Air pollution; standards of performance for new stationary sources: Monitoring requirements,
[Federal Register: May 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 89)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 24692-24700]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08my03-22]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 60
[AD-FRL-7496-1]
RIN 2060-AH23
Amendments to Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources; Monitoring Requirements
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Proposed rule and request for public comments.
SUMMARY: In this proposal we, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), propose to add Procedure 3, Quality Assurance Requirements for Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems at Stationary Sources, to the regulations. This action provides quality assurance/quality control procedures for a continuous opacity monitoring system (COMS) used for compliance purposes. We are seeking public comments on this proposal.
DATES: Comments. You must submit comments so that they are received on or before July 7, 2003.
Public Hearing. If a public hearing has been requested, and anyone contacts us requesting to speak at a public hearing by May 22, 2003, a public hearing will be held on August 6, 2003 beginning at 9 a.m. EST. If you are interested in attending the hearing, you must call the contact person listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). If a hearing is held, rebuttal and supplementary information may be submitted to the docket for 30 days following the hearing.
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Request to Speak at Hearing. If you wish to present oral testimony at the public hearing, you must call the contact person listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) by July 7, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as provided in Section I of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. The EPA requests a separate copy also be sent to the contact person listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Public Hearing. If a public hearing is held, it will be held at the EPA campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. You should contact Mr. Solomon Ricks, Source Measurement Analysis Group, Emissions, Monitoring, and Analysis Division (D243-02), U. S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 541-5242, to request to speak at a public hearing or to find out if a hearing will be held.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Solomon Ricks, Source Measurement Analysis Group, Emissions, Monitoring, and Analysis Division (D243-02), U. S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone number (919) 541-5242; facsimile number (919) 541-1039; electronic mail (e-mail) address: ricks.solomon@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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General Information
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How Can I Get Copies of Related Information?
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Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this action under Docket ID No. A-91-08. The official public docket is the collection of materials that is available for public viewing at the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1742.
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Electronic Access. An electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the appropriate docket identification number.
Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets. Information claimed as confidential business information (``CBI'') and other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in printed, paper form in the official public docket. Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through the docket facility identified in Section I.B.
For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the Docket will be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief description written by the docket staff.
For additional information about EPA's electronic public docket visit EPA Dockets online or see 67 FR 38102, May 31, 2002.
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How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?
You may submit comments electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or through hand delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the appropriate docket identification number in the subject line on the first page of your comment. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the close of the comment period will be marked ``late.'' EPA is not required to consider these late comments.
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Electronically. If you submit an electronic comment as prescribed below, EPA recommends that you include your name, mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in the body of your comment. Also include this contact information on the outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any cover letter accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can be identified as the submitter of the comment and allows EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA's policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment.
i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket , and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in Docket ID No. A- 91-08. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to A- and-R-Docket@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. A-91-08. In contrast to EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an ``anonymous access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly to the Docket without going through EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail addresses that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM that
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you mail to the mailing address identified in Section I.B.2. These electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
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By Mail. Send your comments to: Air and Radiation Docket, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC, 20460, Attention Docket ID No. A-91-08.
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By Hand Delivery or Courier. Deliver your comments to: Air and Radiation Docket, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (West), 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Room B-102, Washington, DC, 20004, Attention Docket ID No. A-91-08. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation as identified in Section I.A.1.
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Outline
We provided the following outline to aid in reading the preamble to this proposal.
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Introduction
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Regulatory History of the Proposed Rule II. Differences between Proposed Method 203 and the Proposed Rule (Procedure 3)
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Quarterly Performance Audit
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Corrective Action Section
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Replacement Opacity Monitors III. Administrative Requirements
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Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review
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Paper Reduction Act
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Regulatory Flexibility Act
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Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
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Executive Order 13132, Federalism
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Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments
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Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health and Safety Risks
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Executive Order 13211, Actions that Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
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National Technology Transfer Advancement Act
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Introduction
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Regulatory History of the Proposed Rule
Procedure 3, Quality Assurance (QA) Requirements for Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems at Stationary Sources, was originally published in the Federal Register on October 7, 1992 (57 FR 46114) as Method 203. At that time, it was proposed as an addition to appendix M, Example Test Methods for State implementation plans (SIP's), in 40 CFR part 51. Concurrently, work was underway to update and revise Performance Specification 1 (PS-1), Performance Specifications for a Continuous Opacity Monitoring System (COMS). It was decided to postpone further work on Method 203 until the revisions to PS-1 were promulgated. Revisions to PS-1 were published in the Federal Register on November 25, 1994 (59 FR 60585). Comments on the November 1994 proposal revealed some concern and confusion with the design specifications and with the test procedures to verify compliance with the design specifications. To ensure adequate understanding of the technical issues uncovered in the comments, a public stakeholders' meeting was held on June 12, 1996. As a result of that meeting, representatives from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D22.03, a Subcommittee on Ambient Atmospheres and Source Emissions, volunteered to undertake development of a standard practice for opacity monitor manufacturers.
