§ 60.4171 - Initial certification and recertification procedures.

(a) The owner or operator of a Hg Budget unit shall be exempt from the initial certification requirements of this section for a monitoring system under §60.4170(a)(1) if the following conditions are met:

(1) The monitoring system has been previously certified in accordance with part 75 of this chapter; and

(2) The applicable quality-assurance and quality-control requirements of §75.21 of this chapter and appendix B to part 75 of this chapter are fully met for the certified monitoring system described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(b) The recertification provisions of this section shall apply to a monitoring system under §60.4170(a)(1) exempt from initial certification requirements under paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, the owner or operator of a Hg Budget unit shall comply with the following initial certification and recertification procedures for a continuous monitoring system ( e.g. , a continuous emission monitoring system and an excepted monitoring system (sorbent trap monitoring system) under §75.15) under §60.4170(a)(1). The owner or operator of a unit that qualifies to use the Hg low mass emissions excepted monitoring methodology under §75.81(b) of this chapter or that qualifies to use an alternative monitoring system under subpart E of part 75 of this chapter shall comply with the procedures in paragraph (d) or (e) of this section respectively.

(1) Requirements for initial certification. The owner or operator shall ensure that each monitoring system under §60.4170(a)(1) (including the automated data acquisition and handling system) successfully completes all of the initial certification testing required under §75.20 of this chapter by the applicable deadline in §60.4170(b). In addition, whenever the owner or operator installs a monitoring system to meet the requirements of this subpart in a location where no such monitoring system was previously installed, initial certification in accordance with §75.20 of this chapter is required.

(2) Requirements for recertification. Whenever the owner or operator makes a replacement, modification, or change in any certified continuous emission monitoring system, or an excepted monitoring system (sorbent trap monitoring system) under §75.15, under §60.4170(a)(1) that may significantly affect the ability of the system to accurately measure or record Hg mass emissions or heat input rate or to meet the quality-assurance and quality-control requirements of §75.21 of this chapter or appendix B to part 75 of this chapter, the owner or operator shall recertify the monitoring system in accordance with §75.20(b) of this chapter. Furthermore, whenever the owner or operator makes a replacement, modification, or change to the flue gas handling system or the unit's operation that may significantly change the stack flow or concentration profile, the owner or operator shall recertify each continuous emission monitoring system, and each excepted monitoring system (sorbent trap monitoring system) under §75.15, whose accuracy is potentially affected by the change, in accordance with §75.20(b) of this chapter. Examples of changes to a continuous emission monitoring system that require recertification include replacement of the analyzer, complete replacement of an existing continuous emission monitoring system, or change in location or orientation of the sampling probe or site.

(3) Approval process for initial certification and recertification. Paragraphs (c)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section apply to both initial certification and recertification of a continuous monitoring system under §60.4170(a)(1). For recertifications, apply the word “recertification” instead of the words “certification” and “initial certification” and apply the word “recertified” instead of the word “certified,” and follow the procedures in §75.20(b)(5) of this chapter in lieu of the procedures in paragraph (c)(3)(v) of this section.

(i) Notification of certification. The Hg designated representative shall submit to the permitting authority, the appropriate EPA Regional Office, and the Administrator written notice of the dates of certification testing, in accordance with §60.4173.

(ii) Certification application. The Hg designated representative shall submit to the permitting authority a certification application for each monitoring system. A complete certification application shall include the information specified in §75.63 of this chapter.

(iii) Provisional certification date. The provisional certification date for a monitoring system shall be determined in accordance with §75.20(a)(3) of this chapter. A provisionally certified monitoring system may be used under the Hg Budget Trading Program for a period not to exceed 120 days after receipt by the permitting authority of the complete certification application for the monitoring system under paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section. Data measured and recorded by the provisionally certified monitoring system, in accordance with the requirements of part 75 of this chapter, will be considered valid quality-assured data (retroactive to the date and time of provisional certification), provided that the permitting authority does not invalidate the provisional certification by issuing a notice of disapproval within 120 days of the date of receipt of the complete certification application by the permitting authority.

