[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28052-28055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13152]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 51
[AD-FRL-5211-6]
RIN 2060-AE33
Preparation, Adoption, and Submittal of State Implementation
Plans; Test Method 205, Appendix M
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this rule is to add a test method which would
be used to verify the performance and accuracy of gas dilution systems
during a field test. The test method is entitled,
[[Page 28053]] ``Verification of Gas Dilution Systems for Field
Instrument Calibrations,'' and will be added to 40 CFR part 51,
appendix M, as Test Method 205. This method will allow the facility
greater flexibility while assuring the Administrator of the quality of
the calibration of the field analyzers.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This method is effective May 30, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Background Information Document. The background information
document (BID) for the promulgated test method may be obtained from:
Air Docket Section (MC-6102), Attention: Docket Number A-93-36, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Room M-1500, First Floor, Waterside
Mall, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. The BID contains a
summary of all the public comments made on the proposed test method and
the Administrator's response to the comments.
Docket. Docket No. A-93-36, containing materials relevant to this
rulemaking, is available for public inspection and copying between 8:00
a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at EPA's Air and Radiation
Docket and Information Center (formerly known as the Air Docket), Room
M-1500, First Floor, Waterside Mall, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20460. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rima N. Dishakjian, Source
Characterization Group A (MD-19), Emissions, Modeling and Analysis
Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 541-0443.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. The Rulemaking
A. Summary of Proposed Method
A verification procedure for gas dilution systems has been
proposed. Gas dilution systems allow the user to dilute a high level
certified gaseous standard to the concentration levels needed for
multi-point calibration. The instrumental test methods in 40 CFR part
60, appendix A (e.g., Methods 3A, 6C, 7E, 10, 15, 16, 20, 25A, and 25B)
require on-site, multi-point calibration using gases of known
concentrations. An extensive field test can require the tester to
transport dozens of high pressure gas cylinders to a test site. If a
gas dilution system were available, the number of gas cylinders to be
transported to the test site would be greatly reduced. This procedure
provides a mechanism for the tester to avoid the cost and risk
associated with transport of multiple gas cylinders, while also
providing assurances to the on-site Administrator that the calibration
gases produced by the gas dilution system will be precise and accurate.
B. Comments on the Proposed Method
Comments on the proposed method were received from three
commenters; two commenters are vendors of instruments, while the other
commenter has conducted studies on gas dilution instruments in the
past. A detailed discussion of these comments and responses can be
found in the promulgation BID, which is referred to in the ADDRESSES
section of this preamble. Many of the comments dealt with the wording
used in the proposed method: two commenters thought the specific
mention of gas dilution systems utilizing mass flow controllers implied
an Agency endorsement of such systems. Although the original wording
actually set more stringent testing requirements for mass flow
controller systems and thus was not an endorsement of such systems, the
wording of the method has been modified to make it more generic.
Another commenter stated that not enough evaluation has been conducted
on gas dilution systems' performance capabilities. While the Agency
agrees that a large body of data is not available for all the various
gas dilution systems currently available, the Agency believes the
performance-based format of the method and the stringent requirements
of the method will insure that any gas dilution system being used will
be precise and accurate for the purposes of the field test. Since the
performance test in the method must be conducted during each field
test, the gas dilution system's performance will be documented for each
set of compliance test data.
II. Administrative Requirements
A. Docket
The docket is an organized and complete file of all the information
submitted to or otherwise considered by EPA in the development of this
proposed rulemaking. The principal purposes of the docket are to: (1)
allow interested parties to identify and locate documents so that they
can effectively participate in the rulemaking process, and (2) serve as
the record in case of judicial review except for interagency review
materials [Section 307(d)(7)(A)].
B. Administrative Designation and Regulatory Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993)), the
EPA is required to judge whether a regulation is ``significant'' and
therefore subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and
the requirements of this Executive Order to prepare a regulatory impact
analysis (RIA). The Order defines ``significant regulatory action'' as
one that is likely to result in a rule that may: (1) Have an annual
effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a
material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity,
competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State,
local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) create a serious
inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by
another agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impact of
entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs, or the rights and
obligation of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy
issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or
the principles set forth in the Executive Order.
