[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65392-65393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26165]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL 9918-79-ORD]


Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring 
Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of Two New Reference 
Methods and Two New Equivalent Methods

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of designation of two reference methods and two 
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, two new 
reference methods and two new equivalent methods. The reference methods 
include one for measuring PM2.5, and one for measuring 
PM10-2.5 in the ambient air. The two equivalent methods are 
one for measuring carbon monoxide (CO) and one for measuring 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. 
Email: [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 PM2.5, one new reference method for 
measuring PM10-2.5, one new equivalent method for measuring 
concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), and one equivalent method for 
measuring ozone (O3) in the ambient air. These designations 
are made under the provisions of 40 CFR part 53, as amended on August 
31, 2011 (76 FR 54326-54341).
    The new reference method for PM2.5 is a manual 
monitoring method based on a particular PM2.5 sampler and is 
identified as follows:
    RFPS-1014-219, ``Tisch Environmental Model TE-Wilbur2.5 
PM2.5 Low-Volume Air Particulate Sampler,'' configured as a 
PM2.5 reference method, with firmware version 1.70 or later 
and a TE-PM10-D PM10 size-selective inlet as 
specified in 40 CFR 50 Appendix L Figs. L-2 thru L-19, with either a 
BGI VSCCTM Very Sharp Cut Cyclone particle size separator or 
WINS impactor, and operated for 24 sample periods at a flow rate of 
16.67 L/min, using 47 mm PTFE membrane filter media, and in accordance 
with the Tisch Environmental Model TE-Wilbur2.5 PM2.5 Low-
Volume Air Particulate Sampler instruction manual and with the 
requirements and sample collection filters as specified in 40 CFR part 
50, Appendix L.
    The new PM10-2.5 reference method utilizes a pair of 
filter samplers than have been designated individually as reference 
methods, one for PM2.5 and the other one for 
PM10, and have been shown to meet the requirements specified 
in Appendix O of 40 CFR part 50. The PM2.5 and 
PM10 samplers are designated as reference methods RFPS-1014-
219 and RFPS-0714-216, respectively. The newly designated 
PM10-2.5 sampler is identified as follows:
    RFPS-1014-220, ``Tisch Environmental Model TE-Wilbur Low-Volume Air 
Particulate Sampler Pair'' for the determination of coarse particulate 
matter as PM10-2.5, consisting of a pair of Tisch 
Environmental Model TE-Wilbur samplers, with one being the TE-Wilbur 
2.5 PM2.5 sampler (RFPS-1014-219) and the other being a TE-
Wilbur 10 PM10 sampler (RFPS-0714-216), and operated in 
accordance with the associated TE-Wilbur instruction manual. This 
designation applies to PM10-2.5 measurements only.
    The application for reference method determination for the 
PM2.5 method was received by the Office of Research and 
Development on September 29, 2014 and the PM10-2.5 method 
application was received on October 8, 2014. These monitors are 
commercially available from the applicant, Tisch Environmental, Inc., 
145 S. Miami Avenue, Village of Cleves, OH 45002.
    The newly designated equivalent method for CO is a mercury 
replacement-UV photometric method and is identified as follows:
    EQCA-0814-217, ``Peak Laboratories, Model 910-170 Carbon Monoxide 
Analyzer'', (Mercury replacement--UV photometric method) operated on 
any

[[Page 65393]]

full scale range between 0-50 ppm, at any operating temperature from 20 
[deg]C to 30 [deg]C, using a back-flushing GC scrubber, 99.9999% 
nitrogen carrier gas at a gas pressure of 60-80 psig, with a column 
temperature of 105 [deg]C, and a detector temperature of 265 [deg]C; 
inlet flow of 20-100 mL/min; in accordance with the associated 
instrument manual, and with or without any of the following options: 
Rack mount kit, internal sample pump, 4-20 mA output module, particle 
filter, and data collection software.
    The application for equivalent method determination for the CO 
method was received by the Office of Research and Development on 
January 3, 2011. This monitor is commercially available from the 
applicant, Peak Laboratories, LLC, 2330 Old Middlefield Way Suite 10, 
Mountain View, CA 94043.
    One new O3 equivalent method is an automated monitoring 
method (analyzer) utilizing a measurement principle based on 
ultraviolet absorption photometry. The newly designated equivalent 
method is identified as follows:
    EQOA-0914-218, ``2B Technologies Model 106-L or OEM-106-L Ozone 
Monitor'' operated in a range of 0-0.5 ppm in an environment of 20-30 
[deg]C, with temperature and pressure compensation, internal dewLine 
for humidity control, using a 1 minute average, with a 12V DC source 
supplied by a 100-240V AC power adapter, operated according to the 
Model 106 Ozone Monitor Operation Manual and with or without the 
following: Cigarette lighter adapter or a 12V DC battery for portable 
operation, external PTFE or PVDF inlet filter and holder, USB data port 
with computer cable.
    The application for equivalent method determination for the 
O3 method was received by the Office of Research and 
Development on June 24, 2014. This monitor is commercially available 
from the applicant, 2B Technology, Inc., 2100 Central Ave., Suite 105, 
Boulder, CO 80303.
    Test monitors representative of these methods have been tested in 
accordance with the applicable test procedures specified in 40 CFR part 
53, as amended on August 31, 2011. After reviewing the results of those 
tests and other information submitted in the application, EPA has 
determined, in accordance with part 53, that these methods should be 
designated as equivalent methods.
    As designated reference and 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, the methods 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 identification of the method above).
    Use of the methods 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. 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.
    Consistent or repeated noncompliance 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 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 the method should be 
directed to the applicant.

    Dated: October 24, 2014.
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta,
Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 2014-26165 Filed 11-3-14; 8:45 am]
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