR part 63,         Use Method 320 in lieu of
                                       Compound Emissions by Gas                  subpart GGG, National Emissions            Method 18 to demonstrate by
                                       Chromatography.                            Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants     definition (Sec.   63.536)
                                                                                  for Pharmaceutical Production.             that a vent is not a
                                                                                                                             process vent because it is
                                                                                                                             emitting less than 50 ppmv
                                                                                                                             of HAPs.
Alt-038.............................  Method 18--Measurement of Gaseous Organic  Sources subject to 40 CFR part 63,         Use Method 320 in lieu of
                                       Compound Emissions by Gas                  subpart UUUU--National Emission            Method 18 to demonstrate
                                       Chromatography.                            Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants     compliance with 40 CFR part
                                                                                  for Cellulose Products Manufacturing.      63, subpart UUUU.
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 [FR Doc. E8-7199 Filed 4-4-08; 8:45 am]

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