EPA updates approved methods list
EPA updates approved methods list
Environmental NEWS - Summer 2007
EPA updates approved methods list
On March 12, 2007, the USEPA published the Methods Update Rule (MUR) in the Federal Register. The new rule lists extensive revisions to the approved methods for water analysis, including methods used to meet testing needs for both the Clean Water Act and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Withdrawal of certain outdated methods and addition of methods published by voluntary consensus standard bodies (VCSB), vendor developed methods and updated versions of currently approved methods are among the changes. Because the rule becomes effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, Lancaster Laboratories is working to ensure that clients continue to receive data that is compliant with the Agency requirements.
Chemist Sue Hibner performs biochemical oxygen
demand on water samples by Method 5210B.
Among the 109 methods being withdrawn from the approved list are many methods currently requested by clients who need to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements. ”In most cases, these methods are being replaced by equivalent methods published in Standard Methods, or by updated EPA methods. These test methods aren’t new to us. The technique that we use for our testing will not change, but the method reference will be different,” says Erik Frederiksen, manager of the Water Quality Department that performs many of the affected tests. When the rule becomes effective, the method reference listed on Lancaster Laboratories’ analytical reports will be updated to reflect the approved reference. For a list of changes affecting methods performed at Lancaster Labs, please see opposite page.
Several testing techniques have been withdrawn without the addition of a similar reference as replacement. One example is Oil and Grease by EPA method 413.1, which uses Freon-113 as the extraction solvent. This technique is no longer approved, and Lancaster Labs recommends using EPA method 1664A for Hexane Extractable Material as a replacement method. Chemical oxygen demand by method 410.2 and sulfate by method 375.4 are also being withdrawn without an equivalent replacement, but Lancaster Laboratories offers other test methods to determine those parameters.
The states are taking a variety of approaches to address these changes and the impact on state certification scopes of testing. The lab will be required to have a copy of any client permit/document requiring the old methods to substantiate running/referencing methods now removed under the MUR.
In addition to changes to the approved methods lists, there are clarifications and corrections to tables previously published in the Federal Register. “The new rule includes some new and alternate technologies that we will be investigating as well,” says Frederiksen. A copy of the rule is available at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/update2003/. To determine if the new rule will affect their testing, clients should contact their regulators.