[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9306-9307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04375]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-9974-41-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 that 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, 2017, and December 31, 2017.

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

    This notice identifies broadly applicable alternative test method 
approval decisions made by the EPA in 2017 under the NSPS, 40 CFR part 
60 and the NESHAP programs, and 40 CFR parts 61 and 63 (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.
    The Administrator has the authority to approve the use of 
alternative test methods for compliance 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). Additional and similar authority 
can be found in 40 CFR 65.158(a)(2). The criteria for approval and 
procedures for submission and review of broadly applicable alternative 
test methods are 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. 
As explained in this notice, we will announce approvals for broadly 
applicable alternative test methods at https://www.epa.gov/emc/broadly-applicable-approved-alternative-test-methods and publish an annual 
notice that summarizes approvals for broadly applicable alternative 
test methods during the preceding year.
    As also explained in the January 30, 2007, notice, our approval 
decisions involve 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 
modifications 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 equitable and 
efficient to approve its use for all appropriate sources and situations 
at the same time.
    Use of approved alternative test methods are not mandatory but 
rather

[[Page 9307]]

permissive. Sources are not required to employ such a method but may 
choose to do so in appropriate circumstances. As per section 
63.7(f)(5), however, 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. Source owners or 
operators should, therefore, 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 any alternative method.

III. Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications to Test 
Methods

    This notice specifies three broadly applicable alternative test 
methods that the EPA approved between January 1, 2017, and December 1, 
2017. 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. A summary of approval documents was previously made 
available on our Technology Transfer Network between January 1, 2017, 
and December 31, 2017. 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 also explained in our January 30, 2007, notice, we will revisit 
approvals of alternative test methods in response to written requests 
or objections indicating that a particular approved alternative test 
method either should not be broadly applicable or that its use should 
in some way be limited. 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 a subsequent Federal Register 
notice. If we decide to retract a broadly applicable test method, we 
will likely 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: February 13, 2018.
Panagiotis E. Tsirigotis,
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 2017 and December 2017.
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 Alternative method decision    As an alternative or
     letter/memo number        modification to . . .             For . . .                  You may . . .
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ALT-120.....................  40 CFR                   Sources subject to 40 CFR     Use the alternative
                               63.1350(k)(2)(ii) and    part 63, subpart LLL-         procedure for above span
                               (iii).                   National Emission Standards   mercury calibrations
                                                        for Hazardous Air             through January 1, 2019,
                                                        Pollutants from the           only as specified in the
                                                        Portland Cement               Agency's approval letter
                                                        Manufacturing Industry.       dated December 7, 2017.
ALT-121.....................  Method 3-Gas Analysis    Sources subject to 40 CFR     Use Method 3A-Determination
                               for the Determination    part 60, subpart Ja-          of Oxygen and Carbon
                               of Dry Molecular         Standards of Performance      Dioxide Concentrations in
                               Weight.                  for Petroleum Refineries      Emissions From Stationary
                                                        for Which Construction,       Sources (Instrumental
                                                        Reconstruction, or            Analyzer Procedures).
                                                        Modification Commenced
                                                        After May 14, 2007.
ALT-122.....................  Method 325 A-Volatile    Sources subject to 40 CFR     Use the alternative
                               Organic Compounds From   part 63, subpart CC-          approaches for temperature
                               Fugitive and Area        National Emission Standards   and pressure corrections,
                               Sources: Sampler         for Hazardous Air             sample collection timing,
                               Deployment and VOC       Pollutants From Petroleum     and duplicate and field
                               Sample Collection and    Refineries.                   blank samples as specified
                               Method 325B-Volatile                                   in the Agency's approval
                               Organic Compounds From                                 letter dated September 11,
                               Fugitive and Area                                      2017.
                               Sources: Sampler
                               Preparation and
                               Analysis.
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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. 2018-04375 Filed 3-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P