Analytical Methods

Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants; Measurement of Mercury in Water; Notice of Data Availability and Request for Comment

Summary

EPA is announcing the availability of additional analytical data obtained by EPA following the close of the comment period for the May 26, 1998 proposal to add a test procedure for the determination of mercury, EPA Method 1631, to 40 CFR Part 136. EPA Method 1631 measures mercury reliably at the low levels associated with ambient water quality criteria (WQC). The Agency plans to consider these additional data in establishing the final regulation concerning the use of Method 1631.

Background

On May 26, 1998 (63 FR 28867), EPA proposed to add EPA Method 1631: Mercury in Water by Oxidation, Purge and Trap, and Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence to the Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants. Mercury is a toxic pollutant as defined in the Clean Water Act and in the Code of Federal Regulations. The test procedure is necessary to meet compliance monitoring requirements of the Clean Water Act for low level mercury measurements. The comment period on the proposal ended on July 29, 1998. After the close of the comment period, the Agency obtained additional analytical data pertaining to EPA Method 1631.

New Analytical Data Received By EPA

The additional data consist of results from laboratory studies and municipal and industrial effluent analyses conducted using EPA Method 1631. The Agency intends to consider these additional data in formulating the final rule for the use of EPA Method 1631. These additional data neither represent any modification to the proposed rule, nor indicate a change in the Agency's interpretation of existing requirements. This notice makes these new data available for public review and comment. Specifically, the Agency requests comment on the applicability of EPA Method 1631 to a variety of water matrices based on these new data.

Additional Information and Copies

The additional analytical data will be available for public review at the Water Docket, EPA Headquarters, Room EB57, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20460. For access to Docket materials, call (202) 260-3027 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time for an appointment. For further information concerning this notice or the proposed rule for Method 1631, please contact Dr. Maria Gomez-Taylor at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Engineering and Analysis Division, Mail Code 4303T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. She may be contacted by phone at 202/260-1639 or send an e-mail to the following address: [email protected]

The complete text of this notice of data availability and EPA Method 1631 may be viewed or downloaded on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/.

Wastewater Management | Drinking Water | Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

EPA Home | Privacy and Security Notice | Contact Us