[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 25, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54684-54685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26464]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5318-1]


Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring 
Reference and Equivalent Methods; Reference and Equivalent Method 
Designations

    Notice is hereby given that the EPA, in accordance with 40 CFR part 
53, has designated one additional reference method and two additional 
equivalent methods for ambient air monitoring. The reference method is 
for the measurement of ambient concentrations of carbon monoxide, and 
the two equivalent methods are for the measurement of ambient 
concentrations of lead in suspended particulate matter.
    The new reference method for carbon monoxide is an automated method 
(analyzer) which utilizes the measurement principle based on infra-red 
absorption combined with gas filter correlation and the calibration 
procedure specified in Appendix C of 40 CFR part 50. This new 
designated method is identified as follows:
    RFCA-0995-108, ``Environnement [sic] S.A. Model CO11M Ambient 
Carbon Monoxide Analyzer,'' operated with a full scale range of 0-50 
ppm, at any temperature in the range of 15  deg.C to 35  deg.C, with a 
5-micron PTFE sample particulate filter, with the following software 
settings: Automatic response time ON, Minimum response time set to 40 
seconds (RT 13), Automatic ZERO-REF cycle programmed every 24 hours, 
and with or without any of the following options: RS 232-422 Interface; 
Internal Printer.

    Note: In addition to the standard U.S. electrical power voltage 
and frequency (115 Vac, 60 Hz), this analyzer is approved for use, 
with proper factory configuration, on 50 Hertz line frequency and 
any of the following voltage ranges: 105-125 Vac (115 volts nominal) 
and 210-250 Vac (230 volts nominal).

    This method is available from Environnement [sic] S.A., 111, bd 
Robespierre, 78300 Poissy, France or from Environnement [sic] U.S.A., 
570 Higuera Street, Suite 25, San Luis Obispo, California 93401. A 
notice of receipt of application for this method appeared in the 
Federal Register, Volume 60, Number 111, June 9, 1995, page 30535.
    A test analyzer representative of this method has been tested by 
the applicant, in accordance with the test procedures specified in 40 
CFR part 53. After reviewing the results of these tests and other 
information submitted by the applicant, EPA has determined, in 
accordance with part 53, that this method should be designated as a 
reference method.
    The two new equivalent methods for the determination of lead in 
suspended particulate matter collected from ambient air are identified 
as follows:
    (1) EQL-0995-109, ``Determination of Lead Concentration in Ambient 
Particulate Matter by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma-optical Emission 
Spectrometry (Pima County, Arizona).''
    (2) EQL-0995-110, ``Determination of Lead Concentration in Ambient 
Particulate Matter by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry 
(Pima County, Arizona).''
    The applicant's request for equivalent method determinations for 
these two methods was received on June 25, 1995. These methods have 
been tested by the applicant, Pima County, Wastewater Management 
Department, Tucson, Arizona, in accordance with the test procedures 
prescribed in 40 CFR Part 53. After reviewing the results of these 
tests and other information submitted by the applicant, EPA has 
determined, in accordance with Part 53, that these methods should be 
designated as equivalent methods. Both of these methods use the 
sampling procedure specified in the reference method for the 
determination of lead in suspended particulate matter collected from 
ambient air (40 CFR 50, Appendix G). In each of these methods, lead in 
the particulate matter is solubilized by extraction with nitric acid 
facilitated by heat. In method (1), the lead content of the sample 
extract is analyzed with a Leeman Labs PS-5 inductively coupled argon 
plasma-optical emission spectrometer operating at a frequency of 40 MHz 
and using the 220.353 nm lead adsorption line. In method (2), the lead 
content of the sample extract is analyzed with a VG PlasmaQuad 1 
inductively coupled argon plasma-mass spectrometer operating at a 
frequency of 27 MHz. In both methods, the instrumental operating 
conditions have been optimized by the user-laboratory. Technical 
questions concerning these methods should be directed to Pima County, 
Wastewater Management Department, 201 North Stone Avenue, Tucson, 
Arizona 85701-1207.
    The information submitted by these two applicants will be kept on 
file at EPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle 
Park, North Carolina 27711 and will be available for inspection to the 
extent consistent with 40 CFR part 2 (EPA's regulations implementing 
the Freedom of Information Act).
    As a designated reference or equivalent method, each of these 
methods is acceptable for use by States and other air monitoring 
agencies under requirements of 40 CFR part 58, Ambient Air Quality 
Surveillance. For such purposes, each method must be used in strict 
accordance with the operation or instruction manual associated with the 
method or the procedures and specifications provided in the method 
description and subject to any limitations (e.g., operating temperature 
range) specified in the applicable designation (see description of the 
methods above). Vendor modifications of a designated 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 of Appendix C to 40 
CFR part 58 (Modifications of Methods by Users).

