Rule Summary

EPA promulgated changes in 2017 to analytical test procedures that are used by industries and municipalities to analyze the chemical, physical, and biological components of wastewater and other environmental samples that are required by regulations under the Clean Water Act.

The changes include revised methods published by EPA and voluntary consensus standard bodiesvoluntary consensus standard bodiesDomestic or international organizations that plan, develop, establish, or coordinate voluntary consensus standards using agreed-upon procedures. These bodies are defined by openness, balance of interest, due process, the existence of an appeals process, and a consensus process., such as ASTM International and the Standard Methods Committee. EPA added certain methods reviewed under the alternate test procedures (ATP) program to 40 CFR Part 136 and clarified the procedures for Agency approval of nationwide and limited use ATPs. Further, EPA revised the procedure for determination of the method detection limit (MDL).

• provide increased flexibility to the regulated community
• improve data quality
• update the methods, to keep current with technology advances
• address laboratory contamination issues related to the MDL and better account for intra-laboratory variability.
  • Method Detection Limit - Frequent Questions
  • Definition and Procedure for the Determination of the Method Detection Limit, Revision 2
  • Methods 608.3, 624.1 and 625.1 - Frequent Questions
  • New method documents: 608.3, 624.1, 625.1
  • Validation of SPE Products and Associated Procedures with Method 625.1

Final Rule

• Final rule - Federal Register notice (August 28, 2017)
• Fact sheet

Documents related to this rulemaking can be found on EPA’s docket at regulations.gov. The Docket Number is EPA-HQ-OW-2014–0797.

Background Information

• Proposed Rule - Federal Register notice (February 19, 2015)
• Previous Methods Update Rules
• How to Get Methods Approved

Additional Information

For further information on the final rule, please contact Adrian Hanley (hanley.adrian@epa.gov) or 202-564-1564.