The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published a final rule in the Federal Register on October 7th providing corrections and updating regulations for source testing of air emissions. See 85 Fed. Reg. 63395.
These provisions were promulgated as part of the Clean Air Act.
The revisions incorporated in the final rule include:
- Corrections to inaccurate testing provisions
- Updates to outdated procedures
- Approved alternative procedures that will provide flexibility to testers
The revisions apply to industries subject to the provisions of 40 C.F.R. Parts 51, 60, 61, and 63.
Assorted equipment, devices, methods and tests are utilized by various stationary sources to verify the initial and/or continued proper operation of the air pollution control equipment. This determination is often based on a comparison of the amount of air pollutants the stationary source is permitted and/or projected to emit with the amount actually emitted.
Emissions testing must be conducted in accordance with procedures specified by the agency. They are designed to ensure standardization of test requirements and standards regarding test equipment.
The provisions in the final rule are part of an ongoing process EPA undertakes to catalog errors, corrections, and approved alternatives to test methods, performance specifications and associated regulations in 40 C.F.R. Parts 51, 60, 61, and 63. It updates and revises these provisions periodically.
The final rule includes incorporation by reference a number of consensus standards such as those associated with ASTM, Gas Processors Association, International Organization for Standardization, and American Petroleum Institute Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards.
The final rule includes 37 amended standards.
A copy of the Federal Register notice can be downloaded here.
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