Section 250.4. Limits related to PQLs

(a) The PQLs shall be selected from the PQLs specified by the EPA as EQLs in the most current version of the EPA RCRA Manual SW-846 (U. S. EPA, 1990. Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods. Third Edition. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response) for soil listed as ‘‘low level soil’’ and for groundwater listed as ‘‘groundwater’’ in accordance with the following:

(1) For inorganic compounds, the PQLs under this chapter shall be the values listed for methods associated with analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) with the following exceptions:

(i) For lead, cadmium, arsenic and selenium, values listed for the atomic absorption graphite furnace methods for water shall be used.

(ii) Mercury shall be the value listed for the cold vapor method.

(2) For organic compounds, the PQLs shall be the EQLs listed for the GC/Mass spec methods—for example, Method 8240 for volatile organic compounds.

(b) If the PQL selected under subsection (a) is higher than the MCL or HAL for an organic regulated substance in groundwater, the PQLs shall be derived from the analytical methodologies published under the drinking water program in the most current version of Methods for the Determination of Organic Compounds in Drinking Water (U. S. EPA, 1988, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, EPA/600/4-88/039). If a PQL determined under this subsection is not below a HAL, the methodologies in subsection (c)(1) or (2) shall be used unless those quantitation limits are higher than the PQL determined under this subsection.

(c) For regulated substances when EQLs set by the EPA have a health risk that is greater (less protective) than the risk levels set in sections 303(c) and 304(b) and (c) of the act (35 P. S. § § 6026.303(c) and 6026.304(b) and (c)) or for substances when no EQL has been established by the EPA, the limits related to the PQL shall be the quantitation limits established by the methodologies in paragraph (1) or (2).

(1) A level set by multiplying 3.18 by the published method detection limit (MDL) of the most recently approved EPA methodology.

(2) A level representing the lowest calibration point that can consistently be determined to have a percent relative standard deviation (%RSD) of less than 30% or correlation coefficient of greater than 0.995 using reagent water.

(d) For regulated substances which have no limits related to PQLs identified in subsection (c)(1) or (2), a person shall demonstrate attainment under the site-specific standard or the background standard.

(e) When a minimum threshold MSC is used as a Statewide health standard, the minimum threshold MSC is the Statewide health standard regardless of whether it is higher or lower than a quantitation limit established by this section.

(f) Nothing in this section restricts the selection of valid and generally accepted methods to be used to analyze samples of environmental media.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 250.701 (relating to scope).