United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Federal Register Action: Expedited Approval of
Alternative Test Procedures for the Analysis of
Contaminants Under the Safe Drinking Water Act;
Analysis and Sampling Procedures
EPA is approving 12 alternative test procedures for contaminants listed in the
drinking water regulations. These procedures have been determined by EPA to
be as effective as the methods already established in the regulations for the
same contaminants. EPA has used its streamlined approval authority to make
these 12 alternative methods available for determining contaminant
concentrations in samples collected under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Background
When EPA establishes a monitoring requirement for a drinking water
contaminant, it also specifies at least one "reference" analytical method that can
be used to determine the contaminant's concentration in drinking water. Public
water systems must use a testing method approved by EPA when performing
analyses of samples required by regulation.
Reference methods that are incorporated into the regulation are approved
through a rulemaking process. In general, this means that EPA publishes a
proposed rule, citing the method along with a discussion of how the method can
be used to analyze compliance samples. The method is proposed for approval in
conjunction with monitoring requirements for one or more specific contaminants.
Public comment is solicited. EPA then decides whether to approve the method.
If the method is deemed suitable, it is approved via a final rule. Under that
process, the method is not approved for analysis of samples until it is referenced
in a final rule.
After establishing monitoring requirements in the final rule, EPA continues to
evaluate additional analytical methods as they become available. When new or
revised testing methods for drinking water contaminants are determined to be as
effective as methods already established in the regulations, then EPA can use its
streamlined approval authority to make the new methods available for
determining contaminant concentrations in samples collected under the Safe
Drinking Water Act. Methods approved under the expedited approval process
are referenced in Appendix A to Subpart C of Part 141 of the Code of Federal
Regulations. The listing is also available at:
http://epa.qov/safewater/methods/analyticalmethods expedited.html.
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Summary of Action
EPA has evaluated 12 testing methods for contaminants listed in the regulations
and determined them to be as effective as methods already established in the
regulations for those contaminants. EPA has used its streamlined approval
authority to make the 12 optional, alternative methods listed in the following table
available for determining contaminant concentrations in samples collected under
SDWA.
Method
US EPA Method 557
Standard Method 6640 B (Standard Methods,
2 1st Edition)
Standard Method 6640 B-01 (Standard
Methods On-Line)
ASTM Method D3454-05
ASTM Method D2460-07
ASTM Method D5 174-07
ASTM Method D3 649-06
ASTM Method D4785-08
ASTM Method D4 107-08
Readycult® (EMD Chemicals)
Chromocult® (EMD Chemicals)
Modified Colitag™ (CPI International)
Contaminant
Dalapon
Dalapon
Dalapon
Radium-226
Radium-226
Uranium
Radioactive Cesium
Radioactive Iodine
Gamma emitters
Radioactive Iodine
Gamma emitters
Tritium
E. coli (Ground Water Rule)
E. coli (Ground Water Rule)
E. coli (Ground Water Rule)
Additional Information and Copies
You can view or download the complete text of the Federal Register final action
from the Internet at:
http://epa.gov/safewater/methods/analyticalmethods expedited.html. A listing of
the methods approved using the expedited approval process can also be
downloaded from the same Web site.
You can learn more about the Expedited Method Approval Process for drinking
water and the alternative testing methods approved under the program by
contacting the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or Glynda Smith,
Technical Support Center (MC-140), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, 26 West Martin
Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; (e-mail: smith.glynda@epa.gov).
Office of Water (4606 M) EPA 815-F-10-003 June 2010 www.epa.gov/safewater
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