Water programs: Pollutants analysis test procedures; guidelines Mercury; measurement method,
[Federal Register: March 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 43)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 10596-10597]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05mr99-18]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 136
[FRL-6307-3]
Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants; Measurement of Mercury in Water; Notice of Data Availability and Request for Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of data availability and request for comment.
SUMMARY: On May 26, 1998 (63 FR 28867), EPA proposed to amend the Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants under section 304(h) of the Clean Water Act by adding EPA Method 1631: Mercury in Water by Oxidation, Purge and Trap, and Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence. EPA Method 1631 measures mercury reliably at the low levels associated with ambient water quality criteria for mercury. The comment period on the proposal closed on July 29, 1998. EPA obtained additional effluent and environmental data after the close of the comment period and intends to consider these data in its final rulemaking concerning the use of EPA Method 1631. Therefore, EPA is making these additional data available for public review and comment.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be submitted on or before April 5, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Written or electronic comments on this notice may be submitted. Written comments on this notice may be sent to ``EPA Method 1631-Notice of Data Availability,'' Comment Clerk, Water Docket MC- 4101, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
[[Page 10597]]
20460. Commenters are requested to submit any references cited in their comments. Commenters also are requested to submit an original and three copies of their written comments and enclosures. Commenters who want receipt of their comments acknowledged should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. No facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.
Electronic comments should be addressed to the E-mail address: ow- docket@epamail.epa.gov. Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file and avoid use of special characters and any form of encryption, or may be submitted in WordPerfect 5.1 or 6.1. Electronic comments must be identified as ``EPA Method 1631-Notice of Data Availability.'' Electronic comments on this notice may be filedonline at many Federal Depository Libraries. Electronic comments will be transferred into a paper version for the official record. EPA will attempt to clarify electronic comments if there is an apparent error in transmission.
A copy of the supporting documents and data received by the Agency during and pursuant to the comment period for the proposed rule are available for review at EPA's Water Docket, Room EB57, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. For access to the Docket materials, call (202) 260-3027 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time for an appointment.
The complete text of this Federal Register notice and EPA Method 1631 may be viewed or downloaded on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/ ost/rules.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Maria Gomez-Taylor,U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Science and Technology, Engineering and Analysis Division (4303), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20460, or call (202) 260-1639.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On May 26, 1998 (63 FR 28867), EPA proposed to add EPA Method 1631: Mercury in Water by Oxidation, Purge and Trap, and Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence to 40 CFR Part 136 for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) data gathering and compliance monitoring under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Mercury is a toxic pollutant as defined in Section 307(a)(1) of the CWA and at 40 CFR 401.16 and is a priority pollutant as listed in 40 CFR Part 423, Appendix A. EPA Method 1631 was proposed under the authority of Sections 301, 304(h), and 501(a) of the CWA. The Agency developed EPA Method 1631 in order to measure mercury reliably at the low levels associated with ambient water quality criteria (WQC) for mercury included in the National Toxics Rule (40 CFR 131.36) and Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System (60 FR 15366). A further description of the development and validation of EPA Method 1631 is provided in the proposed rule.
Following the close of the comment period, the Agency obtained additional analytical data pertinent to EPA Method 1631. The additional data consist of results from laboratory studies and municipal and industrial effluent analyses conducted using EPA Method 1631. This notice makes available for public review and comment these analytical data. Generally, the data supplements existing data by demonstrating the applicability of EPA Method 1631 to a variety of municipal and industrial effluents. The Agency intends to consider these additional data in formulating the final rule for the use of EPA Method 1631.
Today's notice solicits comments only on the new data which confirm or refute the Agency's findings about the acceptability of EPA Method 1631 for the determination of mercury at the low levels associated with Water Quality Criteria. Specifically, the Agency seeks comment on the use of EPA Method 1631 to accurately measure mercury at low levels in a variety of water matrices based on the new data. The Agency does not intend to reopen the comment period on the entire proposed rule. Therefore, there is no need to submit comments on other aspects of the proposal.
The Agency does not interpret the new data as warranting any modification of the proposed rule nor do they indicate a reason to change the Agency's rationale for proposing EPA Method 1631. The Agency believes that these data support the Agency's conclusion that EPA Method 1631 is applicable to a variety of water effluents including municipal and industrial effluents.
Dated: March 1, 1999. J. Charles Fox, Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 99-5493Filed3-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
