[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93682-93684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30714]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-9956-89]


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) has 
made under and in support of New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) 
and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 
(NESHAP) between January 1, 2016, and December 12, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: An electronic copy of each alternative 
test method approval document is available at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods. For questions 
about this notice, contact Mrs. 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 https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods.

II. Background

    Broadly applicable alternative test method approval decisions made 
by the EPA in 2016 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 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 https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods, 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 https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods before electing to 
employ the alternative method. As per section 63.7(f)(5), a source 
owner or operator electing to use an alternative method for 40 CFR part 
63 standards must continue to use the alternative method until 
otherwise authorized.
    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 https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods and publish a 
notice annually that summarizes approvals for broadly applicable 
alternative test methods during the preceding year.
    This notice comprises a summary of seven such approval documents 
posted to our Technology Transfer Network between January 1, 2016, and 
December 12, 2016. 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. For more detailed information, please refer to 
the complete copies of these approval documents available at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods, 
as Table 1 serves only as a brief summary of the

[[Page 93683]]

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 https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods and in the subsequent Federal Register notice. If we 
decide to retract a broadly applicable test method, we will continue to 
grant case-by-case approvals, as appropriate, and will (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: December 14, 2016.
Stephen 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 2016 and December 2016
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            As an
 Alternative  method    alternative or
 decision letter/memo  modification to     For . . .      You may . . .
        number              . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALT-114..............  Performance      Sources subject  Use the
                        Specification    to 40 CFR Part   alternative
                        18-Performance   63, subpart      approach for
                        Specifications   LLL-National     preparation of
                        and Test         Emission         gas standards
                        Procedures for   Standards for    as specified
                        Gaseous          Hazardous Air    in the
                        Hydrogen         Pollutants       agency's
                        Chloride (HCl)   from the         approval
                        Continuous       Portland         letter dated
                        Emission         Cement           February 22,
                        Monitoring       Manufacturing    2016.
                        Systems at       Industry
                        Stationary       Sources; 40
                        Sources and      CFR Part 63,
                        Procedure 6-     subpart UUUUU-
                        Quality          National
                        Assurance        Emission
                        Requirements     Standards for
                        for Gaseous      Hazardous Air
                        Hydrogen         Pollutants:
                        Chloride (HCl)   Coal- and Oil-
                        Emission         Fired Electric
                        Monitoring       Utility Steam
                        Systems Used     Generating
                        for Compliance   Units; 40 CFR
                        Determination    Part 63,
                        at Stationary    subpart DDDDD-
                        Sources.         National
                                         Emission
                                         Standards for
                                         Hazardous Air
                                         Pollutants for
                                         Major Sources:
                                         Industrial,
                                         Commercial,
                                         and
                                         Institutional
                                         Boilers and
                                         Process
                                         Heaters; and
                                         40 CFR Part
                                         60, subparts
                                         CCCC and DDDD-
                                         Standards of
                                         Performance
                                         for Commercial
                                         and Industrial
                                         Solid Waste
                                         Incineration
                                         Units.
ALT-115..............  40 CFR           Sources subject  Use the
                        63.7525(a)(2)(   to 40 CFR Part   alternative
                        vi)..            63, subpart      approach for
                                         DDDDD-National   moisture
                                         Emission         measurement as
                                         Standards for    specified in
                                         Hazardous Air    the agency's
                                         Pollutants for   approval
                                         Major Sources:   letter dated
                                         Industrial,      March 2, 2016
                                         Commercial,      (only when
                                         and              both CO and
                                         Institutional    CO2 are being
                                         Boilers and      measured on a
                                         Process          wet basis).
                                         Heaters..
ALT-116..............  Method 7E-       Sources subject  Use higher
                        Determination    to 40 CFR        concentration
                        of Nitrogen      Parts 60, 61,    NO2 gases in
                        Oxide            and 63.          conjunction
                        Emissions From                    with Method
                        Stationary                        205 for
                        Sources                           converter
                        (Instrumental                     efficiency
                        Analyzer                          testing as
                        Procedure).                       specified in
                                                          the agency's
                                                          approval
                                                          letter dated
                                                          April 27,
                                                          2014.
ALT-117..............  Method 5-        Sources subject  Use single
                        Determination    to 40 CFR        temperature
                        of Particulate   Parts 60, 61,    DGM (dry gas
                        Matter           and 63.          meter) sensor
                        Emissions From                    in lieu of two
                        Stationary                        sensors with
                        Sources.                          the criteria
                                                          specified in
                                                          the agency's
                                                          approval
                                                          letter dated
                                                          March 15,
                                                          2016.
ALT-118..............  Performance      Sources subject  Use a NIST-
                        Specification    to 40 CFR Part   certified
                        12A-             63, subpart      Vendor Prime
                        Specifications   LLL-National     elemental
                        and Test         Emission         mercury gas
                        Procedures for   Standards for    generator for
                        Total Vapor      Hazardous Air    research gas
                        Phase Mercury    Pollutants       mixtures (RGM)
                        Continuous       from the         in the EPA
                        Emission         Portland         Traceability
                        Monitoring       Cement           Protocol for
                        Systems in       Manufacturing    Assay and
                        Stationary       Industry; 40     Certification
                        Sources and      CFR Part 63,     of Gaseous
                        Procedure 5-     subpart UUUUU-   Calibration
                        Quality          National         Standards with
                        Assurance        Emission         the provisions
                        Requirements     Standards for    specified in
                        for Vapor        Hazardous Air    the agency's
                        Phase Mercury    Pollutants:      approval
                        Continuous       Coal- and Oil-   letter dated
                        Emission         Fired Electric   May 24, 2016.
                        Monitoring       Utility Steam
                        Systems and      Generating
                        Sorbent Trap     Units; 40 CFR
                        Monitoring       Part 63,
                        Systems Used     subpart DDDDD-
                        for Compliance   National
                        Determination    Emission
                        at Stationary    Standards for
                        Sources.         Hazardous Air
                                         Pollutants for
                                         Major Sources:
                                         Industrial,
                                         Commercial,
                                         and
                                         Institutional
                                         Boilers and
                                         Process
                                         Heaters; and
                                         40 CFR Part
                                         60, subparts
                                         CCCC and DDDD-
                                         Standards of
                                         Performance
                                         for Commercial
                                         and Industrial
                                         Solid Waste
                                         Incineration
                                         Units.

