[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11174-11175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03598]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-9781-1]


Recent Postings of Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the broadly applicable alternative test 
method approval decisions the EPA has made under and in support of New 
Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and the National Emission Standards 
for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) under the Clean Air Act (CAA) in 
2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: An electronic copy of each alternative 
test method approval document is available on the EPA's Web site at 
www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html. For questions about this notice, 
contact Ms. Lula H. Melton, Air Quality Assessment Division, Office of 
Air Quality Planning and Standards (E143-02), Environmental Protection 
Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: 919-541-
2910; fax number: 919-541-0516; email address: [email protected]. For 
technical questions about individual alternative test method decisions, 
refer to the contact person identified in the individual approval 
documents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. Does this notice apply to me?

    This notice will be of interest to entities regulated under 40 Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 60, 61, and 63, state, local, and 
tribal agencies, and the EPA Regional Offices responsible for 
implementation and enforcement of regulations under 40 CFR parts 60, 
61, and 63.

B. How can I get copies of this information?

    You may access copies of the broadly applicable alternative test 
method approval documents from the EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html.

II. Background

    Broadly applicable alternative test method approval decisions made 
by the EPA in 2012 under the NSPS, 40 CFR part 60 and the NESHAP, and 
40 CFR parts 61 and 63 are identified in this notice (see Table 1). 
Source owners and operators may voluntarily use these broadly 
applicable alternative test methods subject to their specific 
applicability. Use of these broadly applicable alternative test methods 
does not change the applicable emission standards.
    As explained in a previous Federal Register notice published at 72 
FR 4257 (January 30, 2007) and found on the EPA's Web site at 
www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html, the EPA Administrator has the 
authority to approve the use of alternative test methods to comply with 
requirements under 40 CFR parts 60, 61, and 63. This authority is found 
in sections 60.8(b)(3), 61.13(h)(1)(ii), and 63.7(e)(2)(ii). In the 
past, we have performed thorough technical reviews of numerous requests 
for alternatives and modifications to test methods and procedures. 
Based on these reviews, we have often found that these changes or 
alternatives would be equally valid and appropriate to apply to other 
sources within a particular class, category, or subcategory. 
Consequently, we have concluded that, where a method modification or an 
alternative method is clearly broadly applicable to a class, category, 
or subcategory of sources, it is both more equitable and efficient to 
approve its use for all appropriate sources and situations at the same 
time.
    It is important to clarify that alternative methods are not 
mandatory but permissive. Sources are not required to employ such a 
method but may choose to do so in appropriate cases. Source owners or 
operators should review the specific broadly applicable alternative 
method approval decision on the EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html before electing to employ it. As per 63.7(f)(5), by 
electing to use an alternative method for 40 CFR part 63 standards, the 
source owner or operator must continue to use the alternative method 
until approved otherwise.
    The criteria for approval and procedures for submission and review 
of broadly applicable alternative test methods are outlined at 72 FR 
4257 (January 30, 2007). We will continue to announce approvals for 
broadly applicable alternative test methods on the EPA's Web site at 
www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html and annually publish a notice that 
summarizes approvals for broadly applicable alternative test methods.
    This notice comprises a summary of seven such approval documents 
added to our Technology Transfer Network from January 1, 2012, through 
December 31, 2012. The alternative method decision letter/memo number, 
the reference method affected, sources allowed to use this alternative, 
and the modification or alternative method allowed are summarized in 
Table 1 of this notice. Please refer to the complete copies of these 
approval documents available from the EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html as Table 1 serves only as a brief summary of the 
broadly applicable alternative test methods. In addition to alternative 
decisions listed in Table 1, we received comments and updated 
Alternative-082, which was approved the previous year in 2011. This 
alternative approval letter can also be viewed at www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html.
    If you are aware of reasons why a particular alternative test 
method approval that we issued should not be broadly applicable, we 
request that you make us aware of the reasons in writing, and we will 
revisit the broad approval. Any objection to a broadly applicable 
alternative test method, as well as the resolution of that objection, 
will be announced on the EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html and in the subsequent Federal Register notice. If we 
decide to retract a broadly applicable test method, we would continue 
to grant case-by-case approvals, as appropriate, and would (as

[[Page 11175]]

states, local and tribal agencies and the EPA Regional Offices should) 
consider the need for an appropriate transition period for users either 
to request case-by-case approval or to transition to an approved 
method.

