[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 244 (Thursday, December 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77024-77025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30124]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8754-1]
Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring
Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of a New Reference Method
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of the designation of a new reference method for
monitoring ambient air quality.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has designated, in accordance with 40 CFR Part 53, a new
reference method for measuring mass concentrations of coarse
particulate matter (PM10-2.5) in the ambient air.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Surender Kaushik, Human Exposure and
Atmospheric Sciences Division (MD-D205-03), National Exposure Research
Laboratory, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711.
Phone: (919) 541-5691, e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with regulations at 40 CFR
Part 53, the EPA evaluates various methods for monitoring the
concentrations of those ambient air pollutants for which EPA has
established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs) as set
forth in 40 CFR Part 50. Monitoring methods that are determined to meet
specific requirements for adequacy are designated by the EPA as either
reference methods or equivalent methods (as applicable), thereby
permitting their use under 40 CFR Part 58 by States and other agencies
for determining attainment of the NAAQSs.
The EPA hereby announces the designation of a new reference method
for measuring mass concentrations of coarse particulate matter
(PM10-2.5) in the ambient air. This designation is made
under the provisions of 40 CFR Part 53, as amended on December 18, 2006
(71 FR 61271).
The new reference method for PM10-2.5 is a manual method
that utilizes a pair of FRM samplers that has already been designated
as PM2.5 (RFPS-0498-116) and PM10C (RFPS-1298-
125), and the requirements specified in Appendix O of 40 CFR Part 50.
The newly designated PM10-2.5 reference method is identified
as follows:
RFPS-1208-173, ``BGI Incorporated Model PQ200
PM10-2.5 sampler pair for the determination of coarse
particulate matter as PM10-2.5 consisting of a pair of
BGI Model PQ200 samplers, with one configured for sampling
PM2.5 (RFPS-0498-116) and the other configured for
sampling PM10c (RFPS-1298-125) with the PM2.5
separator replaced with a BGI WINS Eliminator and operated in
accordance with the Model PQ200 Instruction manual supplement
Appendix O.
An application for a reference method determination for the
candidate method was received by the EPA on July 31, 2008. The sampler
pair is commercially available from the applicant, BGI Incorporated, 58
Guinan Street, Waltham, MA 02451, USA (http://www.bgiusa.com).
After reviewing the information submitted by the applicant in the
application, EPA has determined, in accordance with CFR Parts 53 (as
amended on October 17, 2006), that this method should be designated as
a reference method. The information submitted by the applicant in the
application will be kept on file, either at EPA's National Exposure
Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 or in
an approved archive storage facility, and will be available for
inspection (with advance notice) to the extent consistent with 40 CFR
Part 2 (EPA's regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act).
As a designated reference method, this method is acceptable for use
by states and other air monitoring agencies under the requirements of
40 CFR Part 58, Ambient Air Quality Surveillance. For such purposes,
the method must be used in strict accordance with the operation or
instruction manual associated with the method and subject to any
specifications and limitations (e.g., configuration or operational
settings) specified in the applicable designation method description
(see the identifications of the method above).
Use of the method should also be in general accordance with the
guidance and recommendations of applicable sections of the ``Quality
Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems, Volume I,''
EPA/600/R-94/038a and ``Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution
Measurement Systems, Volume II, Part 1,'' EPA-454/R-98-004 (available
at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qabook.html). Vendor modifications of a
designated reference method used for purposes of Part 58 are permitted
only with prior approval of the EPA, as provided in Part 53. Provisions
concerning modification of such methods by users are specified under
Section 2.8 (Modifications of Methods by Users) of Appendix C to 40 CFR
Part 58.
In general, a method designation applies to any sampler or analyzer
which is identical to the sampler or analyzer described in the
application for designation. In some cases, similar samplers or
analyzers manufactured prior to the designation may be upgraded or
converted (e.g., by minor modification or by substitution of the
approved operation or instruction manual) so as to be identical to the
designated method and thus achieve designated status. The manufacturer
should be consulted to determine the feasibility of such upgrading or
conversion.
Part 53 requires that sellers of designated reference or equivalent
method analyzers or samplers comply with certain conditions. These
conditions are specified in 40 CFR 53.9 and are summarized below:
(a) A copy of the approved operation or instruction manual must
accompany the sampler or analyzer when it is delivered to the ultimate
purchaser.
(b) The sampler or analyzer must not generate any unreasonable
hazard to operators or to the environment.
(c) The sampler or analyzer must function within the limits of the
applicable performance specifications
[[Page 77025]]
given in 40 CFR Parts 50 and 53 for at least one year after delivery
when maintained and operated in accordance with the operation or
instruction manual.
(d) Any sampler or analyzer offered for sale as part of a reference
or equivalent method must bear a label or sticker indicating that it
has been designated as part of a reference or equivalent method in
accordance with Part 53 and showing its designated method
identification number.
(e) If such an analyzer has two or more selectable ranges, the
label or sticker must be placed in close proximity to the range
selector and indicate which range or ranges have been included in the
reference or equivalent method designation.
(f) An applicant who offers samplers or analyzers for sale as part
of a reference or equivalent method is required to maintain a list of
ultimate purchasers of such samplers or analyzers and to notify them
within 30 days if a reference or equivalent method designation
applicable to the method has been canceled or if adjustment of the
sampler or analyzer is necessary under 40 CFR 53.11(b) to avoid a
cancellation.
(g) An applicant who modifies a sampler or analyzer previously
designated as part of a reference or equivalent method is not permitted
to sell the sampler or analyzer (as modified) as part of a reference or
equivalent method (although it may be sold without such
representation), nor to attach a designation label or sticker to the
sampler or analyzer (as modified) under the provisions described above,
until the applicant has received notice under 40 CFR 53.14(c) that the
original designation or a new designation applies to the method as
modified, or until the applicant has applied for and received notice
under 40 CFR 53.8(b) of a new reference or equivalent method
determination for the sampler or analyzer as modified.
Aside from occasional breakdowns or malfunctions, consistent or
repeated noncompliance with any of these conditions should be reported
to: Director, Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (MD-
E205-01), National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711.
Designation of this new reference method is intended to assist the
States in establishing and operating their air quality surveillance
systems under 40 CFR Part 58. Questions concerning the commercial
availability or technical aspects of the method should be directed to
the applicant.
Jewel F. Morris,
Acting Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. E8-30124 Filed 12-17-08; 8:45 am]
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