Pursuant to the terms of Executive Order 12866, it has been
determined that this rule is not ``significant'' because none of the
listed criteria apply to this action. Consequently, this action was not
submitted to OMB for review under Executive Order 12866.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act Compliance
Pursuant to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 605(b), I hereby certify
that this attached rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because no
additional costs will be incurred.
This rule does not contain any information collection requirements
subject to OMB review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 51
Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Intergovernmental relations,
Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.
[[Page 28054]] Dated: May 22, 1995.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
The EPA proposes to amend title 40, chapter I, part 51 of the Code
of Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 51--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 51 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Section 110 of the Clean Air Act as amended. 42
U.S.C. 7410.
2. Appendix M, Table of Contents is amended by adding an entry to
read as follows:
Method 205--Verification of Gas Dilution Systems for Field
Instrument Calibrations.
3. By adding Method 205 to appendix M to read as follows:
Method 205--Verification of Gas Dilution Systems for Field Instrument
Calibrations
1. Introduction
1.1 Applicability. A gas dilution system can provide known values
of calibration gases through controlled dilution of high-level
calibration gases with an appropriate dilution gas. The instrumental
test methods in 40 CFR part 60--e.g., Methods 3A, 6C, 7E, 10, 15, 16,
20, 25A and 25B--require on-site, multi-point calibration using gases
of known concentrations. A gas dilution system that produces known low-
level calibration gases from high-level calibration gases, with a
degree of confidence similar to that for Protocol \1\ gases, may be
used for compliance tests in lieu of multiple calibration gases when
the gas dilution system is demonstrated to meet the requirements of
this method. The Administrator may also use a gas dilution system in
order to produce a wide range of Cylinder Gas Audit concentrations when
conducting performance specifications according to appendix F, 40 CFR
part 60. As long as the acceptance criteria of this method are met,
this method is applicable to gas dilution systems using any type of
dilution technology, not solely the ones mentioned in this method.
1.2 Principle. The gas dilution system shall be evaluated on one
analyzer once during each field test. A precalibrated analyzer is
chosen, at the discretion of the source owner or operator, to
demonstrate that the gas dilution system produces predictable gas
concentrations spanning a range of concentrations. After meeting the
requirements of this method, the remaining analyzers may be calibrated
with the dilution system in accordance to the requirements of the
applicable method for the duration of the field test. In Methods 15 and
16, 40 CFR part 60, appendix A, reactive compounds may be lost in the
gas dilution system. Also, in Methods 25A and 25B, 40 CFR part 60,
appendix A, calibration with target compounds other than propane is
allowed. In these cases, a laboratory evaluation is required once per
year in order to assure the Administrator that the system will dilute
these reactive gases without significant loss.
Note: The laboratory evaluation is required only if the source
owner or operator plans to utilize the dilution system to prepare
gases mentioned above as being reactive.
2. Specifications
2.1 Gas Dilution System. The gas dilution system shall produce
calibration gases whose measured values are within 2
percent of the predicted values. The predicted values are calculated
based on the certified concentration of the supply gas (Protocol gases,
when available, are recommended for their accuracy) and the gas flow
rates (or dilution ratios) through the gas dilution system.
2.1.1 The gas dilution system shall be recalibrated once per
calendar year using NIST-traceable primary flow standards with an
uncertainty 0.25 percent. A label shall be affixed at all
times to the gas dilution system listing the date of the most recent
calibration, the due date for the next calibration, and the person or
manufacturer who carried out the calibration. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions for the operation and use of the gas dilution system. A
copy of the manufacturer's instructions for the operation of the
instrument, as well as the most recent recalibration documentation
shall be made available for the Administrator's inspection upon
request.
