EMC Test Methods
Test methods can be divided into several categories:
Interim Policy on Posting Methods
A fundamental component of the EMC web site is to provide information regarding relevant methods and procedures for emission testing and monitoring. We have modified our presentation of these methods into four different categories. The categories are based on the legal status of the methods with regard to their application under federally enforceable regulations.
Each category is explained below and each includes stipulations for use of the methods included therein. Further provisions regarding the use of a specific method are contained within the applicability statement of the method. Please note that the guidance provided by these categories and methods is meant to supplement, not override the stationary source emission measurement requirements of Title 40 of the Codes of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 51, 60, 61, and 63.
Category A: Methods Proposed or Promulgated in the FR
These methods have been proposed or promulgated in the Federal Register and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). They carry an xx, 1xx, 2xx, or 3 xx alphanumeric designation. The xx, 1xx, and 3xx numbered methods are directly cited by specific regulations for determining compliance under 40 CFR Parts 60, 61, and 63, and may be used by sources for application as cited by the regulations and the method itself without further EPA approval.
The 2xx series methods are promulgated to facilitate incorporation in applicable State Implementation Plans. The 2xx methods, like the xx, 1xx, and 3xx series methods, include quality control and quality assurance procedures that must be met.
EPA staff can provide technical support on all methods in this category.
Category B: Source Category Approved Alternative Methods
These methods are approved alternatives to the methods required by 40 CFR Parts 60, 61 and 63 as described by the General Provisions of the corresponding Parts and as further explained in a Federal Register notice dated January 30, 2007. As such, the methods may be used by sources for determining compliance with the requirements of these Parts per their specified applicability provisions without further EPA approval. The Administrator, or designee (currently Steffan Johnson, Group Leader of the Measurement Technology Group in the Air Quality Assessment Division of the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards), has approved these methods for the specified applications; this approval has been documented through an official EPA letter. These methods include quality control and quality assurance procedures that must be met. The EPA staff may not necessarily be the technical experts on these methods.
Category C: Other Methods
This category includes test methods which have not yet been subject to the Federal rulemaking process. Each of these methods, as well as the available technical documentation supporting them, have been reviewed by the Emission Measurement Center staff and have been found to be potentially useful to the emission measurement community. The types of technical information reviewed include field and laboratory validation studies; results of collaborative testing; articles from peer-reviewed journals; peer-review comments; and quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures in the method itself. A table summarizing the available technical information for each method can be found at the link below. The EPA strongly encourages the submission of additional supporting field and laboratory data as well as comments in regard to these methods.
These methods may be considered for use in Federally enforceable State and local programs (e.g., Title V permits, State Implementation Plans (SIP)) provided they are subject to an EPA Regional SIP approval process or permit veto opportunity and public notice with the opportunity for comment. The methods may also be considered to be candidates to be alternative methods to meet Federal requirements under 40 CFR Parts 60, 61, and 63. However, they must be approved as alternatives under 60.8, 61.13, or 63.7(f) before a source may use them for this purpose. Consideration of a method's applicability for a particular purpose should be based on the stated applicability as well as the supporting technical information outlined in the table. The methods are available for application without EPA oversight for other non-EPA program uses including state permitting programs and scientific and engineering applications.
As many of these methods are submitted by parties outside the Agency, the EPA staff may not necessarily be the technical experts on these methods. Therefore, technical support from EPA for these methods is limited, but the table contains contact information for the developers so that you may contact them directly. Also, be aware that these methods are subject to change based on the review of additional validation studies or on public comment as a part of adoption as a Federal test method, the Title V permitting process, or inclusion in a SIP.
Category D: Historic Conditional Methods
This category includes methods that were categorized as conditional test methods before our method categories were revised. Because some of these methods have been cited in state rules and permits under their Conditional Test Method (CTM) designation, we have created a category for them and called it "Historic Conditional Methods". This category is closed and no new methods will be added to it.
These CTMs have been evaluated by the Agency and may be applicable to one or more categories of stationary sources. The EPA confidence in a method included in this category is based upon review of various technical information including, but not limited to, field and laboratory validation studies; EPA understanding of the most significant quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) issues; and EPA confirmation that the method addresses these QA/QC issues sufficiently to identify when the method may not be acquiring representative data. The method's QA/QC procedures are required as a condition of applicability.
CTMs in Category D may be used by State and local programs in conjunction with Federally enforceable programs (e.g., Title V permits, State Implementation Plans (SIP)) provided they are subject to an EPA Regional SIP approval process or permit veto opportunity and public notice and opportunity for comment. They are available for application without EPA oversight for other non-EPA program uses including state permitting programs and scientific and engineering applications.
The methods in Category D, however, must be approved as alternatives before a source may use them to meet Federal requirements under 40 CFR Part 60, 61, and 63. The EPA encourages the submission of additional field and laboratory data to further support a method.
The EPA staff may not necessarily be the technical experts on these methods. These methods are potentially subject to change based on the review of additional validation studies or on public comment as a part of adoption as a Federal test method (Category A).