Recent Postings of Broadly Applicable Alternative Test Methods, 4942-4943 [2024-01495]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4942-4943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01495]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-1196; FRL-11653-01-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) made under and in support of New Source Performance Standards 
(NSPS) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 
(NESHAP) between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.

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 Mr. Steffan Johnson, Air Quality Assessment 
Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (E143-02), 
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; 
telephone number: (919) 541-4790; 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 59, 60, 61, 63 and 65; state, local, 
and tribal agencies; and the EPA Regional offices responsible for 
implementation and enforcement of regulations under 40 CFR parts 59, 
60, 61, 63, and 65.

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 methods 
that the EPA approved in 2023 under the NSPS, 40 CFR part 60, and the 
NESHAP and 40 CFR part 63 programs. See Table 1 of this notice for the 
summary of these test methods. Source owners and operators may 
voluntarily use these broadly applicable alternative test methods in 
lieu of otherwise required test methods or related testing procedures. 
Use of these broadly applicable alternative test methods are not 
intended to, and should 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 59, 60, 61, 63, and 65. This authority is found in 40 CFR 
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 59.104(f) and 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 as 
they are issued 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 either 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

[[Page 4943]]

simultaneously approve its use for all appropriate sources and 
situations.
    Use of approved alternative test methods is not mandatory but 
rather permissive. Sources are not required to employ such a method but 
may choose to do so in appropriate circumstances. As specified in 40 
CFR 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. Source owners or operators choosing to 
use a broadly applicable alternative should also notify their 
regulatory agency prior to using the alternative.

III. Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications to Test 
Methods

    This notice specifies five broadly applicable alternative test 
methods that the EPA approved between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 
2023. The alternative method decision letter/memo designation numbers, 
test methods affected, sources allowed to use this alternative, and 
method modifications or alternative methods 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, 
2023, and December 31, 2023. 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 is not 
appropriate or should be limited in some way. 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.

Richard A. Wayland,
Director, Air Quality Assessment Division.


  Table 1--Approved Alternative Test Methods and Modifications to Test Methods Referenced in or Published Under
             Appendices in 40 CFR Parts 60 and 63 Posted Between January 2023 and December 2023 \a\
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Alternative method decision letter/  As an alternative or
            memo number             modification to . . .           For . . .                You may . . .
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ALT-151...........................  EPA Method 3A as an    Testing of regulated        Use EPA Method 3A instead
                                     alternative method     sources requiring the use   of EPA Method 3B,
                                     for EPA Method 3B.     of EPA Method 3B in 40      whenever required to use
                                                            CFR, parts 59, 60, 61, 63   Method 3B in any
                                                            and 65.                     regulation contained
                                                                                        within 40 CFR, parts 59,
                                                                                        60, 61, 63 and 65.
ALT-152...........................  Certification of       Use of a VR headset-based   Use the VR headset-based
                                     candidate Method 9     alternative method for      alternative method for
                                     observers through      conducting Method 9 plume   conducting Method 9
                                     use of a virtual       demonstrations and          plume demonstrations and
                                     reality (VR) headset.  certification as            certification as
                                                            described in this letter    described in this letter
                                                            and further detailed in     and further detailed in
                                                            Attachment A as an          Attachment A as an
                                                            alternative to the          alternative to the
                                                            procedures of section 3.2   procedures of section
                                                            of Method 9 with specific   3.2 of Method 9.
                                                            limitations, as listed in
                                                            the letter.
ALT-153...........................  EPA Method 3A as an    Calculation of stack gas    Use analysis procedures
                                     alternative method     molecular weight and/or     similar to those found
                                     for EPA Method 3B      diluent correction to       in Method 3A to analyze
                                     integrated bag         measured pollutant          the bag sample(s)
                                     analysis.              concentrations.             collected according to
                                                                                        Method 3B.
ALT-154...........................  ASTM E-2515 filter     Consistent measurement of   Desiccate and perform the
                                     gravimetric pre/post-  filter media and            pre-test processing
                                     test filter mass       associated gaskets, as a    (taring) of filters in
                                     assessments per        paired set, to lower        pairs as is currently
                                     method direction in    overall measurement         allowed for filter
                                     section 9.4.4.         uncertainty.                gaskets in section 9.4.4
                                                                                        (pre-test) and 10.2.1
                                                                                        (post-test) when
                                                                                        conducting testing of
                                                                                        wood heaters under
                                                                                        Subpart AAA and
                                                                                        determine mass
                                                                                        emissions.
ALT-155...........................  ASTM E-2515 dilution   The use of low flow         Measure velocities as low
                                     tunnel minimum         manometers to measure       as 180 fpm, in a
                                     velocity requirement   flow velocities as low as   dilution tunnel greater
                                     as stated in section   180 fpm during certain PM   than 8'' diameter, using
                                     9.2.1.                 measurement tests.          a Ptype pitot tube and a
                                                                                        micromanometer gauge
                                                                                        more sensitive than the
                                                                                        method specified 0.001''
                                                                                        of water such as a
                                                                                        manometer with
                                                                                        resolution to 0.0005
                                                                                        inches of water or less.
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\a\ 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 any
  alternative test method.

[FR Doc. 2024-01495 Filed 1-24-24; 8:45 am]
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