[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]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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

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]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P