SW-846 Update VII Announcements
EPA released Update VII to the SW-846 compendium of methods.
On this Page:
Phase I - Modernizing Ignitable Liquids Determination
EPA finalized changes to the hazardous waste regulations that modernize how the hazardous waste characteristic of ignitability is determined under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. These amendments allow for the use of modern equipment and techniques for making ignitability determinations for waste. The final rulemaking also allows the use of non-mercury thermometers in a variety of EPA’s analytical methods that currently require mercury thermometers. These changes reduce potential mercury exposures to humans and the environment by reducing the overall use of mercury-containing products.
EPA sought input on the proposal in a 60-day public comment period that ended on June 3, 2019. EPA carefully considered all the comments before issuing the final rulemaking, which was signed on June 8, 2020.
- View the official copy of the proposed rule in the Federal Register; and
- For more information and to view the official copy of the final rule in the Federal Register, check out the Modernizing Ignitable Liquids Determinations Final Rule web page.
Phase II - PFAS Methods 8327 and 3512
Method 8327- Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Using External Standard Calibration and Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) covers the analysis of selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in prepared extracts of various matrices (e.g., waters and solids) by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. Twenty four PFAS compounds have been evaluated with this method. This method has been tested in reagent water, surface water, groundwater, and wastewater matrices.
Method 3512 - Per- and Polyfluoronated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in Non-potable Water by Solvent Dilution - is currently presented as Appendix B to Method 8327. It will eventually become a standalone method. Method 3512 is a preparation procedure for diluting non-potable water samples with an organic solvent prior to analysis by the appropriate determinative method for PFAS. This microscale approach minimizes sample size and solvent usage, thereby reducing the supply costs, health and safety risks, and waste generated.
The public comment period for this method will be open until August 23, 2019. This includes a 30 day extension to the comment period, which originally ended on July 22, 2019. Comments can be submitted through the EPA Docket for this method, ID# EPA-HQ-OLEM-2018-0846. Once the public comment period closes, EPA will review and respond to each comment received.