On September 23, 1998, we published a supplemental proposal in the Federal Register (63 FR 50824) to incorporate ASTM D 6216-98 by reference into the proposed revisions to PS-1. After addressing the comments from the supplemental proposal, we published PS-1 as a final rule in the Federal Register on August 10, 2000 (65 FR 48914).
Following the promulgation of PS-1, we formed a stakeholders' group to address technical concerns, similar to the concerns revealed in PS- 1, with Method 203 as it was originally proposed. The stakeholders' group was open to the public and consisted of opacity monitor manufacturers, representatives from the ASTM D22.03 subcommittee, State/local, and regional office personnel. After holding a series of phone conferences, we decided to re-write and re-propose Method 203. The re-write takes into account technological advances in the design and manufacture of opacity monitors, as well as the revisions to PS-1. We decided to re-propose the method as an additional procedure, Procedure 3, to be added to 40 CFR part 60, appendix F, Quality Assurance Procedures for Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems. Today's proposal provides you the opportunity to comment on the changes made to Method 203 (Procedure 3) since its original proposal in October 1992, including the codification of Procedure 3 in the aforementioned appendix. Comments are not limited to the changes contained in this proposal; you may comment on Procedure 3 in its entirety. It is for this reason we are allowing a 60-day comment period.
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Differences Between Proposed Method 203 and the Proposed Rule (Procedure 3)
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Quarterly Performance Audit
In re-writing Method 203 we determined that, because of technological advancements in opacity monitors, requirements proposed in October 1992 were no longer necessary. Specifically, regarding the quarterly performance audits, we decided to delete the optical surface dust accumulation check, the stack exit correlation error (pathlength correction factor) check, as well as the zero and upscale response checks.
The design specifications outlined in ASTM D 6216-98, incorporated by reference into PS-1, requires manufacturers to build opacity monitors capable of adjusting the reading due to the accumulation of dust on exposed optical surfaces. Opacity monitors are also required to display the level of dust accumulation. We also determined it to be in the source's best interest to be aware of dust accumulation on a regular basis, since the result of dust accumulation would lead to higher opacity readings.
The stack exit correlation error (pathlength correction factor
[PLCF] ) was deleted because opacity monitor manufacturers are required to certify the system has been built so that the PLCF either cannot be changed, is recorded during each calibration cycle, or an alarm sounds when the value is changed from the certified value.
The quarterly zero and upscale response checks were deleted because the calibration drift checks (zero and upscale) are required on a daily basis. We determined that requiring zero and upscale response checks in addition to the calibration drift checks offered no additional benefits in verifying the performance of the COMS.
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Corrective Action Section
Procedure 3 includes a new section describing the corrective action required to return an opacity monitor to normal operation after a specified maintenance or repair procedure has been executed in response to a monitor failure or pending failure. After successful completion of the applicable corrective action, the monitor can be returned to an on- line status which provides valid emission monitoring data as long as the on-going QA requirements are met.
The corrective action section establishes four classes of maintenance and repair procedures: (1) Routine/preventative maintenance, (2) Measurement non-critical repairs, (3) Measurement critical repairs, and (4)
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Rebuilt or refurbished analyzers. A table is included detailing the diagnostic tests required to maintain PS-1 certification following the appropriate corrective action.
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Replacement Opacity Monitors
Procedure 3 also allows the use of a temporary replacement monitor in the event a certified opacity monitor is removed for extended service and the repair of the monitor requires more downtime than the user wishes to incur. The use of a replacement monitor will be allowed provided the monitor meets requirements specified in Procedure 3.
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Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
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Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), we are required to judge whether a regulatory action is ``significant'' and therefore subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and the requirements of this Executive Order. 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, we have determined that this rule is not ``significant'' because none of the listed criteria apply to this action. That is, this proposed rule, if promulgated, would not establish independent requirements for regulated entities. It would only apply where PS-1 is specified as the applicable method to demonstrate compliance with national emission standards or other control requirements. Consequently, this action was not submitted to OMB for review under Executive Order 12866.