(iv) Certification application approval process. The permitting authority will issue a written notice of approval or disapproval of the certification application to the owner or operator within 120 days of receipt of the complete certification application under paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section. In the event the permitting authority does not issue such a notice within such 120-day period, each monitoring system that meets the applicable performance requirements of part 75 of this chapter and is included in the certification application will be deemed certified for use under the Hg Budget Trading Program.

(A) Approval notice. If the certification application is complete and shows that each monitoring system meets the applicable performance requirements of part 75 of this chapter, then the permitting authority will issue a written notice of approval of the certification application within 120 days of receipt.

(B) Incomplete application notice. If the certification application is not complete, then the permitting authority will issue a written notice of incompleteness that sets a reasonable date by which the Hg designated representative must submit the additional information required to complete the certification application. If the Hg designated representative does not comply with the notice of incompleteness by the specified date, then the permitting authority may issue a notice of disapproval under paragraph (c)(3)(iv)(C) of this section. The 120-day review period shall not begin before receipt of a complete certification application.

(C) Disapproval notice. If the certification application shows that any monitoring system does not meet the performance requirements of part 75 of this chapter or if the certification application is incomplete and the requirement for disapproval under paragraph (c)(3)(iv)(B) of this section is met, then the permitting authority will issue a written notice of disapproval of the certification application. Upon issuance of such notice of disapproval, the provisional certification is invalidated by the permitting authority and the data measured and recorded by each uncertified monitoring system shall not be considered valid quality-assured data beginning with the date and hour of provisional certification (as defined under §75.20(a)(3) of this chapter). The owner or operator shall follow the procedures for loss of certification in paragraph (c)(3)(v) of this section for each monitoring system that is disapproved for initial certification.

(D) Audit decertification. The permitting authority may issue a notice of disapproval of the certification status of a monitor in accordance with §60.4172(b).

(v) Procedures for loss of certification. If the permitting authority issues a notice of disapproval of a certification application under paragraph (c)(3)(iv)(C) of this section or a notice of disapproval of certification status under paragraph (c)(3)(iv)(D) of this section, then:

(A) The owner or operator shall substitute the following values, for each disapproved monitoring system, for each hour of unit operation during the period of invalid data specified under §75.20(a)(4)(iii), or §75.21(e) of this chapter and continuing until the applicable date and hour specified under §75.20(a)(5)(i) of this chapter:

( 1 ) For a disapproved Hg pollutant concentration monitors and disapproved flow monitor, respectively, the maximum potential concentration of Hg and the maximum potential flow rate, as defined in sections 2.1.7.1 and 2.1.4.1 of appendix A to part 75 of this chapter; and

( 2 ) For a disapproved moisture monitoring system and disapproved diluent gas monitoring system, respectively, the minimum potential moisture percentage and either the maximum potential CO₂concentration or the minimum potential O₂concentration (as applicable), as defined in sections 2.1.5, 2.1.3.1, and 2.1.3.2 of appendix A to part 75 of this chapter.

( 3 ) For a disapproved excepted monitoring system (sorbent trap monitoring system) under §75.15 and disapproved flow monitor, respectively, the maximum potential concentration of Hg and maximum potential flow rate, as defined in sections 2.1.7.1 and 2.1.4.1 of appendix A to part 75 of this chapter.

(B) The Hg designated representative shall submit a notification of certification retest dates and a new certification application in accordance with paragraphs (c)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section.

(C) The owner or operator shall repeat all certification tests or other requirements that were failed by the monitoring system, as indicated in the permitting authority's notice of disapproval, no later than 30 unit operating days after the date of issuance of the notice of disapproval.

(d) Initial certification and recertification procedures for units using the Hg low mass emission excepted methodology under §75.81(b) of this chapter. The owner or operator of a unit qualified to use the Hg low mass emissions (HgLME) excepted methodology under §75.81(b) of this chapter shall meet the applicable certification and recertification requirements in §75.81(c) through (f) of this chapter.

(e) Certification/recertification procedures for alternative monitoring systems. The Hg designated representative of each unit for which the owner or operator intends to use an alternative monitoring system approved by the Administrator and, if applicable, the permitting authority under subpart E of part 75 of this chapter shall comply with the applicable notification and application procedures of §75.20(f) of this chapter.