[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28052-28055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13152]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 51

[AD-FRL-5211-6]
RIN 2060-AE33


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this 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, 
[[Page 28053]] ``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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This method is effective May 30, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Background Information Document. The background information 
document (BID) for the promulgated test method may be obtained from: 
Air Docket Section (MC-6102), 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. The BID contains a 
summary of all the public comments made on the proposed test method and 
the Administrator's response to the comments.
    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 and Radiation 
Docket and Information Center (formerly known as the Air Docket), 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 N. Dishakjian, Source 
Characterization Group A (MD-19), Emissions, Modeling and Analysis 
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 Method

    A verification procedure for gas dilution systems has been 
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 on the Proposed Method

    Comments on the proposed method were received from three 
commenters; two commenters are vendors of instruments, while the other 
commenter has conducted studies on gas dilution instruments in the 
past. A detailed discussion of these comments and responses can be 
found in the promulgation BID, which is referred to in the ADDRESSES 
section of this preamble. Many of the comments dealt with the wording 
used in the proposed method: two commenters thought the specific 
mention of gas dilution systems utilizing mass flow controllers implied 
an Agency endorsement of such systems. Although the original wording 
actually set more stringent testing requirements for mass flow 
controller systems and thus was not an endorsement of such systems, the 
wording of the method has been modified to make it more generic. 
Another commenter stated that not enough evaluation has been conducted 
on gas dilution systems' performance capabilities. While the Agency 
agrees that a large body of data is not available for all the various 
gas dilution systems currently available, the Agency believes the 
performance-based format of the method and the stringent requirements 
of the method will insure that any gas dilution system being used will 
be precise and accurate for the purposes of the field test. Since the 
performance test in the method must be conducted during each field 
test, the gas dilution system's performance will be documented for each 
set of compliance test data.

II. Administrative Requirements

A. 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)].

B. Administrative Designation and Regulatory Analysis

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993)), the 
EPA is required to judge whether a regulation is ``significant'' and 
therefore subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and 
the requirements of this Executive Order to prepare a regulatory impact 
analysis (RIA). The Order defines ``significant regulatory action'' as 
one that is likely to result in a rule that may: (1) Have an annual 
effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a 
material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, 
competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, 
local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) create a serious 
inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by 
another agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impact of 
entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs, or the rights and 
obligation of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy 
issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or 
the principles set forth in the Executive Order.
    Pursuant to the terms of Executive Order 12866, it has been 
determined that this rule is not ``significant'' because none of the 
listed criteria apply to this action. Consequently, this action was not 
submitted to OMB for review under Executive Order 12866.

C. 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, Volatile organic compounds.

    [[Page 28054]] Dated: May 22, 1995.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.

    The 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: Section 110 of the Clean Air Act as amended. 42 
U.S.C. 7410.

    2. Appendix M, Table of Contents is amended by adding an entry to 
read as follows:
    Method 205--Verification of Gas Dilution Systems for Field 
Instrument Calibrations.
    3. By adding Method 205 to appendix M 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. As long as the acceptance criteria of this method are met, 
this method is applicable to gas dilution systems using any type of 
dilution technology, not solely the ones mentioned in this method.
    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 a range of concentrations. After meeting the 
requirements of this method, 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  The gas dilution system shall be recalibrated once per 
calendar year using NIST-traceable primary flow standards with an 
uncertainty 0.25 percent. A label shall be affixed at all 
times to the gas dilution system listing the date of the most recent 
calibration, the due date for the next calibration, and the person or 
manufacturer who carried out the calibration. Follow the manufacturer's 
instructions for the operation and use of the gas dilution system. A 
copy of the manufacturer's instructions for the operation of the 
instrument, as well as the most recent recalibration documentation 
shall be made available for the Administrator's inspection upon 
request.
    2.1.2  Some manufacturers of mass flow controllers recommend that 
flow rates below 10 percent of flow controller capacity be avoided; 
check for this recommendation and follow the manufacturer's 
instructions. One study has indicated that silicone oil from a positive 
displacement pump produces an interference in SO2 analyzers 
utilizing ultraviolet fluorescence; follow laboratory procedures 
similar to those outlined in Section 3.1 in order to demonstrate the 
significance of any resulting effect on instrument performance.
    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 calendar 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 method, 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, two dilutions within the range of each dilution device 
utilized in the dilution system (unless, as in critical orifice 
systems, each dilution device is used to make only one dilution; in 
that case, prepare one dilution for each dilution device). Dilution 
device in this method refers to each mass flow controller, critical 
orifice, capillary tube, positive displacement pump, or any other 
device which is used to achieve gas dilution.
    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. [[Page 28055]] 
    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

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

[FR Doc. 95-13152 Filed 5-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P