    Dated: February 8, 2013.
Mary E. Henigin,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.

  Table 1--Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications to Test
 Methods Referenced in or Published Under Appendices in 40 CFR Parts 60,
         61, and 63 Made Between January 2012 and December 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            As an
  Alternative method    alternative or
 decision letter/memo  modification to     For . . .      You may . . .
         No.                . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALT-091..............  Method 4-        Sources subject  Use alternative
                        Determination    to 40 CFR part   procedures in
                        of Moisture      63, subpart      lieu of Method
                        Content in       UUUUU-National   4 to determine
                        Stack Gases.     Emission         the moisture
                                         Standards for    content of the
                                         Hazardous Air    stack gas
                                         Pollutants:      during low
                                         Coal- and Oil-   emitting EGU
                                         Fired Electric   (LEE)testing
                                         Utility Steam    for mercury
                                         Generating       emissions.
                                         Units.
ALT-092..............  Method 7E-       Natural gas      Use a single 10
                        Determination    burning          ppm (or less)
                        of Nitrogen      internal         calibration
                        Oxides           combustion       gas in lieu of
                        Emissions from   engines          a three-point
                        Stationary       subject to 40    calibration
                        Sources          CFR part 60,     for
                        (Instrumental    subpart JJJJ-    determination
                        Analyzer         Standards of     of NO2 when
                        Procedure).      Performance      the NO2
                                         for Stationary   emissions
                                         Spark Ignition   remain below
                                         Internal         10 ppm.
                                         Combustion
                                         Engines.
ALT-093..............  Method 5-        Sources subject  Use alternative
                        Determination    to 40 CFR part   test
                        of Particulate   63, subpart      procedures for
                        Matter           RRR-National     batch
                        Emissions from   Emission         processes
                        Stationary       Standards for    subject to 40
                        Sources.         Hazardous Air    CFR
                                         Pollutants for   63.1511(b)(3)
                                         Secondary        that are
                                         Aluminum         required to be
                                         Production.      sampled using
                                                          an isokinetic
                                                          train.
ALT-094..............  Measure total    Sources subject  Use a sample
                        sulfides using   to 40 CFR part   conditioning,
                        an H2S and CS2   63, subpart      sample
                        CEMS.            UUUU-National    conversion,
                                         Emission         and SO2 CEMS
                                         Standards for    in place of
                                         Hazardous Air    H2S and CS2
                                         Pollutants for   CEMS to
                                         Cellulose        measure total
                                         Products         sulfides at
                                         Manufacturing.   process vents.
ALT-095..............  Calculating the  Sources subject  Use the flow
                        coke burn-off    to 40 CFR part   rate CEMS and
                        rate for         60, subpart J-   Equation 2 of
                        compliance       Standards of     40 CFR
                        with 40 CFR      Performance      63.1573(a)(2).
                        60.105(c).       for Petroleum
                                         Refineries.
ALT-096..............  Method 25A-      Sources subject  Use the TECO-
                        Determination    to 40 CFR part   551 to measure
                        of Total         60, subpart      methane and
                        Gaseous          JJJJ-Standards   NMOC.
                        Organic          of Performance
                        Concentration    for Stationary
                        Using a Flame    Spark Ignition
                        Ionization       Internal
                        Analyzer and     Combustion
                        Method 18-       Engines.
                        Measurment of
                        Gaseous
                        Organic
                        Compound
                        Emissions by
                        Gas
                        Chromatography.
ALT-097..............  Method 25A-      Bypass flare     Use GC and GC
                        Determination    exhaust          back-flush
                        of Total         emissions        procedures to
                        Gaseous          subject to 40    separate and
                        Organic          CFR part 60,     measure
                        Concentration    subpart WWW-     methane and
                        Using a Flame    Standards of     NMOC.
                        Ionization       Performance
                        Analyzer and     for Municipal
                        Method 18-       Solid Waste
                        Measurment of    Landfills.
                        Gaseous
                        Organic
                        Compound
                        Emissions by
                        Gas
                        Chromatography.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source owners or operators should review the specific broadly applicable
  alternative method approval letter on the EPA's Web site at
  www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html before electing to employ it.

[FR Doc. 2013-03598 Filed 2-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P