[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26395-26397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12789]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8909-9]
Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring
Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of Three New Reference
Methods and Four New Equivalent Methods
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of the designation of three new reference methods and
four new equivalent methods for monitoring ambient air quality.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has designated, in accordance with 40 CFR Part 53, three
new reference methods and four new equivalent methods. The reference
methods include one for measuring carbon monoxide (CO) in ambient air
(Ecotech Serinus 30 Carbon Monoxide Analyzer) and two for measuring
PM10-2.5 in the ambient air (a Thermo Scientific
Partisol[supreg] Model 2000 sampler pair and a Partisol[supreg]-Plus
Model 2025 Sequential sampler pair). The four new equivalent methods
are two for measuring PM2.5 and two for measuring
PM10-2.5 in the ambient air (Thermo Scientific
Partisol[supreg] Model 2000-D, and Dichotomous Partisol[supreg]-Plus
Model 2025-D Sequential, air samplers).
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 compliance with the NAAQSs.
The EPA hereby announces the designation of one new reference
method for measuring concentrations of CO, two new reference methods
for measuring PM10-2.5, two new equivalent methods for
measuring PM2.5, and two new equivalent methods for
measuring PM10-2.5 in the ambient air. These designations
are made under the provisions of 40 CFR Part 53, as amended on October
17, 2006 (71 FR 61271).
The new reference method for CO is an automated method that
utilizes the measurement principle based on non-dispersive infra-red
adsorption photometry (combined with gas filter correlation) and the
calibration procedure specified in Appendix C of 40 CFR Part 50. The
newly designated reference method is identified as follows:
RFCA-0509-174, ``Ecotech Serinus 30 Carbon Monoxide Analyzer'',
operated in the range of 0-50 ppm, with a five-micron Teflon[supreg]
filter element installed, and with the following selected:
Background-Enabled, Control Loop-Enabled, Diagnostic Mode-Operate,
Pres/Temp/Flow Compensation-Enabled, Span Compensation-Disabled,
with concentration automatically corrected for temperature and
pressure changes.
An application for a reference method determination for this
candidate method was received by the EPA on October 17,
[[Page 26396]]
2008. This analyzer is commercially available from the applicant,
Ecotech Pty. Ltd., 1492 Ferntree Gully Road, Knoxfield, Victoria, 3180,
Australia.
The two new PM10-2.5 reference methods are manual
methods that each utilize a pair of filter samplers that have been
previously designated individually as reference methods, one for
PM2.5 and the other for PM10, and have been shown
to meet the requirements specified in Appendix O of 40 CFR Part 50. The
samplers of the first method are currently designated as reference
methods RFPS-0498-117 and RFPS-1298-126 for PM2.5 and
PM10, respectively. The samplers of the second method are
currently designated as reference methods RFPS-0498-118 and RFPS-1298-
127 for PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. These newly
designated reference methods for PM10-2.5 are identified as
follows:
RFPS-0509-175, ``Thermo Scientific Partisol[supreg] Model 2000
PM10-2.5 Sampler Pair'' for the determination of coarse particulate
matter as PM10-2.5, consisting of a pair of Thermo
Scientific Partisol[supreg] Model 2000 samplers, with one configured
as a PM2.5 sampler (RFPS-0498-117) and the other
configured as a PM10c sampler with the PM2.5
separator replaced with a Thermo Scientific WINS Bypass Downtube
(RFPS-1298-126), and operated in accordance with the associated
Partisol[supreg] Model 2000 Instruction manual supplement.
RFPS-0509-176, ``Thermo Scientific Partisol[supreg]-Plus Model
2025 Sequential PM10-2.5 air sampler pair'' for the determination of
coarse particulate matter as PM10-2.5, consisting of a
pair of Thermo Scientific Partisol[supreg]-Plus Model 2025
Sequential samplers, with one configured as a PM2.5
sampler (RFPS-0498-118) and the other configured as a
PM10c sampler with the PM2.5 separator
replaced with a Thermo Scientific Partisol[supreg] 2025 Downtube
(RFPS-1298-127), and operated in accordance with the associated
Partisol[supreg]-Plus Model 2025 Sequential Instruction manual
supplement.
Applications for PM10-2.5 reference method
determinations for these candidate methods were received by the EPA on
April 29, 2009. The samplers are commercially available from the
applicant, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Air Quality Instruments,
Environmental Instruments Division, 27 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA
02038.
The four new PM equivalent methods are two dual-channel samplers
that measure both PM2.5 and PM10-2.5,
utilizing a manual, filter method (sampler) and a measurement principle
based on PM separation in a virtual impactor, with separate fine and
coarse filter sample collection and gravimetric analysis. The first
sampler is a single-event sampler, and the second is a sequential-
filter device. These newly designated equivalent methods, for
PM2.5 and PM10-2.5, are identified as
follows:
EQPS-0509-177 (PM2.5) and EQPS-0509-178
(PM10-2.5), ``Thermo Scientific Partisol[supreg] 2000-D
Dichotomous Air Sampler'', configured for dual-filter, single-event
sampling of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10-2.5)
particles, using a virtual impactor to separate fine and coarse PM
into two samples for collection on two separate filter membranes,
operated for a 24-hour sample period, in accordance with the Model
2000-D Dichotomous Instruction Manual.
EQPS-0509-179 (PM2.5) and EQPS-0509-180
(PM10-2.5), ``Thermo Scientific Dichotomous
Partisol[supreg]-Plus Model 2025-D Sequential Air Sampler'',
configured for dual-filter sampling of fine (PM2.5) and
coarse (PM10-2.5) particle components, using a virtual
impactor to separate the fine and coarse PM into two samples for
collection on two separate filter membranes, and operated with the
modified filter shuttle mechanism implemented May 31, 2008 and
firmware version 1.500, or later, for 24-hour continuous sample
periods, in accordance with the Model 2025-D Sequential Dichotomous
Instruction Manual.
Applications for PM2.5 and PM10-2.5
equivalent method determinations for these candidate samplers were
received by the EPA on April 10, October 3, and October 7, 2008. The
samplers are commercially available from the applicant, Thermo Fisher
Scientific, Air Quality Instruments, Environmental Instruments
Division, 27 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA 02038.
A test analyzer and test samplers representative of these methods
have been tested in accordance with the applicable test procedures
specified in 40 CFR Part 53 (as amended on October 17, 2006). After
reviewing the results of those tests and other information submitted by
the applicants in the respective applications, EPA has determined, in
accordance with Part 53, that each of these methods should be
designated as a reference or equivalent method, as appropriate. The
information submitted by the applicants in the respective applications
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 designated reference or equivalent methods, these methods are
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, each 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 designated method
description (see the identifications of the methods above).
Use of each 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, Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Program'' EPA-454/B-08-003, December, 2008 (available at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qabook.html). Vendor modifications of a
designated reference or equivalent 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.
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 these new reference and equivalent methods 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 any
[[Page 26397]]
of the methods should be directed to the appropriate applicant.
Linda S. Sheldon,
Acting Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. E9-12789 Filed 6-1-09; 8:45 am]
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