[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25397-25398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10006]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9945-90-ORD]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of the designation of three new reference methods and 
three new 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, three 
new reference methods and three new equivalent methods. The reference 
methods include one for measuring concentrations of PM10, 
one for measuring PM10-2.5, and one for measuring ozone 
(O3) in ambient air. The three equivalent methods are for 
measuring PM2.5 concentrations in ambient air.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Vanderpool, Exposure Methods 
and Measurement 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 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 reference 
method for measuring pollutant concentrations of PM10, one 
new reference method for measuring pollutant concentrations of 
PM10-2.5, one for measuring ozone (O3), and three 
new equivalent methods for measuring pollutant concentrations of 
PM2.5 in the ambient air. These designations are made under 
the provisions of 40 CFR part 53, as amended on October 26, 2015 (80 FR 
65291-65468).
    The new reference method for O3 is an automated method 
that utilizes a measurement principle based on non-dispersive 
ultraviolet absorption photometry. The newly designated reference 
method for O3 is identified as follows:

    RFOA-0216-230, ``Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, 
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 or a 
Kynar[supreg] DFU 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. 
Note 2 applies to the following Teledyne Advanced Pollution 
Instrumentation Models 265E and T265.

    The application for a reference method determination for this 
candidate method was received by the Office of Research and Development 
on February 2, 2016. The analyzer is commercially available from the 
applicant, Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, Inc., 9480 
Carroll Park Drive, San Diego, CA 92121-2251.
    The new reference method for PM10 is a manual monitoring 
method based on a particular PM10 sampler and is identified 
as follows:

    RFPS-0216-231, ``Met One Instruments, Inc. E-FRM,'' configured 
for filter sampling of ambient particulate matter using the US EPA 
PM10 inlet specified in 40 CFR part 50 appendix L, Figs. 
L-2 thru L-19, with a flow rate of 16.67 L/min, using 47 mm PTFE 
membrane filter media, and operating with firmware version R2.0.1 
and later, and operated in accordance with the Met One E-FRM 
PM10 operating manual. This designation applies to 
PM10 measurements only.

    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-0315-
221 and RFPS-0216-231, respectively. The newly designated 
PM10-2.5 sampler is identified as follows:

    RFPS-0316-232, ``Met One Instruments, Inc. E-FRM-PM10 
and E-FRM-PM2.5 Sampler Pair'' for the determination of 
coarse particulate matter as PM10-2.5, consisting of a 
pair of Met One Instruments, Inc. E-FRM samplers, with one being the 
E-FRM PM2.5 sampler (RFPS-0315-221) and the other being 
the E-FRM PM10 sampler (RFPS-0216-231). The units are to 
be collocated to within 1-4 meters of one another and sample 
concurrently. Both units are operated in accordance with the 
associated E-FRM instruction manual. This designation applies to 
PM10-2.5 measurements only.

    One newly designated equivalent method for PM2.5 is a 
manual monitoring method based on a particular PM2.5 sampler 
and is identified as follows:

    EQPS-0316-235, ``Met One Instruments, Inc. E-FRM,'' configured 
for filter sampling of ambient particulate matter using the US EPA 
PM10 inlet specified in 40 CFR 50 Appendix L, Figs. L-2 
thru L-19, equipped with a URG-2000-30EGN Cyclone particle size 
separator, and operated for a continuous 24-hour sample period at a 
flow rate of 16.67 liters/minute, 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 
PM10 method was received by the Office of Research and 
Development on February 4, 2016, the PM10-2.5 method 
application was received on March 21, 2016, and the equivalent 
PM2.5 method was received on March 28, 2016. These monitors 
are commercially available from the applicant, Met One Instruments, 
Inc., 1600 Washington Blvd., Grants Pass, OR 97526.
    Two newly designated equivalent methods for PM2.5 are 
manual monitoring method based on particular PM2.5 samplers 
and are identified as follows:

    EQPS-0316-233, ``URG-MASS100 Single PM2.5 Sampler,'' 
operated with software (firmware) version 4B or 5.0.1, configured 
for ``Single 2.5'' operation with a URG-2000-30EGN Cyclone particle 
size separator, and operated for a continuous 24-hour sample period 
at a flow rate of 16.67 liters/minute, and in accordance with the 
URG-MASS100 Operator's Manual and with the requirements and sample 
collection filters specified in 40 CFR part 50, appendix L.

[[Page 25398]]

    EQPS-0316-234, ``URG-MASS300 Sequential PM2.5 
Sampler,'' operated with software (firmware) version 4B or 5.0.1, 
configured for ``Multi 2.5'' operation with a URG-2000-30EGN Cyclone 
particle size separator, and operated for a continuous 24-hour 
sample period at a flow rate of 16.67 liters/minute, and in 
accordance with the URG-MASS300 Operator's Manual and with the 
requirements and sample collection filters specified in 40 CFR part 
50, appendix L.

    These applications for equivalent method determinations for the 
PM2.5 methods were received by the Office of Research and 
Development on March 21, 2016. These monitors are commercially 
available from the applicant, URG Corporation, 116 S. Merritt Mill Rd., 
Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
    Representative test monitors have been tested in accordance with 
the applicable test procedures specified in 40 CFR part 53, as amended 
on October 26, 2015. After reviewing the results of those tests and 
other information submitted by the applicant, EPA has determined, in 
accordance with part 53, that these methods should be designated as a 
reference or 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 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-13-003, (both available at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/qalist.html). 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 with any of these conditions 
should be reported to: Director, Exposure Methods and Measurements 
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 are 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: April 19, 2016.
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta,
Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 2016-10006 Filed 4-27-16; 8:45 am]
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