[[Page 93684]]

 
ALT-119..............  Performance      Sources subject  Use the
                        Specification    to 40 CFR Part   alternative
                        12B-             63, subparts     analytical
                        Specifications   LLL-National     test procedure
                        and Test         Emission         for low level
                        Procedures for   Standards for    measurements
                        Monitoring       Hazardous Air    as specified
                        Total Vapor      Pollutants       in the
                        Phase Mercury    from the         agency's
                        Emissions From   Portland         approval
                        Stationary       Cement           letter dated
                        Sources Using    Manufacturing    May 26, 2016.
                        a Sorbent Trap   Industry and
                        Monitoring       UUUUU-National
                        System.          Emission
                                         Standards for
                                         Hazardous Air
                                         Pollutants:
                                         Coal- and Oil-
                                         Fired Electric
                                         Utility Steam
                                         Generating
                                         Units.
ALT-120..............  40 CFR           Sources subject  Use the
                        63.1350(k)(2)(   to 40 CFR Part   alternative
                        ii) and (iii).   63, subparts     procedure for
                                         LLL-National     above span
                                         Emission         mercury
                                         Standards for    calibrations
                                         Hazardous Air    through
                                         Pollutants       January 1,
                                         from the         2018, only as
                                         Portland         specified in
                                         Cement           the agency's
                                         Manufacturing    approval
                                         Industry.        letter dated
                                                          June 28, 2016.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source owners or operators should review the specific broadly applicable
  alternative method approval letter at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods before electing to employ
  it.

[FR Doc. 2016-30714 Filed 12-20-16; 8:45 am]
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