[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32114-32116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13800]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9928-61-ORD]
Office of Research and Development; Ambient Air Monitoring
Reference and Equivalent Methods: Designation of One New Reference
Method and Four New Equivalent Methods
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of designation of one reference method and three
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, one new
reference method and one new equivalent for measuring concentrations of
PM2.5, one new equivalent method for measuring
PM10-2.5, and two new equivalent methods 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 equivalent method for
measuring PM2.5, one new equivalent method for measuring
PM10-2.5, and two equivalent methods 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:
[[Page 32115]]
RFPS-0315-221, ``Met One Instruments, Inc. e-FRM,'' configured for
filter sampling of ambient particles using the US EPA PM10
inlet specified in 40 CFR 50 Appendix L, Figs. L-2 thru L-19, equipped
with either a BGI VSCC\TM\ cyclone or WINS PM2.5
fractionator, with a flow rate of 16.67 L/min, using 47 mm PTFE
membrane filter media, and operating with firmware version R1.1.0 and
later, and operated in accordance with the Met One e-FRM
PM2.5 operating manual.
The application for reference method determination for the
PM2.5 method was received by the Office of Research and
Development on January 9, 2015. This monitor is commercially available
from the applicant, Met One Instruments, Inc., 1600 Washington Blvd.,
Grants Pass, OR 97526.
The new PM2.5 Class II equivalent method is nearly
identical to a corresponding Tisch Environmental Inc. sampler (RFPS-
1014-219) that had been previously designated by EPA as a reference
method sampler for PM2.5. The significant difference is that
the newly designated PM2.5 equivalent method sampler is
configured to use a Tisch Environmental Inc. Model TE-PM2.5C cyclone as
the principle size separator (fractionator) for the sampler rather than
the WINS impactor or the BGI VSCCTM used in the
corresponding PM2.5 reference method sampler. The newly
designated Class II equivalent method is identified as follows:
EQPS-0415-223 ``Tisch Environmental Model TE-Wilbur2.5
PM2.5 Low-Volume Air Particulate Sampler,'' configured as a
PM2.5 equivalent 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, configured with a Tisch TE-
PM2.5C particle size separator, and operated for 24-hour continuous
sample periods at a flow rate of 16.67 L/min, using 47 mm PTFE membrane
filter media, operated with or without the optional TE-W-600 Solar
Panel Power Supply kit, 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.
In the particular case of the new Tisch Class II PM2.5
equivalent method, a corresponding Tisch Environmental Inc.
PM2.5 reference method sampler (RFPS-1014-219) may be
converted to the equivalent method configuration by replacement of the
WINS impactor or the VSCCTM cyclone with the Tisch
Environmental TE-PM2.5C cyclone specified in the equivalent method
description. The TE-PM2.5C device should be purchased from the sampler
manufacturer, who will also furnish installation, conversion,
operation, and maintenance instructions for the TE-PM2.5C, as well as a
new equivalent method identification label to be placed on the sampler.
If the conversion is to be permanent, the original designation
reference method label should be removed from the sampler and replaced
with the new designated equivalent method label. In the case where a
converted sampler may need to be restored later to its original
reference method configuration (such as for an application specifically
requiring a reference method) by re-installation of the WINS impactor
or the VSCCTM cyclone, the new equivalent method label may
be installed on the sampler without removing the original reference
method label, such that the sampler bears both labels. In this
situation, the sampler shall be clearly and conspicuously marked by the
operator to indicate its current configuration (i.e. WINS reference
method, VSCCTM reference method, or TE-PM2.5C equivalent
method) so that the monitoring method is correctly identified and the
correct method code is used when reporting monitoring data obtained
with the sampler.
The new PM10-2.5 equivalent method utilizes a pair of
filter samplers, one of which has been designated as an equivalent
method for PM2.5, and one which has been designated as a
reference method for PM10. Both samplers have been shown to
meet the requirements specified in Appendix O of 40 CFR part 50. The
PM2.5 equivalent method sampler and the PM10
reference method sampler are designated as EQPS-0415-223 and RFPS-0714-
216, respectively. The newly designated PM10-2.5 equivalent
method sampler is identified as follows:
EQPS-0415-224, ``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-Wilbur2.5
PM2.5 sampler with TE-PM2.5C particle size separator (EQPS-
0415-223) and the other being a TE-Wilbur10 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 equivalent method Class II determination for
the PM2.5 method was received by the Office of Research and
Development on July 21, 2014 and the PM10-2.5 method
application was received on April 21, 2015. These samplers are
commercially available from the applicant, Tisch Environmental, Inc.,
145 S. Miami Avenue, Village of Cleves, OH 45002.
The two new equivalent methods for ozone are both automated
monitoring methods (analyzers) utilizing ultraviolet absorption
photometry and are identified as follows:
EQOA-0415-222, ``Sutron Model 6030 Ozone Analyzer,'' operated at
any of the following measurement ranges: 0-0.05 ppm, 0-0.5 ppm and 0-
1.0 ppm, at any ambient temperature in the range of 5 [deg]C-45 [deg]C,
with an averaging time of 1 to 99 analyzer cycles (0 to 396 seconds),
with sample flow rate of 0.5 to 1 Lpm and in accordance with the Model
6030 Ozone Analyzer Operation Manual and with or without the following
options: Internal ozone generator, zero/span ports for external
calibration.
This application for equivalent method determination for the ozone
method was received by the Office of Research and Development on March
9, 2015. This monitor is commercially available from the applicant,
Sutron Air Quality Division, 2548 Shell Road, Georgetown, TX 78628.
EQOA-0515-225 ``Environnement S.A. Model O3 42e UV Photometric
Ozone Analyzer,'' operated in a range of 0-0.5 ppm in an environment of
0-35 [deg]C, with a Teflon sample inlet filter, with automatic
temperature and pressure compensation, with zero/span external solenoid
valve, with automatic or fixed response time, and with or without the
following options: ESTEL Analog Input/Output Board, LCD color touch
screen, and internal ozone generator.
The application for equivalent method determination for the ozone
method was received by the Office of Research and Development on April
20, 2015. This analyzer is commercially available from the applicant,
Environnement S.A., 111, Boulevard Robespierre, 78300 Poissy France.
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,
[[Page 32116]]
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: May 20, 2015.
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta,
Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 2015-13800 Filed 6-4-15; 8:45 am]
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