[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 12780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4867]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6948-2]


Notice of Reopening of the Comment Period for Method 203: 
Determination of the Opacity of Emissions From Stationary Sources by 
Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are reopening 
the comment period in order to afford the public the opportunity to 
provide new, clarifying, or updated comments on Method 203, part 51, 
appendix M, which was proposed on October 7, 1992 (57 FR 46114). Method 
203 specifies quality assurance requirements and procedures that must 
be performed by the continuous opacity monitoring system (COMS) 
operator after the initial demonstration of compliance with Performance 
Specification 1 (PS-1). We will consider these comments in deciding 
whether to re-propose Method 203 in its entirety, publish a 
supplemental proposal on Method 203, or to publish an amended version 
of Method 203 as a Final Rule. We believe it is necessary to reopen the 
comment period as a courtesy to the public due to the length of time 
since the original proposal. It was decided to delay the Method 203 
proposal until the revisions to PS-1 were promulgated. Also, we were 
aware that the PS-1 revisions would have an impact on any action taken 
with Method 203, therefore we wanted to give the public the opportunity 
to comment on Method 203 as it relates to the revisions to PS-1 (65 FR 
48885). PS-1 outlines the design and performance requirements for COMS.

DATES: Comments. Comments must be received on or before March 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments should be submitted (in duplicate) to: 
Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (Mail code 
6102), Attention: Docket Number A-91-08, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, DC 20460.
    Docket. Docket number A-91-08, containing materials relevant to 
this rulemaking, is available for public inspection and copying between 
8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on all federal government work days at the 
Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center. The Docket 
is located at 401 M Street S.W., Washington, DC 20460, room number M-
1500. A reasonable fee may be charged for the duplication of materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Solomon Ricks at (919) 541-5242, 
U.S. EPA, Emission Measurement Center, Research Triangle Park, North 
Carolina, 27711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 7, 1992, we proposed Method 203 
(57 FR 46114) as a means of providing states with an instrumental test 
method which could be used in determining, on a continuous basis, 
compliance with stationary source opacity emission limitations. In view 
of the significant amount of time that has passed since the proposal 
was published, we believe it is appropriate to offer the public another 
opportunity to comment on proposed Method 203. In particular, we are 
seeking comment on whether the requirements and procedures outlined in 
the proposal remain appropriate, or whether newer technologies and/or 
procedures have become available which we should consider before taking 
final action on this proposed rule.
    Subsequent to the proposal, we received comments questioning 
whether Method 203, when adopted, should be codified at 40 CFR part 51, 
appendix M, as proposed. Commenters suggested that it would be more 
appropriate to codify this method at 40 CFR part 60, appendix F because 
the proposed method outlines the quality assurance procedures for COMS, 
and appendix F contains quality assurance procedures for continuous 
monitoring equipment. For this reason, we also seek public comment on 
placing Method 203 in part 60, appendix F as ``Procedure 2. Quality 
Assurance Requirements for Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems Used 
for Compliance Determination.'' Based on comments provided during this 
additional 30-day comment period, we will take appropriate action on 
the proposed Method 203, which may include re-proposing the rule in its 
entirety, issuing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking, or 
adopting the rule in final form, with only minor changes. We will make 
the comments received during this comment period available to the 
public through the public docket (Docket Number A-91-08). A draft 
document containing a summary of the comments received on the 1992 
proposal is also available in the public docket.
    You may download a copy of proposed Method 203 via the world wide 
web at http://www.epa.gov/ttnemc01/frpromth.html. In addition, you may 
obtain copies of the 1992 proposal and previously submitted public 
comments through Docket Number A-91-08, which contains all materials 
relevant to this rulemaking, and is available for public inspection 
between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except for 
Federal holidays) at the following address: U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation Docket and Information 
Center (MC-6102), Room M-1500, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, DC 20460, 
telephone: (202) 260-7548. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.

    Dated: February 16, 2001.
Robert D. Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 01-4867 Filed 2-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P