Stay of the Effectiveness of Requirements for Air Emission Testing Bodies

EPA is taking final action to stay the effectiveness of requirements for air emission testing bodies. On January 24, 2008, final amendments to regulations on competency requirements for air emission testing bodies (AETBs) were published in the Federal Register. The AETB provision generally requires stack testers and stack testing companies to meet certain minimum competency requirements described in ASTM D 7036 by January 1, 2009. On March 25, 2008, the Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG) filed a Petition for Review primarily claiming that EPA could not by the AETB requirement hold utilities responsible for something they cannot control. While EPA is considering revisions to the requirements to address UARG's concerns, it cannot propose and complete any such revision through notice and comment rulemaking before the compliance date contained in the existing rule, thus necessitating this action. EPA needs to complete this action staying effectiveness of the AETB requirements in order to secure an extension of an Order Granting Abeyance of Further Proceedings which expires on October 29, 2008, when the Agency must file Motions to Govern Further Proceedings.