[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7092-7094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02738]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-9942-04-OAR]


Recent Postings of Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the broadly applicable alternative test 
method approval decisions the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

[[Page 7093]]

has made under and in support of New Source Performance Standards 
(NSPS) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 
(NESHAP).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: An electronic copy of each alternative 
test method approval document is available 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 document(s).

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 at www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html.

II. Background

    Broadly applicable alternative test method approval decisions made 
by the EPA in 2015 under the NSPS, 40 CFR part 60 and the NESHAP, 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 in 
lieu of otherwise specified reference test methods. 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 located 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). A similar authority is 
granted in 40 CFR part 65 under section 65.158(a)(2). In the past, we 
have performed thorough technical reviews of numerous source-specific 
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 circumstances. Source 
owners or operators should review the specific broadly applicable 
alternative method approval decision at www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html before electing to employ it. As per section 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 at www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html and publish a notice annually that summarizes approvals 
for broadly applicable alternative test methods.
    This notice comprises a summary of five such approval documents 
posted to our Technology Transfer Network dated between January 1, 
2015, and December 31, 2015. 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 at www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html, as Table 1 serves only as a brief summary of the broadly 
applicable alternative test methods.
    If you are aware of reasons why a particular alternative test 
method approval that we issued should not be broadly applicable or that 
its use should in some way be limited, 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 
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 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: January 19, 2016.
Stephen D. Page,
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 Posted Between January 2015 and December 2015.
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Alternative method decision      As an alternative or
      letter/memo No.           modification to . . .              For . . .                 You may . . .
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ALT-109....................  Method 22-Visual             Sources subject to 40 CFR   Use digital photographs
                              Determination of Fugitive    parts 60, 61, and 63.       for specific
                              Emissions From Material                                  recordkeeping
                              Sources and Smoke                                        requirements.
                              Emissions From Flares.

[[Page 7094]]

 
ALT-110....................  Method 7--Determination of   Sources subject to 40 CFR   Use Method 7E-
                              Nitrogen Oxide Emissions     part 60, subpart G,         Determination of Nitrogen
                              From Stationary Sources.     Standards of Performance    Oxides Emissions from
                                                           for Nitric Acid Plants.     Stationary Sources
                                                                                       (Instrumental Analyzer
                                                                                       Procedure) in conjunction
                                                                                       with the specific
                                                                                       application instructions
                                                                                       defined in 40 CFR
                                                                                       60.73a(b)(4).
ALT-111....................  Method 5-Determination of    Electric utility steam      Use Method 5I to conduct
                              Particulate Matter           generating units meeting    quarterly compliance
                              Emissions From Stationary    the criteria referenced     testing and/or
                              Sources or Method 5B--       in the Agency's approval    certification and ongoing
                              Determination of             letter and subject to 40    QA testing of the
                              Nonsulfuric Acid             CFR part 63, subpart        installed PM CEMS.
                              Particulate Matter           UUUUU; 40 CFR part 60,
                              Emissions From Stationary    subpart D; and 40 CFR
                              Sources.                     part 60, subpart Da.
ALT-112....................  Performance Specification    Stationary sources in       Include measurement path
                              18-Performance               which hydrogen chloride     during calibration drift
                              Specifications and Test      (HCl) is measured           testing according to the
                              Procedures for Hydrogen      continuously to             provisions specified in
                              Chloride Continuous          demonstrate compliance in   the Agency's approval
                              Emission Monitoring          40 CFR part 63, subparts    letter dated September
                              Systems at Stationary        LLL, UUUUU, and DDDDD.      25, 2015.
                              Sources and Procedure 6.
ALT-113....................  Requirements for             Sources subject to 40 CFR   Conduct the initial and
                              performance tests----.       part 60, subpart KKKK,      subsequent performance
                                                           Standards of Performance    tests on turbines at
                                                           for Stationary Combustion   ambient temperatures
                                                           Turbines.                   below 0 [deg]F, provided
                                                                                       that you operate the
                                                                                       inlet air preheaters such
                                                                                       that the turbine inlet
                                                                                       air temperature is always
                                                                                       maintained above 0
                                                                                       [deg]F.
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Source owners or operators should review the specific broadly applicable alternative method approval letter at
  www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/approalt.html before electing to employ it.

[FR Doc. 2016-02738 Filed 2-9-16; 8:45 am]
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