2.1.2 Some manufacturers of mass flow controllers recommend that
flow rates below 10 percent of flow controller capacity be avoided;
check for this recommendation and follow the manufacturer's
instructions. One study has indicated that silicone oil from a positive
displacement pump produces an interference in SO2 analyzers
utilizing ultraviolet fluorescence; follow laboratory procedures
similar to those outlined in Section 3.1 in order to demonstrate the
significance of any resulting effect on instrument performance.
2.2 High-Level Supply Gas. An EPA Protocol calibration gas is
recommended, due to its accuracy, as the high-level supply gas.
2.3 Mid-Level Supply Gas. An EPA Protocol gas shall be used as an
independent check of the dilution system. The concentration of the mid-
level supply gas shall be within 10 percent of one of the dilution
levels tested in Section 3.2.
3. Performance Tests
3.1 Laboratory Evaluation (Optional). If the gas dilution system
is to be used to formulate calibration gases with reactive compounds
(Test Methods 15, 16, and 25A/25B (only if using a calibration gas
other than propane during the field test) in 40 CFR part 60, appendix
A), a laboratory certification must be conducted once per calendar year
for each reactive compound to be diluted. In the laboratory, carry out
the procedures in Section 3.2 on the analyzer required in each
respective test method to be laboratory certified (15, 16, or 25A and
25B for compounds other than propane). For each compound in which the
gas dilution system meets the requirements in Section 3.2, the source
must provide the laboratory certification data for the field test and
in the test report.
3.2 Field Evaluation (Required). The gas dilution system shall be
evaluated at the test site with an analyzer or monitor chosen by the
source owner or operator. It is recommended that the source owner or
operator choose a precalibrated instrument with a high level of
precision and accuracy for the purposes of this test. This method is
not meant to replace the calibration requirements of test methods. In
addition to the requirements in this method, all the calibration
requirements of the applicable test method must also be met.
3.2.1 Prepare the gas dilution system according to the
manufacturer's instructions. Using the high-level supply gas, prepare,
at a minimum, two dilutions within the range of each dilution device
utilized in the dilution system (unless, as in critical orifice
systems, each dilution device is used to make only one dilution; in
that case, prepare one dilution for each dilution device). Dilution
device in this method refers to each mass flow controller, critical
orifice, capillary tube, positive displacement pump, or any other
device which is used to achieve gas dilution.
3.2.2 Calculate the predicted concentration for each of the
dilutions based on the flow rates through the gas dilution system (or
the dilution ratios) and the certified concentration of the high-level
supply gas.
3.2.3 Introduce each of the dilutions from Section 3.2.1 into the
analyzer or monitor one at a time and determine the instrument response
for each of the dilutions. [[Page 28055]]
3.2.4 Repeat the procedure in Section 3.2.3 two times, i.e., until
three injections are made at each dilution level. Calculate the average
instrument response for each triplicate injection at each dilution
level. No single injection shall differ by more than 2
percent from the average instrument response for that dilution.
3.2.5 For each level of dilution, calculate the difference between
the average concentration output recorded by the analyzer and the
predicted concentration calculated in Section 3.2.2. The average
concentration output from the analyzer shall be within 2
percent of the predicted value.
3.2.6 Introduce the mid-level supply gas directly into the
analyzer, bypassing the gas dilution system. Repeat the procedure twice
more, for a total of three mid-level supply gas injections. Calculate
the average analyzer output concentration for the mid-level supply gas.
The difference between the certified concentration of the mid-level
supply gas and the average instrument response shall be within
2 percent.
3.3 If the gas dilution system meets the criteria listed in
Section 3.2, the gas dilution system may be used throughout that field
test. If the gas dilution system fails any of the criteria listed in
Section 3.2, and the tester corrects the problem with the gas dilution
system, the procedure in Section 3.2 must be repeated in its entirety
and all the criteria in Section 3.2 must be met in order for the gas
dilution system to be utilized in the test.
4. References
1. ``EPA Traceability Protocol for Assay and Certification of
Gaseous Calibration Standards,'' EPA-600/R93/224, Revised September
1993.
[FR Doc. 95-13152 Filed 5-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
