EPA Publishes Final Rule on Air Emission Testing Competency

CLEVELAND, OH, April 21, 2011 (Press-News.org) EPA's final rule on Protocol Gas Verification Program and Minimum Competency Requirements for Air Emission Testing was published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2010. The final rule requires that all CEMS audits and certain other quality assurance testing be performed by an Air Emission Testing Body (AETB) that meets certain competency standards, including experience and knowledge of test methods for individuals conducting the tests.

EPA is amending the minimum competency requirements for air emission testing to improve the accuracy of emissions data. While EPA believes that meeting the requirements of ASTM D7036 and having a Qualified Individual on site during emission testing does not guarantee proper performance of any individual test, these actions will likely result in proper test execution and high quality data generation. EPA also believes that third party (e.g., State agency) oversight helps ensure that testing is properly conducted and strongly encourages such oversight to continue.

The rule requires having at least one Qualified Individual (QI) on site conducting or overseeing applicable tests. A QI must pass appropriate exam(s), described in ASTM D 7036-04, covering the test methods the QI will perform.

Voluntary compliance with any minimum competency standard has not worked for the past 30 years, which is how long EPA and other organizations have tried to develop an acceptable standard for stack testers. Some of the reasons why voluntary compliance has not worked include disagreement among stack testing companies on a minimum competency standard, and the sources' often used practice of hiring the lowest bidder. The lack of voluntary compliance with a minimum competency standard is also why various States have developed their own stack testing regulatory standards. A driving force for the development of the current standard was to prevent the patchwork of standards that was beginning to occur throughout the U.S.

At Air Compliance Testing, all of the key professional staff and most of our technical staff have earned Qualified Individual (QI) status in one or more of the four Source Evaluation Society (SES) Group Method Exams. Many have also earned Qualified Stack Testing Individual (QSTI) status.

If you would like information on air emission testing for compliance with EPA requirements,
contact Louise Barton at 800-372-2471 ext. 225 or louise@aircomp.com.