15A NCAC 02B .0103      ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES

(a)  Chemical/Physical Procedures. Tests or analytical procedures to determine conformity with standards shall, insofar as practicable and applicable, conform to the guidelines by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) codified as 40 CFR, Part 136, which are hereby incorporated by reference including subsequent amendments and editions. A copy of the most current version of 40 CFR Part 136 is available free of charge at https://www.govinfo.gov. Methods not codified by 40 CFR, Part 136 shall, insofar as practicable and applicable, conform to the American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and Water Environment Federation (WEF) publication "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" (20^th edition), which is incorporated by reference, including subsequent amendments and editions. The 20th edition is available for inspection at the Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources, 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-1170. A print copy of the most current edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" is available for purchase at a cost of three hundred and ninety-five dollars ($395.00) from the following places: APHA, 800 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20001; AWWA, 6666 W. Quincy Avenue, Denver, CO 80235; or WEF, 601 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

(b)  Biological Procedures. Biological tests to determine conformity with standards shall be based on methods published by the EPA as codified as 40 CFR, Part 136, which are incorporated by reference including subsequent amendments and editions. A copy of the most current version of 40 CFR Part 136 is available free of charge at https://www.govinfo.gov.

(c)  Wetland Evaluation Procedures. Evaluations of wetlands for the presence of existing uses shall be based on procedures approved by the Director. The Director shall approve wetland evaluation procedures that have been demonstrated to produce verifiable and repeatable results and that have widespread acceptance in the scientific community. Copies of approved methods or guidance may be obtained at no cost by submitting a written request to NCDWR, Wetlands Branch, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143‑214.1; 143‑215.3(a)(1);

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. February 1, 1993; October 1, 1989; January 1, 1985; September 9, 1979;

RRC Objection Eff. July 18, 1996 due to lack of statutory authority and ambiguity;

Amended Eff. October 1, 1996;

Readopted Eff. November 1, 2019;

Amended Eff. June 1, 2020.