The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on April 26th providing corrections and updating regulations for source testing of air emissions. See 87 Fed. Reg. 24488.
These provisions were promulgated as a part of the Clean Air Act.
The revisions incorporated in the proposed rule include:
- Corrections and updates to regulations for source testing of emissions
- Corrections to inaccurate testing provisions
- Updates to outdated procedures
- Approved alternative procedures
The revisions apply to facilities 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 air pollution 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 the procedures specified by the agency. They are designed to ensure standardization of test requirements and standards regarding test equipment.
The provisions in the proposed 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. The federal agency updates and revises these provisions periodically.
EPA also proposes to incorporate by reference two ASTM standards:
- ASTM D6216-20 (procedure for certifying continuous opacity monitors, etc.)
- ASTM D6784 (test method for elemental, oxidized, particle-bound and total mercury in emissions from stationary sources, etc.)
A copy of the Federal Register notice can be downloaded here.
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