©ERA United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water EPA- 821-F-10-004 4303T July 2010 Proposed Methods Update Rule Summary EPA is proposing a methods update rule to approve several new or revised analytical methods (test procedures) in wastewater regulations. The full title of this proposed rule is "Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures." EPA is proposing to add new and revised methods published by EPA, voluntary consensus organizations (e.g., ASTM, International and the Standard Methods Committee) and commercial entities, for use in water quality monitoring programs. These changes and additional methods will provide increased flexibility to the regulated community and laboratories in their selection of analytical methods for use in Clean Water Act programs. Why is EPA Proposing these Changes? EPA approves analytical methods for measuring regulated pollutants in wastewater. The regulated community and laboratories use these approved methods for determining compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits or other monitoring requirements. Often, these entities have a choice in deciding which approved method they will use to measure a pollutant because more than one approved method is available. This rule proposes to add to this list of approved methods at 40 CFR 136. Some of these proposed methods introduce new technologies to the NPDES program, while others are updated versions of previously approved methods. For some methods now cited within effluent guideline regulations, EPA is proposing to consolidate these citations into the list of methods at 40 CFR 136. Methods Update Rule Proposes: New and Revised Wastewater Methods New Alternate Test Procedures Clarifications and Corrections to Previously Approved Methods Revisions to Preservation and Holding Times Revisions to Method Modification Provisions For More Information You can view the Federal Register Notice at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods. In addition, the proposed rule will be available at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0192. The public comment period for this proposed rule is 60 days. You may also contact Lemuel Walker at Walker.Lemuel@epa.gov or Meghan Hessenauer at hessenauer.meghan@epa.gov. ------- |