Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 1 - 15 of 19 results

• 8. What steps do I take after the proficiency testing?

  After laboratories report their data to the Proficiency Test (PT) Providers, the PT Provider issues a report to the laboratory and the state DMR-QA coordinator, indicating the results were "Acceptable" or "Not Acceptable". The laboratory must then forward a copy of the graded report to the permittee. The permittee subsequently…

  • Last published: January 14, 2026

• 7. Can I use a Water Pollution (WP) Study to satisfy DMR-QA requirements?

  Yes, permittees may use a WP study to satisfy some of or all the DMR-QA requirements. However, EPA will only accept graded results from WP studies that close between the stated dates given in the Permittee Instructions in the DMR-QA study package .

  • Last published: January 14, 2026

• 1. Am I required to participate in this Discharge Monitoring Report – Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) Study?

  NPDES Major and select Minor permit holders are required to participate in DMR-QA studies. Be sure to verify the NPDES permit number as indicated in your DMR-QA announcement that was e-mailed by DMRQA@epa.gov , or if a printed copy was mailed to you via U.S. mail, as printed on the…

  • Last published: January 14, 2026

• 2. Who is considered a pesticide or device producer that must register their establishment and how do I know if any of the products I produce are regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)?

  A pesticide producer is any person who produces a pesticide, active ingredient or device regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. EPA has created several resources to assist people in determining if their products are regulated under FIFRA and whether the product would be considered a pesticide or…

  • Last published: January 14, 2026

• Many refiners currently make a jet fuel meeting <500 ppm requirements. If refiners make a jet fuel meeting 15 ppm requirements, there may be compatibility (safety or performance) issues for jet engine manufacturers. Have these manufacturers been consulted in this rulemaking process? If so, what is their position on use of 15 ppm jet fuel?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The highway and nonroad diesel programs do not require that refiners produce 15 ppm sulfur jet fuel and do not set sulfur limits for jet fuel that is not designated as motor vehicle diesel fuel. This would be…

  • Last published: May 21, 2025

• Will refiners produce No. 1 diesel fuel at 15 ppm sulfur? What other cold weather-gelling strategies are available to the end-user?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Yes, some refiners will produce No. 1 diesel fuel. There are also various other cold-flow improver additives currently on the market as well. Question and Answer was originally posted at Questions and Answers on the Clean Diesel Fuel…

  • Last published: May 28, 2025

• A tank truck common carrier picks up a load of ULSD at a Shell terminal and delivers it to a Flying J truck stop. The carrier only provides a transportation service, does that carrier have any registration or reporting duties?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . No, the carrier does not have registration or reporting duties as long as taxes were assessed (in the case of highway fuel) or dye was added (in the case of NRLM) at the terminal. There are recordkeeping and…

  • Last published: July 23, 2025

• 2. What is the purpose of this DMR-QA Study?

  The purpose of the Discharge Monitoring Report - Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) Study is to ensure the integrity of data submitted by the permittee for DMR reporting requirements and evaluate performance of the laboratories to analyze wastewater samples.

  • Last published: January 14, 2026

• 3. Where can laboratories get test samples?

  Laboratories (in-house and contract) may order the required DMR-QA Study samples from a Proficiency Test (PT) Provider accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) or the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). A list of chemistry, microbiology and Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) accredited PT Providers is included in the…

  • Last published: January 14, 2026

• 6. How should laboratory personnel perform DMR-QA tests?

  For all pollutant parameters, especially field test parameters (e.g., pH, residual chlorine), use the same personnel, equipment, test methods and procedures as required for NPDES compliance monitoring tests. Ensure that your test methods and procedures follow 40 CFR part 136 regulations.

  • Last published: January 14, 2026

• 4. What should permittees and laboratories do first?

  Permittees should first confirm receipt of the DMR-QA study package by the stated Address Verification deadline in the DMR-QA announcement sent by EPA. See the Address Verification form instructions in the DMR-QA package and submit the acknowledgement of receipt to the state DMR-QA coordinator via postal mail or e-mail. Permittees…

  • Last published: January 14, 2026

• 5. What laboratory tests are required under DMR-QA?

  Permittees are responsible for having their laboratory(ies) test wastewater analytes that are both in their NPDES permit and included in the DMR-QA Study. For required Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) tests, permittees must participate even if the test conditions (e.g., temperature, time of acute test, synthetic seawater matrix, etc.) in the…

  • Last published: January 14, 2026

• If a terminal imports off-spec kerosene (higher than 15 ppm), terminal operators are planning to blend the kerosene with diesel fuel so that the ultimate diesel fuel leaving the terminal gate and entering into commerce meets the 15 ppm standard. Would EPA please confirm that this process is permissible for an importer?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The regulations at § 80.525(d) state that kerosene that a kerosene blender adds, or intends to add, to motor vehicle diesel fuel subject to the 15 ppm sulfur standard must meet the 15 ppm sulfur standard. Section 80.521(b)…

  • