[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
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From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18757]


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[Federal Register: August 3, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 51

[AD-FRL-5022-9]

 

Preparation, Adoption, and Submittal of State Implementation 
Plans; Test Method 205, Appendix M

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule and notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this proposed rule is to add a test method 
which would be used to verify the performance and accuracy of gas 
dilution systems during a field test. The test method is entitled, 
``Verification of Gas Dilution Systems for Field Instrument 
Calibrations,'' and will be added to 40 CFR Part 51, Appendix M, as 
Test Method 205. This method will allow the facility greater 
flexibility while assuring the Administrator of the quality of the 
calibration of the field analyzers.
    A public hearing will be held, if requested, to provide interested 
persons an opportunity for oral presentation of data, views, or 
arguments concerning the proposed rule.

DATES: Comments. Comments must be received on or before October 17, 
1994.
    Public Hearing. If anyone contacts EPA requesting to speak at a 
public hearing by August 24, 1994, a public hearing will be held 
September 19, 1994 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Persons interested in 
attending the hearing should call the contact mentioned under ADDRESSES 
to verify that a meeting will be held.
    Request to Speak at Hearing. Persons wishing to present oral 
testimony must contact EPA by August 24, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments should be submitted (in duplicate if 
possible) to: Central Docket Section (LE-131), Attention: Docket Number 
A-93-36, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Room M-1500, First 
Floor, Waterside Mall, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
    Public Hearing. If anyone contacts EPA requesting a public hearing, 
it will be held at EPA's Emission Measurement Laboratory, Research 
Triangle Park, North Carolina. Persons interested in attending the 
hearing or wishing to present oral testimony should notify Rima 
Dishakjian, Emission Measurement Branch, Technical Support Division 
(MD-19), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, 
North Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 541-0443.
    Docket. Docket No. A-93-36, containing materials relevant to this 
rulemaking, is available for public inspection and copying between 8:00 
a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at EPA's Air Docket Section, 
Room M-1500, First Floor, Waterside Mall, 401 M Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20460. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rima Dishakjian or Anthony Wayne, 
Emission Measurement Branch (MD-19), Technical Support Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 
27711, telephone number (919) 541-0443.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. The Rulemaking

A. Summary of Proposed Changes

    A verification procedure for gas dilution systems is being 
proposed. Gas dilution systems allow the user to dilute a high level 
certified gaseous standard to the concentration levels needed for 
multi-point calibration. The instrumental test methods in 40 CFR Part 
60, Appendix A (e.g., Methods 3A, 6C, 7E, 10, 15, 16, 20, 25A, and 25B) 
require on-site, multi-point calibration using gases of known 
concentrations. An extensive field test can require the tester to 
transport dozens of high pressure gas cylinders to a test site. If a 
gas dilution system were available, the number of gas cylinders to be 
transported to the test site would be greatly reduced. This procedure 
provides a mechanism for the tester to avoid the cost and risk 
associated with transport of multiple gas cylinders, while also 
providing assurances to the on-site Administrator that the calibration 
gases produced by the gas dilution system will be precise and accurate.

B. Comments and Responses on Draft

    The proposed method was published through the Emission Measurement 
Technical Information Center as Conditional Test Method 007 in April 
1991. No technical comments have been submitted thus far. Several 
commenters suggested that the protocol be published in the CFR, thus 
resulting in this action.

II. Administrative Requirements

A. Public Hearing

    A public hearing will be held, if requested, to discuss the 
proposed rulemaking in accordance with Section 307(d)(5) of the Clean 
Air Act. Persons wishing to make oral presentations should contact EPA 
at the address given in the ADDRESSES section of this preamble. Oral 
presentations will be limited to 15 minutes each. Any member of the 
public may file a written statement with EPA before, during, or within 
30 days after the hearing. Written statements should be addressed to 
the Central Docket Section address given in the ADDRESSES section of 
this preamble.
    A verbatim transcript of the hearing and written statements will be 
available for public inspection and copying during normal working hours 
at EPA's Central Docket Section in Washington, D.C. (see ADDRESSES 
section of this preamble).

B. Docket

    The docket is an organized and complete file of all the information 
submitted to or otherwise considered by EPA in the development of this 
proposed rulemaking. The principal purposes of the docket are to: (1) 
allow interested parties to identify and locate documents so that they 
can effectively participate in the rulemaking process, and (2) serve as 
the record in case of judicial review except for interagency review 
materials [Section 307(d)(7)(A)].

C. Office of Management and Budget Review

    It has been determined that this rule is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under the terms of Executive Order 12866 and is 
therefore not subject to OMB review.

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act Compliance

    Pursuant to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 605(b), I hereby certify 
that this attached rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because no 
additional costs will be incurred.
    This rule does not contain any information collection requirements 
subject to OMB review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 51

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Intergovernmental relations, 
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, and Volatile organic 
compounds.

    Dated: July 14, 1994.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
    EPA proposes to amend title 40, chapter I, part 51 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 51--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 51 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2), 7475(e), 7502 (a) and (b), 
7503, 7601(a)(1) and 7620.

Appendix M--Recommended Test Methods for State Implementation Plans

    2. Appendix M to part 51 is amended by adding Method 205 to read as 
follows:

Method 205--Verification of Gas Dilution Systems for Field Instrument 
Calibrations

1. Introduction

    1.1 Applicability. A gas dilution system can provide known 
values of calibration gases through controlled dilution of high-
level calibration gases with an appropriate dilution gas. The 
instrumental test methods in 40 CFR Part 60--e.g., Methods 3A, 6C, 
7E, 10, 15, 16, 20, 25A and 25B--require on-site, multi-point 
calibration using gases of known concentrations. A gas dilution 
system that produces known low-level calibration gases from high-
level calibration gases, with a degree of confidence similar to that 
for Protocol\1\ gases, may be used for compliance tests in lieu of 
multiple calibration gases when the gas dilution system is 
demonstrated to meet the requirements of this method. The 
Administrator may also use a gas dilution system in order to produce 
a wide range of Cylinder Gas Audit concentrations when conducting 
performance specifications according to Appendix F, 40 CFR Part 60.
    1.2 Principle. The gas dilution system shall be evaluated on one 
analyzer once during each field test. A precalibrated analyzer is 
chosen, at the discretion of the source owner or operator, to 
demonstrate that the gas dilution system produces predictable gas 
concentrations spanning the range of concentrations expected during 
the field test. After meeting the requirements of this protocol, the 
remaining analyzers may be calibrated with the dilution system in 
accordance to the requirements of the applicable method for the 
duration of the field test. In Methods 15 and 16, 40 CFR Part 60, 
Appendix A, reactive compounds may be lost in the gas dilution 
system. Also, in Methods 25A and 25B, 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, 
calibration with target compounds other than propane is allowed. In 
these cases, a laboratory evaluation is required once per year in 
order to assure the Administrator that the system will dilute these 
reactive gases without significant loss. Note: The laboratory 
evaluation is required only if the source owner or operator plans to 
utilize the dilution system to prepare gases mentioned above as 
being reactive.

2. Specifications

    2.1 Gas Dilution System. The gas dilution system shall produce 
calibration gases whose measured values are within 2 
percent of the predicted values. The predicted values are calculated 
based on the certified concentration of the supply gas (Protocol 
gases, when available, are recommended for their accuracy) and the 
gas flow rates (or dilution ratios) through the gas dilution system.
    2.1.1 For gas dilution systems utilizing mass flow controllers, 
the mass flow controllers in the gas dilution system shall be 
calibrated against a National Institute of Standards and Technology 
(NIST) traceable standard according to the manufacturer's 
instructions once per year.
    2.1.2 For gas dilution systems using mass flow controllers, the 
accuracy of the controllers diminishes at low flow rates. Therefore, 
it is recommended that flow rates below 10 percent of flow 
controller capacity be avoided.
    2.2 High-Level Supply Gas. An EPA Protocol calibration gas is 
recommended, due to its accuracy, as the high-level supply gas.
    2.3 Mid-Level Supply Gas. An EPA Protocol gas shall be used as 
an independent check of the dilution system. The concentration of 
the mid-level supply gas shall be within 10 percent of one of the 
dilution levels tested in Section 3.2.

3. Performance Tests

    3.1 Laboratory Evaluation (Optional). If the gas dilution system 
is to be used to formulate calibration gases with reactive compounds 
(Test Methods 15, 16, and 25A/25B (only if using a calibration gas 
other than propane during the field test) in 40 CFR Part 60, 
Appendix A), a laboratory certification must be conducted once per 
year for each reactive compound to be diluted. In the laboratory, 
carry out the procedures in Section 3.2 on the analyzer required in 
each respective test method to be laboratory certified (15, 16, or 
25A and 25B for compounds other than propane). For each compound in 
which the gas dilution system meets the requirements in Section 3.2, 
the source must provide the laboratory certification data for the 
field test and in the test report.
    3.2 Field Evaluation (Required). The gas dilution system shall 
be evaluated at the test site with an analyzer or monitor chosen by 
the source owner or operator. It is recommended that the source 
owner or operator choose a precalibrated instrument with a high 
level of precision and accuracy for the purposes of this test. This 
method is not meant to replace the calibration requirements of test 
methods. In addition to the requirements in this protocol, all the 
calibration requirements of the applicable test method must also be 
met.
    3.2.1 Prepare the gas dilution system according to the 
manufacturer's instructions. Using the high-level supply gas, 
prepare, at a minimum, one dilution for each dilution device 
utilized in the dilution system. Dilution device in this method 
refers to the mass flow controller, critical orifice, capillary 
tube, or any other device which is used to achieve gas dilution. For 
gas dilution systems utilizing mass flow controllers, it is 
recommended that two dilutions be performed for each mass flow 
controller range.
    3.2.2 Calculate the predicted concentration for each of the 
dilutions based on the flow rates through the gas dilution system 
(or the dilution ratios) and the certified concentration of the 
high-level supply gas.
    3.2.3 Introduce each of the dilutions from Section 3.2.1 into 
the analyzer or monitor one at a time and determine the instrument 
response for each of the dilutions.
    3.2.4 Repeat the procedure in Section 3.2.3 two times, i.e., 
until three injections are made at each dilution level. Calculate 
the average instrument response for each triplicate injection at 
each dilution level. No single injection shall differ by more than 
2 percent from the average instrument response for that 
dilution.
    3.2.5 For each level of dilution, calculate the difference 
between the average concentration output recorded by the analyzer 
and the predicted concentration calculated in Section 3.2.2. The 
average concentration output from the analyzer shall be within 
2 percent of the predicted value.
    3.2.6 Introduce the mid-level supply gas directly into the 
analyzer, bypassing the gas dilution system. Repeat the procedure 
twice more, for a total of three mid-level supply gas injections. 
Calculate the average analyzer output concentration for the mid-
level supply gas. The difference between the certified concentration 
of the mid-level supply gas and the average instrument response 
shall be within 2 percent.
    3.3 If the gas dilution system meets the criteria listed in 
Section 3.2, the gas dilution system may be used throughout that 
field test. If the gas dilution system fails any of the criteria 
listed in Section 3.2, and the tester corrects the problem with the 
gas dilution system, the procedure in Section 3.2 must be repeated 
in its entirety and all the criteria in Section 3.2 must be met in 
order for the gas dilution system to be utilized in the test.

4. References

    4.1 ``EPA Traceability Protocol for Assay and Certification of 
Gaseous Calibration Standards,'' EPA-600/R93/224, Revised September 
1993.

[FR Doc. 94-18757 Filed 8-2-94; 8:45 am]
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