United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
&EPA
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 10 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 10 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 Cocte of Federal Regulations. The listing is also
available at: http://water.epa.qov/scitech/drinkinqwater/labcert/analyticalmethods expedited.cfm
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Summary of Action
EPA has evaluated 10 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 10 optional,
alternative methods listed in the following table available for determining contaminant
concentrations in samples collected under SDWA.
Method
EPA Method 536
EPA Method 523
EPA Method 525. 3
EPA Method 1623.1
Standard Method 3 125 (Standard
Methods, 2 1st Edition)
Standard Method 3112 B-09
(Standard Methods Online)
ASTM Method D859-10
ASTM Method Dl 179-10 B
ASTM Method D5673-10
ASTM Method D6239-09
Contaminant(s)
Atrazine, simazine
Atrazine, simzine
Alachlor, atrazine, polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), benzo(a)pyrene, chlordane, di(2-
ethylhexyl) adipate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate,
endrin, lindane, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide,
hexachl orob enzene,
hexachl orocy cl opentadi ene, methoxy chl or,
pentachlorophenol, simazine, toxaphene
Cryptosporidium
Uranium
Mercury
Silica
Fluoride
Uranium
Uranium
Additional Information and Copies
You can view or download the complete text of the Federal Register final action from the Internet
at: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/drinkingwater/labcert/analyticalmethods expedited.cfm 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(S)epa.gov).
Office of Water (4606 M) EPA 815-R-12-003 June 2012 http://www.epa.gov/safewater
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