{"abstract":"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing minor amendments to its Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations to codify that under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, permit applicants must use \"sufficiently sensitive\" analytical test methods when completing an NPDES permit application and the Director must prescribe that only \"sufficiently sensitive\" methods be used for analyses of pollutants or pollutant parameters under an NPDES permit. The final rule is based on requirements in the CWA and clarifies existing EPA regulations. It also codifies existing EPA guidance on the use of \"sufficiently sensitive\" analytical methods with respect to measurement of mercury and extends the approach outlined in that guidance to the NPDES program more generally. Specifically, EPA is modifying existing NPDES application, compliance monitoring, and analytical methods regulations. The amendments in this rulemaking affect only chemical-specific methods; they do not apply to the Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) methods or their use.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY","name":"Environmental Protection Agency","id":145,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/environmental-protection-agency","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/145","parent_id":null,"slug":"environmental-protection-agency"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2014/08/19/2014-19265.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":122,"title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":136,"title":40}],"citation":"79 FR 49001","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"These final regulations are effective September 18, 2014. For judicial review purposes, this final rule is promulgated as of 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on September 2, 2014, as provided in 40 CFR 23.2.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["EPA-HQ-OW-2009-1019","FRL-9915-18-OW"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2014-19265","effective_on":"2014-09-18","end_page":49013,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2014/08/19/2014-19265.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/08/19/2014-19265/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-use-of-sufficiently-sensitive-test-methods-for","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2014-19265?publication_date=2014-08-19","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2014-08-19/2014-19265/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":13,"page_views":{"count":12082,"last_updated":"2026-10-25 00:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2014-08-19/pdf/2014-19265.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2014-19265.pdf?1408366092","publication_date":"2014-08-19","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2014/08/19/2014-19265.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2040-AC84":{"issue":"201404","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2040-AC84/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-use-of-sufficiently-sensitive-test-methods-for","title":"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Use of Sufficiently Sensitive Test Methods for Permit Applications and Reporting","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201404&RIN=2040-AC84&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2040-AC84"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Analytical Method Guidance for the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Point Source Category, August 1999 [EPA 821-B-99-003]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2009-1019-0036"},{"title":"Response to Comments","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2009-1019-0035"},{"title":"Solutions to Analytical Chemistry Problems with Clean Water Act Methods [EPA 821-R-07-002]","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2009-1019-0034"},{"title":"National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) - Approved EPA Methods by Priority Pollutant Category and Relative Cost Per Method - Summary","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2009-1019-0003"},{"title":"Analytical Methods for Mercury in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits - Memorandum from James A. Hanlon August 23, 2007","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2009-1019-0002"}],"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=EPA-HQ-OW-2009-1019","supporting_documents_count":5,"docket_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2009-1019","regulation_id_number":null,"title":"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Use of Sufficiently Sensitive Methods for Permit Applications and Reporting ","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2014-09-08T06:00:15Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":49001,"subtype":null,"title":"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Use of Sufficiently Sensitive Test Methods for Permit Applications and Reporting","toc_doc":"Use of Sufficiently Sensitive Test Methods for Permit Applications and Reporting","toc_subject":"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System:","topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Confidential business information","Environmental protection","Hazardous substances","Incorporation by reference","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Water pollution control"],"type":"Rule","volume":79}