workshops on Performance-Based Measurement Systems

[ttweed@wildrockies.org (Tony Tweedale)]

(P&P list, note the Seattle location)

As with all its reinvention initiatives, this one could go either way.
Either EPA is serious about improvong data quality or they just want to
give sources a break.  It's certainly true that many monitoring
requirements are incredebly detailed, outdated and intensive.  But the
bigger picture is that companies are in almost complete control of the
complaince data they generate, and they have fought (successfully) for many
decades to keep things like telemetry from the stack or pipe direct to the
agency; semi-permeable membrane devices (that miinc biota in uptake
ofpersistent pollutants) or even simple continous emissions monitoring; at
bay.  Could be an interesting workshop!
---

[Federal Register: April 28, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 81)]
[Notices]
[Page 22862-22863]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ap99-48]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6332-4]


Regional Workshops on Performance-Based Measurement System

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: With the assistance of EPA, the Global Institute of
Environmental Scientists (GIES) will be holding a series of one-day
workshops on implementing the Performance-Based Measurement System
(PBMS) approach to environmental compliance monitoring. The workshops
are designed to assist the public in learning about this new regulatory
initiative.

DATES: Workshops will be held in the following cities:
    <bullet> Philadelphia, PA, May 6, 1999.
    <bullet> Atlanta, GA, June 8, 1999.
    <bullet> Kansas City, MO, June 9, 1999.
    <bullet> Seattle, WA, June 15, 1999.
    <bullet> Las Vegas, NV, June 17, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Workshop arrangements are being made
by GIES. For information on registration and hotel rates call the GIES
coordinator, Sheila Way, at (202) 887-0457 (email: gies@acil.org). If
you have questions regarding the conference program, contact the GIES
Program Coordinators, Jerry Parr at (303) 670-7823 (email:
catalyst@eazy.net) or Anthony Pagliaro at (202) 887-5872
(tpagliaro@acil.org).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the United States, historical approaches
to environmental compliance monitoring have: not fully capitalized on
opportunities to reduce the cost for laboratory analysis and compliance
monitoring; may have served as barriers to the development and use of
innovative, faster, less costly measurement technologies and methods;
and sometimes may have resulted in data of less than desired quality or
defensibility. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
plans to address some of these problems by incorporating the
Performance Based Measurement System (PBMS) into its regulatory
programs. On October 6, 1997 (62 FR 52098), EPA announced its plans to
implement the PBMS approach to the

[[Page 22863]]

extent feasible in all of its media programs.
    PBMS is an approach where the regulated facility may use any
scientifically appropriate analytical technique to demonstrate
compliance with regulatory levels. The facility, however, must
demonstrate that their technique meets the performance requirements
that have been established for the application. Under PBMS, the
regulations focus on the quality of data needed for the particular
program or project (the system performance) rather than on what
measurement method should be used (the technology). Where performance
requirements can be met or exceeded by more than one method, PBMS
allows selection of the least costly, simplest or most practical
method, limited only by the programmatic data needs.
    The workshops will explain how PBMS will work and how it differs
from EPA's current regulatory approach. They will review what EPA is
doing to implement the change and the status of these efforts under the
various regulatory programs. With PBMS, EPA expects: improved data
quality, reduced cost of compliance and enforcement monitoring, and
stimulation of the development and use of new technology.
    The PBMS Regional Workshops have been designed to bring together
representatives of regulated industry, commercial environmental
laboratories, state and federal regulators, and environmental
consultants and contractors that they may better understand EPA's
plans.
    Participants will obtain information on:
    <bullet> The status of EPA's PBMS implementation efforts;
    <bullet> How PBMS can result in high quality, legally defensible
data;
    <bullet> Concepts of method validation, on-going quality control
and documentation processes under PBMS;
    <bullet> How to audit laboratories who have implemented PBMS;
    <bullet> How PBMS will affect State regulatory agencies, the
regulated community, and laboratories; and
    <bullet> The cost of doing business under PBMS.

    Dated: April 22, 1999.
Henry L. Longest II,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Management, Office of Research and
Development.
[FR Doc. 99-10629 Filed 4-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



------------------------------