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EPA Final Rule Updates Effluent Analysis Methods and Testing Procedures

water pollution wetlands
In the August 28, 2017 issue of the Federal Register, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule that modifies the testing procedures and analysis methods approved for analysis and sampling under the Clean Water Act. The EPA also approved certain analysis methods under the Alternate Test Procedures (ATPs) program and clarified the procedures required to attain EPA’s approval for nationwide and limited use of ATPs. The rule, which is effective September 27, 2017, will affect facilities with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that require monitoring of effluent for pollutants. Any facility with a NPDES permit that requires the facility to monitor its wastewater discharge for pollutants must follow the new and revised testing procedures and/or analysis methods specified within the rule. The new versions of currently approved Standard Methods of analysis clarify or improve the instructions in the method, improve quality control (QC) requirements, or make editorial corrections, and the EPA notes that most of the revisions to Standard Methods do not contain any substantive changes. The EPA states that the purpose of the rule is to provide increased flexibility to the regulated community, to improve data quality, and to update Clean Water Act methods to keep them current with technological advances. Source: Clean Water Act Methods Update Rule for the Analysis of Effluent, 42 Fed. Reg. 40,836 (EPA, Aug. 28, 2017).

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