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Paperwork Reduction Act
This proposed rule does not contain any information collection requirements subject to the Office of Management and Budget review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
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Regulatory Flexibility Act
The RFA generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) or any other statute unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small entities include small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts of today's rule on small entities, small entity is defined as: (1) A small business whose parent company has fewer than 750 employees; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of a city, county, town, school district or special district with a population of less than 50,000; and (3) a small organization that is any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field.
After considering the economic impacts of today's proposed rule on small entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because no significant additional cost will be incurred by such entities because of the proposed rule. The requirements of the proposal details quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) procedures for COMS to demonstrate continued conformance with PS-1. Facilities required by other rules to use COMS for compliance purposes have some form of QA/QC in place already; this proposal adds only minor additional requirements.
Although this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, EPA nonetheless has tried to reduce the impact of this rule on small entities. We formed a stakeholders' group to address technical concerns, similar to the concerns revealed in PS-1, with the proposed rule. The stakeholders' group was open to the public and consisted of opacity monitor manufacturers, representatives from the ASTM D22.03 subcommittee, representatives from electric utilities, State/local, and regional office personnel. We continue to be interested in the potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities and welcome comments on issues related to such impacts.
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Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector. Under Section 202 of the UMRA, we must prepare a budgetary impact statement to accompany any proposed rule, or any final rule for which a notice of proposed rulemaking was published, that includes a Federal mandate that may result in estimated costs to State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any one year. Under Section 205, if a budgetary impact statement is required under Section 202, we must select the least costly, most cost-effective, or least burdensome alternative that achieves the objective of the rule, unless we explain why this alternative is not selected or the selection of this alternative is inconsistent with law. Section 203 requires us to establish a plan for informing and advising any small governments that may be significantly or uniquely impacted by the rule. Section 204 requires us to develop a process to allow elected State, local, and tribal government officials to provide input in the development of any proposal containing a significant Federal intergovernmental mandate.
We have determined that this proposed rule does not include a Federal mandate that may result in estimated costs of $100 million or more to either State, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate, or to the private sector in any one year. Rules establishing test methods and/or quality assurance requirements impose no costs independent from national emission standards which require their use, and such costs are fully reflected in the regulatory impact assessment for those emission standards. We have also determined that this proposed rule does not significantly or uniquely impact small governments. Therefore, today's rule is not subject to the requirements of Section 203 of the UMRA.
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Executive Order 13132, Federalism
Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), requires that we develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.''
``Policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in the
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Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.'' Under Section 6 of Executive Order 13132, we may not issue a regulation that has federalism implications, that imposes substantial direct compliance costs, and that is not required by statute, unless the Federal government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct compliance costs incurred by the State and local governments, or we consult with State and local officials early in the process of developing the proposed regulation. We also may not issue a regulation that has federalism implications and that preempts State law unless we consult with State and local officials early in the process of developing the proposed regulation.
This proposed rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132. Thus, the requirements of Section 6 of the Executive Order do not apply to this proposed rule.
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Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 6, 2000), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory policies that have tribal implications.'' ``Policies that have tribal implications'' is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal government and the Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal government and Indian tribes.''
This proposed rule does not have tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order 13175. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rule.
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Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies to any rule that: (1) is determined to be ``economically significant'' as defined under Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns an environmental health or safety risk that EPA has reason to believe may have a disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory action meets both criteria, EPA must evaluate the environmental health or safety effects of the planned rule on children, and explain why the planned regulation is preferable to other potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives that EPA considered. This proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is not economically significant under Executive Order 12866 and because it does not concern environmental health and safety risks.
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Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
This rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) because it is not expected to have a significant adverse affect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy.
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National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995
The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Section 12(d), Public Law 104-113, requires Federal agencies and departments to use voluntary consensus standards instead of government-unique standards in their regulatory activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., material specifications, test method, sampling and analytical procedures, business practices, etc.) that are developed or adopted by one or more voluntary consensus standards bodies. Examples of organizations generally regarded as voluntary consensus standards bodies include the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The NTTAA requires federal agencies like us to provide Congress, through OMB, with explanations when an agency decides not to use available and applicable voluntary consensus standards.
During this rulemaking, we identified no voluntary consensus standards that might be applicable. Specifically, there were none which specified quality assurance/quality control procedures for continuous opacity monitoring systems.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 60
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Continuous opacity monitoring.
Dated: May 2, 2003. Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator.
