Preparation, Adoption, and Submittal of State Implementation Plans; Test Method 205, Appendix M

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 51

[AD-FRL-5022-9]

Preparation, Adoption, and Submittal of State Implementation

Plans; Test Method 205, Appendix M

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule and notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this proposed 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,

``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.

A public hearing will be held, if requested, to provide interested

persons an opportunity for oral presentation of data, views, or

arguments concerning the proposed rule.

DATES: Comments. Comments must be received on or before October 17,

1994.

Public Hearing. If anyone contacts EPA requesting to speak at a

public hearing by August 24, 1994, a public hearing will be held

September 19, 1994 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Persons interested in

attending the hearing should call the contact mentioned under ADDRESSES

to verify that a meeting will be held.

Request to Speak at Hearing. Persons wishing to present oral

testimony must contact EPA by August 24, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments should be submitted (in duplicate if

possible) to: Central Docket Section (LE-131), 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.

Public Hearing. If anyone contacts EPA requesting a public hearing,

it will be held at EPA's Emission Measurement Laboratory, Research

Triangle Park, North Carolina. Persons interested in attending the

hearing or wishing to present oral testimony should notify Rima

Dishakjian, Emission Measurement Branch, Technical Support Division

(MD-19), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park,

North Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 541-0443.

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 Docket Section,

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 Dishakjian or Anthony Wayne,

Emission Measurement Branch (MD-19), Technical Support 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 Changes

A verification procedure for gas dilution systems is being

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 and Responses on Draft

The proposed method was published through the Emission Measurement

Technical Information Center as Conditional Test Method 007 in April

1991. No technical comments have been submitted thus far. Several

commenters suggested that the protocol be published in the CFR, thus

resulting in this action.

II. Administrative Requirements

A. Public Hearing

A public hearing will be held, if requested, to discuss the

proposed rulemaking in accordance with Section 307(d)(5) of the Clean

Air Act. Persons wishing to make oral presentations should contact EPA

at the address given in the ADDRESSES section of this preamble. Oral

presentations will be limited to 15 minutes each. Any member of the

public may file a written statement with EPA before, during, or within

30 days after the hearing. Written statements should be addressed to

the Central Docket Section address given in the ADDRESSES section of

this preamble.

A verbatim transcript of the hearing and written statements will be

available for public inspection and copying during normal working hours

at EPA's Central Docket Section in Washington, D.C. (see ADDRESSES

section of this preamble).

B. 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)].

C. Office of Management and Budget Review

It has been determined that this rule is not a ``significant

regulatory action'' under the terms of Executive Order 12866 and is

therefore not subject to OMB review.

D. 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, and Volatile organic

compounds.

Dated: July 14, 1994.

Carol M. Browner,

Administrator.

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: 42 U.S.C. 7410(a)(2), 7475(e), 7502 (a) and (b),

7503, 7601(a)(1) and 7620.

Appendix M--Recommended Test Methods for State Implementation Plans

2. Appendix M to part 51 is amended by adding Method 205 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.

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 the range of concentrations expected during

the field test. After meeting the requirements of this protocol, 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 For gas dilution systems utilizing mass flow controllers,

the mass flow controllers in the gas dilution system shall be

calibrated against a National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST) traceable standard according to the manufacturer's

instructions once per year.

2.1.2 For gas dilution systems using mass flow controllers, the

accuracy of the controllers diminishes at low flow rates. Therefore,

it is recommended that flow rates below 10 percent of flow

controller capacity be avoided.

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

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 protocol, 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, one dilution for each dilution device

utilized in the dilution system. Dilution device in this method

refers to the mass flow controller, critical orifice, capillary

tube, or any other device which is used to achieve gas dilution. For

gas dilution systems utilizing mass flow controllers, it is

recommended that two dilutions be performed for each mass flow

controller range.

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.

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

4.1 ``EPA Traceability Protocol for Assay and Certification of

Gaseous Calibration Standards,'' EPA-600/R93/224, Revised September

1993.

[FR Doc. 94-18757 Filed 8-2-94; 8:45 am]

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