Fact Sheet (EPA-821-F-02-011)
Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants
Under the Clean Water Act; National Primary Drinking Water Regulations;
and National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations; Methods Update;
Final Rule
Summary
EPA is approving updated versions of analytical methods developed
by the American Society for Testing Materials, "Standard Methods,"
the United States Geological Survey, and the Department of Energy
for use in Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act compliance
monitoring programs. EPA proposed these methods on January 16, 2001.
The final rule responds to comments on the proposal and approves
updated versions of certain previously approved methods.
Background
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves analytical
methods used by industrial and municipal facilities to determine
chemical, microbiological, and radiological components of wastewater.
EPA also approves methods for determination of drinking water contaminants
for determining compliance with drinking water regulations.
On January, 16, 2001, EPA published a direct final rule (66 FR 3466)
and a companion proposed rule (66 FR 3526) to approve updated versions
of methods. If no adverse comments were received, the direct final
rule would have been effective on May 16, 2001. EPA received one
set of adverse comments from a State agency. The State agency was
concerned that the rule would impose a record-keeping burden. EPA
withdrew the direct final rule on May 15, 2001 (66 FR 26795).
Today's Action
Today's final rule responds to adverse comments on the January
2001 proposed rule, approves updated versions of previously approved
methods, and corrects typographical errors in the Code of Federal
Regulations. No previously approved method is withdrawn.
EPA believes that approving multiple editions of the same method
will benefit the regulatory and regulated community by increasing
method selection flexibility, and by allowing the continued use
of time-tested procedures.
Additional Information and Copies
For further information concerning this final rule, please contact
Khouane Ditthavong at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Water, Engineering and Analysis Division (4303T), 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, Ariel Rios Building, Washington, D.C. 20460;
(e-mail: ditthavong.khouane@epa.gov) or Herbert J. Brass at the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of
Ground Water and Drinking Water, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 ; (e-mail:Brass.Herb@epa.gov).
The complete text of the Federal Register notice may be viewed
or downloaded on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods.
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