We propose that 40 CFR part 60 be amended as follows:
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The authority citation for part 60 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
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Appendix F of part 60 is amended by adding Procedure 3 to read as follows:
Appendix F to Part 60--Quality Assurance Procedures
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Procedure 3--Quality Assurance Requirements for Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems at Stationary Sources
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What Are the Purpose and Applicability of Procedure 3? The purpose of Procedure 3 is to help implement procedures established by Performance Specification 1 (PS-1) for testing and verification of continuous opacity monitoring systems (COMS) applicable to new stationary sources by establishing the minimum quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) requirements to assess and assure the quality of a continuous opacity monitoring system (COMS). Procedure 3 applies to a COMS used for continuously determining compliance with emission standards as specified in an applicable federally enforceable regulation.
1.1 Who must comply with Procedure 3? You must comply with Procedure 3 if you are required by a federally enforceable regulation to install and operate a COMS on a continuous basis.
1.2 What are the data quality objectives of Procedure 3? The overall data quality objective (DQO) of Procedure 3 is the generation of valid, representative opacity data. Procedure 3 specifies the minimum requirements for controlling and assessing the quality of COMS data submitted to us or the delegated regulatory agency. Procedure 3 requires you to perform periodic evaluations of a COMS performance and to develop and implement QA/QC programs to ensure that a COMS data quality is maintained. You must meet these minimum requirements if you are responsible for one or more COMS used for compliance monitoring.
1.3 What is the intent of the QA/QC procedures found in Procedure 3? Procedure 3 is intended to establish the minimum requirements to verify and maintain an acceptable level of quality of the data produced by COMS. Its general terms are intended to allow you to develop a program that is most effective for your circumstances. You may adopt QA/QC procedures which go beyond these minimum requirements to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
1.4 When must I comply with Procedure 3? You must comply with Procedure 3
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following successful completion of the field audit performance tests outlined in PS-1.
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What are the basic functions of Procedure 3? The basic functions of Procedure 3 are assessment of the quality of your COMS data, and control and improvement of the quality of the data by implementing QC requirements and corrective actions. Procedure 3 provides requirements for:
(1) Daily instrument zero and upscale drift checks, as well as daily status indicators check,
(2) Quarterly performance audits, which includes the following assessments:
(i) Optical alignment,
(ii) Calibration error,
(iii) Zero compensation, and
(3) Zero alignment.
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What Special Definitions Apply to Procedure 3? The definitions of Procedure 3 include those provided in PS-1 and ASTM D 6216-98 (incorporated by reference into PS-1), with the following additions:
3.1 Out-of-Control Periods. ``Out of control'' means that one or more COMS parameters falls outside of the acceptable limits established by this rule.
(1) Daily Assessments. Whenever the calibration drift (CD) exceeds twice the specification of PS-1, the COMS is out-of-control. The beginning of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of the daily calibration drift check. The end of the out-of-control period is the time corresponding to the completion of appropriate adjustment and subsequent successful CD assessment.
(2) Quarterly and Annual Assessment. Whenever a quarterly performance audit or annual zero alignment indicates unacceptable results, the COMS is out-of-control. The beginning of the out-of- control period is the time corresponding to the completion of the performance audit indicating an unacceptable performance. The end of the out-of-control is the time corresponding to the completion of appropriate corrective actions and subsequent successful audit (or, if applicable, partial audit).
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What interferences must I avoid? Opacity cannot be measured accurately in the presence of water droplets. Thus, COMS opacity compliance determinations cannot be made when water droplets are present such as downstream of a wet scrubber without reheat or other saturated flue gas locations. Therefore, COMS must be located to avoid interferences with moisture or water droplets.
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What Do I Need to Know to Ensure the Safety of Persons Using Procedure 3? People using Procedure 3 may be exposed to hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. Procedure 3 does not purport to address all of the safety issues associated with its use. It is your responsibility to establish appropriate safety and health practices, and determine the applicable regulatory limitations before performing this procedure. You should consult the COMS user's manual for specific precautions to take.
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What Equipment and Supplies Do I Need? The equipment and supplies you need are those specified in PS-1.
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What Reagents and Standards Do I Need? The reagents and standards you need are those specified in PS-1.
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What Sample Collection, Preservation, Storage, and Transport Are Relevant to This Procedure? [Reserved]
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What Quality Control Measures Are Required by This Procedure for My COMS? You must develop and implement a QC program for your COMS. Your QC program must, at a minimum, include written procedures which describe in detail complete step-by-step procedures and operations for the activities in paragraphs (1) through (4):
(1) Procedures for performing drift checks, including both zero and upscale drift, and the status indicators check,
(2) Procedures for performing the quarterly performance audits,
(3) A means of checking the zero alignment of the COMS, and
(4) A program of corrective action for a malfunctioning COMS. The corrective action must include, at a minimum, the requirements specified in Section 10.5.
