[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62402-62403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26092]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9476-7]


Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring 
Reference and Equivalent Methods; Designation of One New Equivalent 
Method

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of the designation of one new equivalent method 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, one new 
equivalent method for measuring concentrations of ozone (O3) 
in the ambient air.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Vanderpool, Human Exposure and 
Atmospheric Sciences Division (MD-D205-03), National Exposure Research 
Laboratory, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711. 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. A list of all reference or 
equivalent methods that have been previously designated by EPA may be 
found at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/criteria.html.
    The EPA hereby announces the designation of one new equivalent 
method for measuring pollutant concentrations of O3 in the 
ambient air. This designation is made under the provisions of 40 CFR 
part 53, as amended on June 22, 2010 (75 FR 35597).
    The new O3 equivalent method is an automated monitoring 
method (analyzer) utilizing a measurement principle based on 
chemiluminescence reaction of O3 with nitric oxide (NO). 
(Note that this is the first O3 equivalent method designated 
by EPA that utilizes this particular measurement principle, which is 
distinguished from the measurement principle of chemiluminescence 
reaction of O3 with ethylene specified for EPA reference 
methods for O3.) The newly designated equivalent method is 
identified as follows:

    EQOA-0611-199, ``Teledyne--Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, 
Inc. Model 265E or T265 Chemiluminescence Ozone Analyzer,'' operated 
on any full scale range between 0-100 ppb and 0-1000 ppb, with any 
range mode (Single, Dual, or AutoRange), at any ambient temperature 
in the range of 5 [deg]C to 40 [deg]C, and with a TFE filter in the 
sample air inlet, operated with a sample flow rate of 500  50 cm\3\/min (sea level), with the dilution factor set to 1, 
with Temp/Press compensation ON, and in accordance with the 
appropriate associated instrument manual, and with or without any of 
the following options: Internal or external sample pump, Sample/Cal 
valve option, Rack mount with or without slides, analog input 
option, 4-20 mA isolated current loop output.

    The application for an equivalent method determination for this 
candidate method was received by the EPA on November 7, 2010. The 
analyzer models are commercially available from the applicant, Teledyne 
Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, Inc., 9480 Carroll Park Drive, San 
Diego, CA 92121-2251.
    A representative test analyzer has been tested in accordance with 
the applicable test procedures specified in 40 CFR part 53 (as amended 
on June 22, 2010). After reviewing the results of those tests and other 
information submitted by the applicant, EPA has determined, in 
accordance with part 53, that this method should be designated as an 
equivalent method. The information submitted by the applicant 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 equivalent 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 designated method description (see the 
identification of the method above).
    Use of the method also should 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 (both available at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qalist.html). Vendor modifications of a 
designated 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, analyzer, 
or method that is identical to the sampler, analyzer, or method 
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 this new equivalent 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

[[Page 62403]]

aspects of the method should be directed to the applicant.

Jewel F. Morris,
Acting Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 2011-26092 Filed 10-6-11; 8:45 am]
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