Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196-0015
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods
Posted Date: 2022-01-21T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3296-3298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01124]

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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-9469-01-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, 2021, and December 31, 2021.

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 title 
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.
    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

[[Page 3297]]

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 before electing to 
employ any alternative method.

III. Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications to Test 
Methods

    This notice specifies six broadly applicable alternative test 
methods that the EPA approved between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 
2021. 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, 
2021, and December 31, 2021. 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.

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 2021 and December 2021 \a\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Alternative method decision      As an alternative or
      letter/ memo number          modification to . . .            For . . .                You may . . .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALT-140.......................  Method 28R for              Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use the Integrated Duty
                                 Certification and           part 60, subpart AAA--     Cycle Test Method for
                                 Auditing of Wood Heaters.   Standards of Performance   Certification of Wood
                                                             for New Residential Wood   Fired Stoves Using
                                                             Heaters.                   Cordwood: Measurement of
                                                                                        Particulate Matter (PM)
                                                                                        and Carbon Monoxide (CO)
                                                                                        Emissions and Heating
                                                                                        Efficiency with the
                                                                                        modifications listed in
                                                                                        the Agency's approval
                                                                                        letter dated March 31,
                                                                                        2021.
ALT-141.......................  Section A6.4.1 of ASTM      Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use section 8.3.3 of
                                 D6348-03.                   part 60, subpart JJJJ--    Method 320--Measurement
                                                             Standards of Performance   of Vapor Phase Organic
                                                             for Stationary Spark       and Inorganic Emissions
                                                             Ignition Internal          by Extractive Fourier
                                                             Combustion Engines and     Transform Infrared
                                                             40 CFR part 63, subpart    (FTIR) Spectroscopy.
                                                             ZZZZ--National Emission
                                                             Standards for Hazardous
                                                             Air Pollutants for
                                                             Stationary Reciprocating
                                                             Internal Combustion
                                                             Engines.
ALT-142.......................  Method 18--Measurement of   Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use Method 320--
                                 Gaseous Organic Compound    part 63, subpart O--       Measurement of Vapor
                                 Emissions by Gas            National Emission          Phase Organic and
                                 Chromatography or Method    Standards for Hazardous    Inorganic Emissions by
                                 25A--Determination of       Air Pollutants (NESHAP):   Extractive Fourier
                                 Total Gaseous Organic       Ethylene Oxide Emission    Transform Infrared
                                 Concentration Using a       Standards for              (FTIR) Spectroscopy with
                                 Flame Ionization Analyzer.  Sterilization Facilities.  the provisos specified
                                                                                        in the Agency's approval
                                                                                        letter dated March 4,
                                                                                        2021.
ALT-143.......................  Method 10--Determination    Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use the alternative
                                 of Carbon Monoxide          part 63, subpart AAAA--    method attached to the
                                 Emissions From Stationary   National Emission          Agency's approval letter
                                 Sources (Instrumental       Standards for Hazardous    dated September 14,
                                 Analyzer Procedure).        Air Pollutants:            2021.
                                                             Municipal Solid Waste
                                                             Landfills Residual Risk
                                                             and Technology Review.

[[Page 3298]]

 
ALT-144.......................  Method 10--Determination    Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use the alternative
                                 of Carbon Monoxide          part 63, subpart AAAA--    method attached to the
                                 Emissions From Stationary   National Emission          Agency's approval letter
                                 Sources (Instrumental       Standards for Hazardous    dated September 30,
                                 Analyzer Procedure).        Air Pollutants:            2021.
                                                             Municipal Solid Waste
                                                             Landfills Residual Risk
                                                             and Technology Review.
ALT-145.......................  Method 10--Determination    Sources subject to 40 CFR  Use the alternative
                                 of Carbon Monoxide          part 63, subpart AAAA--    method attached to the
                                 Emissions From Stationary   National Emission          Agency's approval letter
                                 Sources (Instrumental       Standards for Hazardous    dated September 30,
                                 Analyzer Procedure).        Air Pollutants:            2021.
                                                             Municipal Solid Waste
                                                             Landfills Residual Risk
                                                             and Technology Review.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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. 2022-01124 Filed 1-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P