9.1 What QA/QC documentation must I have? You are required to keep the QA/QC written procedures on record and available for inspection by us, the State and/or local enforcement agency for the life of your COMS or until you are no longer subject to the requirements of this procedure.
9.2 What are the consequences of failing QC audits? Your QC procedures are deemed to be inadequate or your COMS incapable of providing quality data if you fail two consecutive QC audits (i.e., out-of-control conditions revealed by the annual audits or quarterly audits). Therefore, if you fail the same two consecutive quarterly audits or five consecutive daily checks, you must either revise your QC procedures or repair (or replace) your COMS to correct the deficiencies causing the excessive inaccuracies. If you determine your COMS requires extensive repair, you may use a substitute COMS provided the substitute meets the requirements specified in Section 10.6.
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What Calibration and Standardization Procedures Must I Perform for My COMS? You must perform routine system checks to assure proper operation of system electronics and optics, light and radiation sources and detectors, electric or electro-mechanical systems, and general stability of the system calibration. You must subject your COMS to a performance audit, to include checks of the individual COMS components and factor affecting the accuracy of the monitoring data, at least once per calendar quarter. At least annually, you must compare the COMS simulated zero to the actual clear path zero.
10.1 What routine system checks must I perform on my COMS? Necessary components of the routine system checks will depend upon design details of your COMS. At a minimum, you must verify the system operating parameters listed in paragraphs (1) through (3) on a daily basis. Some COMSs may perform one or more of these functions automatically, or as an integral portion of unit operations; other COMS may perform one or more of these functions manually.
(1) You must check the zero drift to assure stability of your COMS response to the zero check value. The simulated zero device, an automated mechanism within the transmissometer that produces a simulated clear path condition or low-level opacity condition, is used to check zero drift. You must, at a minimum, take corrective action on your COMS whenever the daily zero drift exceeds twice the applicable drift specification given in appendix B.
(2) You must check the upscale drift to assure stability of your COMS response to the upscale drift value. The upscale calibration device, an automated mechanism (employing a filter or reduced reflectance device) within the transmissometer that produces an upscale opacity value, is used to check the upscale drift. You must, at a minimum, take corrective action on your COMS whenever the daily upscale drift check exceeds twice the applicable drift specification given in appendix B.
(3) You must, at a minimum, check the status indicators, data acquisition system error messages, and other system self-diagnostic indicators. You must take appropriate corrective actions based on manufacturer's recommendations when the COMS is operating outside preset limits. All COMS data recorded during periods in which the fault status indicators are illuminated are to be considered invalid.
10.2 What are quarterly auditing requirements for my COMS? At a minimum, the parameters listed in paragraphs (1) through (3) are to be included in the quarterly performance audit.
(1) For units with automatic zero compensation, you must determine the zero compensation for the COMS. The value of the zero compensation applied at the time of the audit must be calculated as equivalent opacity, corrected to stack exit conditions, according to the procedures specified by the manufacturer. The compensation applied to the effluent recorded by the monitor system must be recorded.
(2) You must conduct a three-point calibration error test of the COMS. For either calibration error test methods identified below, three neutral density filters, meeting the requirements of PS-1, must be placed in the COMS light beam path for three nonconsecutive readings. The monitor responses must then be independently recorded from the COMS permanent data recorder. Additional guidance for conducting this test is included in section 8.1(3)(ii) of PS-1. The low-, mid-, and high-range calibration error results must be computed as the mean difference and 95 percent confidence interval for the difference between the expected and actual responses of the monitor as corrected to stack exit conditions. The equations necessary to perform the calculations are found in section 12.0 of PS-1. For the calibration error method, you must use the external audit device. You must confirm that the external audit device produces the proper zero value on the COMS data recorder.
(3) You must check the optical alignment of the COMS. The optical alignment must be checked when the stack temperature is +/- 20 percent of the typical operating temperature as measured in degrees Farenheit.