[[Page 54685]]

    In general, a designation applies to any analyzer which is 
identical to the analyzer described in the designation. In some cases, 
similar analyzers manufactured prior to the designation may be upgraded 
(e.g., by minor modification or by substitution of a new operation or 
instruction manual) so as to be identical to the designated method and 
thus achieve designated status at a modest cost. The manufacturer 
should be consulted to determine the feasibility of such upgrading. 
States or other agencies wishing to use a method similar to either of 
the new lead methods that employs procedures and specifications 
significantly different from those in either EQL-0995-109 or EQL-0995-
110 must seek specific approval for their particular method under the 
provisions of Section 2.8 of Appendix C to 40 CFR Part 58 (Modification 
of Methods by Users), or may seek designation of such a method as an 
equivalent method under the provisions of 40 CFR Part 53.
    Part 53 requires that sellers of designated method analyzers comply 
with certain conditions. These conditions are given in 40 CFR 53.9 and 
are summarized below:
    (1) A copy of the approved operation or instruction manual must 
accompany the analyzer when it is delivered to the ultimate purchaser.
    (2) The analyzer must not generate any unreasonable hazard to 
operators or to the environment.
    (3) The analyzer must function within the limits of the performance 
specifications given in Table B-1 of part 53 for at least one year 
after delivery when maintained and operated in accordance with the 
operation manual.
    (4) Any analyzer offered for sale as a reference or equivalent 
method must bear a label or sticker indicating that it has been 
designated as a reference or equivalent method in accordance with part 
53.
    (5) 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.
    (6) An applicant who offers analyzers for sale as reference or 
equivalent method is required to maintain a list of ultimate purchasers 
of such analyzers and to notify them within 30 days if a reference or 
equivalent method designation applicable to the analyzer has been 
canceled or if adjustment of the analyzer is necessary under 40 CFR 
part 53.11(b) to avoid a cancellation.
    (7) An applicant who modifies an analyzer previously designated as 
a reference or equivalent method is not permitted to sell the analyzer 
(as modified) as a reference or equivalent method (although he may 
choose to sell it without such representation), nor to attach a label 
or sticker to the analyzer (as modified) under the provisions described 
above, until he has received notice under 40 CFR part 53.14(c) that the 
original designation or a new designation applies to the method as 
modified, or until he has applied for and received notice under 40 CFR 
53.8(b) of a new reference or equivalent method determination for the 
analyzer as modified.
    Aside from occasional breakdowns or malfunctions, consistent or 
repeated noncompliance with any of these conditions should be reported 
to: Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Air Measurements 
Research Division (MD-78A), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711.
    Designation of these reference and equivalent methods is intended 
to assist the States in establishing and operating their air quality 
surveillance systems under part 58. Technical questions concerning any 
of the methods should be directed to the applicant. Additional 
information concerning this action may be obtained from Frank F. 
McElroy, Air Measurements Research Division (MD-77), National Exposure 
Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research 
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, (919) 541-2622.
Joseph K. Alexander,
Acting Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-26464 Filed 10-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M