EPA posted a second Accredited Audit Sample Provider (AASP) on their website on April 16, 2013.  This posting started the 60-day clock after which facilities conducting stack tests using one of the applicable methods are required to have purchased Stationary Source Audit Samples to quality assure their stack test.  Facilities conducting compliance tests on and after June 16, 2013 will be required to comply and should plan accordingly.  For details on the methods that are affected, please visit the EPA website (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/email.html#audit).  This EPA page additionally includes links to The NELAC Institute (TNI) Stationary Audit Sample Program (http://www.nelac-institute.org/ssas); the only currently EPA approved Audit Sample Program.  This TNI page includes information on the Final Standards governing the TNI Program.  Module 3 should be of particular interest, as this module details the responsibilities of the participants in the program (Facility, Regulatory Agency, Stationary Source Tester, Laboratory and AASP.)  Additionally, there is an FAQ page link, and an Audit Sample Calculation Tool link to assist in the ordering of SSAS.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Technical Services.

Background:  A Stationary Source Audit Sample (SSAS) is a blind sample whose value is known only to the sample provider and is not revealed to the tested facility until after they report the measured value of the audit sample.  They are used as a quality assurance tool for compliance stack testing events.
 
In September 2010, EPA took final action to promulgate amendments to the General Provisions to allow Accredited Audit Sample Providers (AASPs) to supply Stationary Source Audit Samples (SSAS) and to require sources to obtain and use these samples from the accredited providers instead of from EPA (through NJDEP in NJ), as was the prior practice.  In addition to allowing private AASPs to provide audit samples for the stationary source audit program, this action shifted the burden of obtaining an audit sample from the compliance authority (ie: NJDEP) to the source.  In the past, the EPA provided the samples to the compliance authorities at no cost, but this action required the source to purchase the samples from an accredited provider.  The requirement to use an audit sample during a compliance test applies to all test methods for which a commercially available audit exists; effective 60-days after two providers are accredited for a particular method.