10.3 What are the annual auditing requirements for my COMS?
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(1) You must perform the primary zero alignment method under clear path conditions. The COMS may be removed from its installation and setup under clear path conditions or, if the process is not operating and the monitor path is free of particulate matter, the zero alignment may be conducted at the installed site. Determining if the monitor path is free of particulate matter can be accomplished by, but is not limited to, the following procedure: (1) Observe the instantaneous or one minute average opacity for at least two hours prior to the clear path adjustment; (2) open the reflector or detector housing and observe the projected light beam and look for the presence of forward scattered light (halo-effect); (3) if the beam observation reveals no perceptible particulate and the 2- hour readings do not vary more than +/- 3 percent opacity, adjust the clear path zero based on the lowest opacity reading recorded during the 2-hour period. There must be no adjustments to the monitor other than the establishment of the proper monitor path length and correct optical alignment of the COMS components. You must record the COMS response to a clear condition and to the COMS's simulated zero condition as percent opacity corrected to stack exit conditions. For a COMS with automatic zero compensation, you must disconnect or disable the zero compensation mechanism or record the amount of correction applied to the COMS's simulated zero condition. The response difference in percent opacity to the clear path and simulated zero conditions must be recorded as the zero alignment error. You must adjust the COMS's simulated zero device to provide the same response as the clear path condition. You must perform the zero alignment audits with the COMS off the stack at least every three (3) years.
(2) As an alternative, monitors capable of allowing the installation of an external zero device (commonly referred to as a zero-jig) may use the device for the zero alignment, provided: (1) the zero-jig setting has been established for the monitor path length and recorded for the specific COMS by comparison of the COMS responses to the installed zero-jig and to the clear path condition; and (2) the zero-jig is demonstrated to be capable of producing a consistent zero response when it is repeatedly (i.e., three consecutive installations and removals prior to conducting the final zero alignment check) installed on the COMS. The zero-jig setting must be permanently set at the time of initial zeroing to the clear path zero value and protected when not in use to ensure that the setting equivalent to zero opacity does not change. The zero-jig setting must be checked and recorded prior to initiating the zero alignment. If the zero-jig setting has changed, you must remove the COMS from the stack in order to reset the zero-jig. If you employ a zero-jig, you must perform the zero alignment audits with the COMS off the stack every three (3) years. If the zero-jig is adjusted within the three-year period, you must perform the zero alignment with the COMS off the stack three years from the date of adjustment.
10.4 What are my limits for excessive audit inaccuracy? Unless specified otherwise in the applicable subpart, the criteria for excessive inaccuracy are listed in paragraphs (1) through (4).
(1) What is the criterion for excessive zero or upscale drift? Your COMS is out-of-control if either the zero drift check or upscale drift check exceeds twice the applicable drift specification in appendix B for any one day.
(2) What is the criterion for excessive zero alignment? Your COMS is out-of-control if the zero alignment exceeds 2 percent opacity.
(3) What is the criterion to pass the quarterly performance audit? Your COMS is out-of-control if the results of a quarterly performance audit indicate noncompliance with the following criteria:
(i) The optical alignment misalignment error exceeds 3 percent opacity,
(ii) The zero compensation exceeds 4 percent opacity, or
(iii)The calibration error exceeds 3 percent opacity.
(4) What is the criterion for data capture? The data capture will be considered insufficient if your COMS fails to obtain valid opacity data for at least 95 percent of your operating hours per calendar quarter, considering COMS downtime for all causes (e.g., monitor malfunctions, data system failures, preventative maintenance, unknown causes, etc.) except for downtime associated with routine zero and upscale checks and QA/QC activities required by this procedure. Whenever less than 95 percent of the valid data averages are obtained, you must either:
(i) Perform additional QA/QC activities as deemed necessary to assure acceptable data capture, or
(ii) Determine if the COMS is functioning properly. If your COMS is malfunctioning, you may use a substitute COMS until repairs are made, provided the substitute meets the requirements specified in Section 10.6.
10.5 What corrective action must I take if my COMS is malfunctioning? You must have a corrective action program in place to address the repair and/or maintenance of your COMS. There are four classes of maintenance and repair procedures to be considered; the classes are described in paragraphs (1) through (4). They may be performed either at the manufacturer's facility, a service provider's facility, the user's instrument laboratory, or at the stack/duct at the discretion of the owner/operator and within the recommendations of the manufacturer. They must be performed by persons either skilled and/or trained in the operation and maintenance of the analyzer. After the repair/maintenance of your COMS, you must ensure the COMS is still in compliance with PS-1. Table 17-1 outlines the tests required to maintain PS-1 certification.
(1) Routine/preventative maintenance. Includes the routine replacement of consumables, cleaning of optical surfaces, and adjustment of monitor operating parameters as needed to maintain normal operation. Replacement of consumables which have the possibility of adversely affecting the performance of an analyzer may cause the nature of the maintenance procedure to fall within one of the classifications described below.
