Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196-0012
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods
Posted Date: 2019-03-04T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 42 (Monday, March 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7363-7365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03850]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-9990-29-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) has made under and in support of New Source Performance Standards 
(NSPS) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 
(NESHAP) between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018.

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 60, 61, and 63; state, local, and 
tribal agencies; and the 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 at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods.

II. Background

    This notice identifies broadly applicable alternative test method 
approval decisions made by the EPA in 2018 under the NSPS, 40 CFR part 
60 and the NESHAP programs, and 40 CFR parts 61 and 63 (see Table 1). 
Source owners and operators may voluntarily use these broadly 
applicable alternative test methods in lieu of otherwise specified 
reference test methods. Use of these broadly applicable alternative 
test methods does 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 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). Additional and similar authority 
can be found in 40 CFR 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 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 approve its use for all appropriate sources and situations 
at the same time.
    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 per section 
63.7(f)(5), however, a source owner or operator electing to use an 
alternative method for 40 CFR part

[[Page 7364]]

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.

III. Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications to Test 
Methods

    This notice specifies ten broadly applicable alternative test 
methods that the EPA approved between January 1, 2018, and December 1, 
2018. The alternative method decision letter/memo number, the reference 
method affected, sources allowed to use this alternative, and the 
modification or alternative method 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, 2018, 
and December 31, 2018. 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 should 
in some way be limited. 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.

    Dated: January 29, 2019.
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,
        61, and 63 Posted Between January 2018 and December 2018
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            As an
  Alternative method    alternative or
 decision letter/memo  modification to     For . . .      You may . . .
         No.                . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATL-123..............  Method 3A,       Sources subject  Use procedures
                        Method 3B, or    to 40 CFR part   specified in
                        ANSI/ASME PTC    63, subpart      the Appendix
                        19.10-1981.      UUUUU--Nationa   of the
                                         l Emission       Agency's
                                         Standards for    approval
                                         Hazardous Air    letter dated
                                         Pollutants:      February 13,
                                         Coal- and Oil-   2018, and the
                                         Fired Electric   modifications
                                         Utility Steam    specified in
                                         Generating       the Agency's
                                         Units.           approval
                                                          letter dated
                                                          March 6, 2018.
ALT-124..............  40 CFR 63.670    Sources subject  Use continuous
                        and 63.671.      to 40 CFR part   process mass
                                         63, subpart      spectrometry
                                         CC--National     in lieu of
                                         Emission         continuous gas
                                         Standards for    chromatography
                                         Hazardous Air    to measure Net
                                         Pollutants       Heating Value
                                         from Petroleum   (NHVVG) using
                                         Refineries.      the
                                                          measurement
                                                          approach and
                                                          requirements
                                                          specified in
                                                          the Agency's
                                                          approval
                                                          letter dated
                                                          February 5,
                                                          2018.
ALT-125..............  40 CFR 60.534..  Sources subject  Use ASTM E3053-
                                         to 40 CFR part   17 and ASTM
                                         60, subpart      E2515-11 both
                                         AAA--Standards   with the
                                         of Performance   change(s)
                                         for New          specified in
                                         Residential      the Agency's
                                         Wood Heaters.    approval
                                                          letter dated
                                                          February 28,
                                                          2018, and
                                                          Canadian
                                                          Standards
                                                          Administration
                                                          (CSA) Method
                                                          CSA-B415.1-10.
ALT-126..............  ASTM E2515-11,   Sources subject  Use the
                        section 10.2.2.  to 40 CFR part   procedure
                                         60, subpart      specified in
                                         AAA--Standards   the Agency's
                                         of Performance   approval
                                         for New          letter dated
                                         Residential      March 6, 2018,
                                         Wood Heaters     Method 5,
                                         and 40 CFR       sections 8.7,
                                         part 60,         11.2.1 and
                                         subpart QQQQ--   11.2.2, and
                                         New              ASTM E2515-11.
                                         Residential
                                         Wood Heaters,
                                         New
                                         Residential
                                         Hydronic
                                         Heaters and
                                         Forced-Air
                                         Furnaces.
ALT-127..............  40 CFR 60.534..  Sources subject  Use ASTM E3053-
                                         to 40 CFR part   17 and ASTM
                                         60, subpart      E2515-11 both
                                         AAA--Standards   with the
                                         of Performance   change(s)
                                         for New          specified in
                                         Residential      the Agency's
                                         Wood Heaters.    approval
                                                          letter dated
                                                          April 13,
                                                          2018, and
                                                          Canadian
                                                          Standards
                                                          Administration
                                                          (CSA) Method
                                                          CSA-B415.1-10.
ALT-128..............  Method 25--      Sources subject  Use an
                        Determination    to 40 CFR        alternative
                        of Total         parts 60 and     filter, filter
                        Gaseous          63, subparts     holder, and
                        Nonmethane       specified in     filter heater
                        Organic          the Agency's     box as
                        Emissions as     approval         specified in
                        Carbon.          letter dated     the Agency's
                                         April 18, 2018.  approval
                                                          letter dated
                                                          April 18,
                                                          2018.
ALT-129..............  Method 26--      Sources subject  Use sorbent
                        Determination    to 40 CFR part   trap method
                        of Hydrogen      63, subpart      (Other Test
                        Halide and       UUUUU--Nationa   Method (OTM)-
                        Halogen          l Emission       40) for HCl
                        Emissions From   Standards for    emissions from
                        Stationary       Hazardous Air    the specific
                        Sources Non-     Pollutants:      coal-fired
                        Isokinetic       Coal- and Oil-   electric
                        Method and       fired Electric   utility steam
                        Method 26A--     Utility Steam    generating
                        Determination    Generating       units and the
                        of Hydrogen      Units.           provisos in
                        Halide and                        the Agency's
                        Halogen                           approval
                        Emissions From                    letter dated
                        Stationary                        May 30, 2018.
                        Sources
                        Isokinetic
                        Method.

[[Page 7365]]

 
ALT-130..............  SW-846 Method    Sources subject  SW-846 Method
                        8260B.           to 40 CFR part   8260C and SW-
                                         63, subpart      846 Method
                                         HHHHHHH--Polyv   8260D with the
                                         inyl Chloride    performance
                                         and Copolymers   criteria
                                         Production:      specified in
                                         National         the Agency's
                                         Emission         approval
                                         Standards for    letter dated
                                         Hazardous Air    October 17,
                                         Pollutants       2018.
                                         (NESHAP).
ALT-131..............  Quality          Sources subject  Use the
                        assurance        to 40 CFR part   alternative
                        procedures in    63, subpart      quality
                        Performance      CC--National     assurance
                        Specification    Emission         procedures
                        9 and 40 CFR     Standards for    specified in
                        63.671(e)(2)     Hazardous Air    the Agency's
                        and (e)(3).      Pollutants       approval
                                         from Petroleum   letter dated
                                         Refineries.      December 13,
                                                          2018.
ALT-132..............  40 CFR           Sources subject  Use the
                        63.1350(k)(2)(   to 40 CFR part   alternative
                        ii) and (iii).   63, subpart      procedure for
                                         LLL--National    ``above span''
                                         Emission         mercury
                                         Standards for    calibrations
                                         Hazardous Air    only as
                                         Pollutants       specified in
                                         from the         the Agency's
                                         Portland         approval
                                         Cement           letter dated
                                         Manufacturing    December 18,
                                         Industry.        2018. This
                                                          alternative
                                                          procedure
                                                          replaces ALT-
                                                          120, which
                                                          expired
                                                          January 1,
                                                          2019.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 it.

[FR Doc. 2019-03850 Filed 3-1-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P