(2) Measurement Non-Critical Repairs. Includes repair and/or replacement of standard non-critical components, the unique characteristics of which do not materially affect the performance of the monitor. These components include, but are not limited to, resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, semiconductors such as discrete components and integrated circuits, brackets and machined parts (not associated with internal optical components), cabling and connectors, electro mechanical components such as relays, solenoids, motors, switches, blowers, air filters, pressure/ flow indicators, tubing, indicator lights, fuses, software with the same version and/or revision level, glass windows (uncoated or anti- reflection coated, but with no curvature), lenses with mounts where such mounts are not adjustable as installed, circuit boards where such boards are interchangeable and without unique adjustments (except offset and gain adjustments) for the specific analyzer of the same model, with such repairs to include the maintenance procedures required to ensure that the analyzer is appropriately setup.
(3) Replace or repair the primary measurement light source.
(4) Measurement Critical Repairs. Includes repair and/or replacement of measurement sensitive components, the unique characteristics of which may materially affect the performance of the monitor. These components include, but are not limited to, optical detectors associated with the opacity measurement/reference beam(s), spectrally selective optical filters, beam splitters, internal zero and/or upscale reference reflective or transmissive materials, electro-optical light switches, retro reflectors, adjustable apertures used on external zero devices or reflectors, lenses which have an adjustable mount, circuit boards which are not completely interchangeable and/or require unique adjustments for the specific analyzer, with such repairs to include the maintenance procedures required to ensure that the analyzer is appropriately setup.
(5) Rebuilt or Refurbished analyzers. Includes analyzers for which a major sub-assembly(ies) has/have been replaced or multiple lesser sub-assemblies with different revision levels from the original have been replaced and/or modified. Also, to be defined as a major change in the analyzer measurement detection and processing hardware or software.
(6) For other repairs or replacements not specifically described above, you must consult the manufacturer for the appropriate classification of that procedure. Manufacturers must use the above guidelines in determining the appropriate classification and provide a written recommendation. The final determination as to which category a given repair falls within will be made by the Administrator.
10.6 What requirements must I meet if I use a substitute opacity monitor? In the event your certified opacity monitor has to be removed for extended service, you may install a temporary replacement monitor to obtain required opacity emissions data, provided that:
(1) The temporary monitor is a like-kind replacement, where like-kind is defined as made by the same manufacturer; carries the same model number; uses the same reflector
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configuration as the original (and may use the actual original reflector unit) for double pass monitors, or uses the same source or detector configuration as the original for single pass monitors (and may use the actual original source or detector unit--whichever one that did not fail); uses the same of later revision of software/ firmware; setup with the same selection of configuration parameters; provides the same input/output signals; and uses the same peripheral equipment. Same in this context means the same as the original certified monitor which is being temporarily replaced,
(2) The temporary monitor has been certified according to ASTM D 6216-98 for which a manufacturer's certificate of conformance (MCOC) has been provided,
(3) The temporary monitor has not been used for more than 720 hours (30 days) of operation per year as a replacement for a fully certified opacity monitor on one location. After that time, the analyzer must complete a full certification according to PS-1 prior to further use as a temporary replacement monitor. Once a temporary replacement monitor has been installed and required testing and adjustments have been successfully completed, it can not be replaced by another temporary replacement monitor to avoid the full PS-1 certification testing required after 720 hours (30 days) of use,
(4) The temporary monitor has been installed and successfully completed an optical alignment assessment and status indicator assessment,
(5) The temporary monitor has successfully completed an off- stack clear path zero assessment and zero calibration value adjustment procedure,
(6) The temporary monitor has successfully completed an abbreviated zero and upscale drift check consisting of seven zero and upscale calibration value drift checks which may be conducted within a 24-hour period with not more than one calibration drift check every three hours, and not less than one calibration drift check every 25 hours. Calculated zero and upscale drift requirements are the same as specified for the normal PS-1 certification,
(7) The temporary monitor has successfully completed a three point calibration error test,
(8) The upscale reference calibration check value of the new monitor has been updated in the associated data recording equipment,
(9) The overall calibration of the monitor and data recording equipment has been verified, and
(10) The user has documented all of the above in the maintenance log, or in other appropriate permanent maintained records.
10.7 When do the out-of-control periods begin and end? The out- of-control periods are as specified in Section 3.1.
10.8 What are the limitations on use of my COMS data collected during out-of-control periods? During the period your COMS is out- of-control, you may not use your COMS data to calculate emission compliance or to meet minimum data availability requirements in this procedure or the applicable regulation.
10.9 What are the QA/QC reporting requirements for my COMS? You must report the accuracy results from Section 10 for your COMS at the interval specified in this procedure or the applicable regulation. Report the drift and accuracy information as a Data Assessment Report (DAR), and include one copy of this DAR for each quarterly audit with the report of emissions required under the applicable regulation. An example DAR is provided in Procedure 1, appendix F of this part.
10.10 What minimum information must I include in my DAR? As a minimum, you must include the information listed in paragraphs (1) through (5) in the DAR.
(1) Your name and address,
(2) Identification and location of your COMS(s),
(3) Manufacturer, model and serial number of your COMS(s),
(4) Assessment of COMS data accuracy/acceptability, and date of assessment, as determined by a performance audit described in section 10. If the accuracy audit results show your COMS to be out- of-control, you must report both the audit results showing your COMS to be out-of-control and the results of the audit following corrective action showing your COMS to be operating within specifications, and
(5) Summary of all corrective actions you took when you determined your COMS to be out-of-control.
10.11 Where and how long must I retain the QA data that this procedure requires me to record for my COMS? You must keep the records required by this procedure for your COMS onsite and available for inspection by us, the State and/or local enforcement agency for a period of 5 years.
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What Analytical Procedures Apply to This Procedure?
[Reserved]
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What Calculations and Data Analysis Must I Perform for My COMS? The calcalations required for the performance audit are contained in Section 12 of PS-1.
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Method Performance. [Reserved]
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Pollution Prevention. [Reserved]
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Waste Management. [Reserved]
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Which References Are Relevant to This Procedure?
16.1 Performance Specification 1--Specifications and Test Procedures for Continuous Opacity Monitor Systems in Stationary Sources, 40 CFR part 60, appendix B, August 10, 2000.
16.2 ASTM D 6216-98: Standard Practice for Opacity Monitor Manufacturers to Certify Conformance with Design and Performance Specifications. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), April 1998.
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What Tables, Diagrams, Flowcharts, and Validation Data Are Relevant to This Procedure?
17.1 Table 17.1--Diagnostic Tests Required to Maintain PS-1 Certification Status for COMS.
Clear path
7-day Optical
(off-
Fault Averaging zero and
New MCOC Optical alignment Zero stack) Upscale Calibration status peirod upscale Recertify per ASTM Description of event
alignment indicator calibration zero calibration error check indicator calculation drift per PS-1 D 6216-
Comments assessment check assessment check
check
and
check
98 (Note 1)
(Note 3)
recording (Note 2)
(1) Replace or repair components
X ..........
X ..........
X ...........
X ........... ........ ......... ........ Includes replacement of described as routine and/or
blowers, cleaning preventative maintenance.
optical surfaces, resetting adjustable parameters to maintain normal performance, etc. (2) Replace or repair primary
X
X
X
X
X ...........
X ........... ........ ......... ........ Light source uniformity measurement light.
and position are key source to many performance parameters (3) Replace or repair components
X ..........
X ..........
X
X
X ........... ........ ......... ........ See text description, which are Measurement Non-Critical.
sec. 10.5(2) (4) Replace or repair components
X
X
X
X
X
X
X ...........
X ......... ........ See text description, which are Measurement Critical.
sec. 10.5(3)
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(5) Replace or repair components ......... ..........
X ..........
X
X
X
X ........ ......... ........ Includes change of which are Measurement Critical, but
components involving not involving optical or electro-
data acquisition and optical components.
recording (6) Rebuild or Substantially
......... .......... ........... .......... ........... ........... ......... ........... ........
XX ........ See text description, Refurbish the analyzer.
sec. 10.5(4) (7) Change to, or addition of,
......... .......... ........... .......... ........... ........... ......... ........... ........
X
X Significant changes analyzer components which may affect
which are not part of MCOC-specified performance
the MCOC-designated parameters.
configuration
Notes: (1) Optical alignment indicator assessment requires the operator to verify during an off the stack clear path zero assessment that the beam is centered on the reflector/retro reflector when the alignment indicator indicates on-axis centered alignment. If not, the analyzer optical train must be adjusted until this condition is met.
(2) 7-day zero and upscale drift assessment. Opacity measurement data recorded prior to completion of the 7-day drift test will be considered as valid provided that the first 7-day drift test is successful, that it is completed within 14 days of completion of the repair, and that other QA requirements are met during this time period.
(3) Requires verification of the external zero jig response, or re-calibration of the same, after the off-stack clear path zero has been re-established.
[FR Doc. 03-11472 Filed 5-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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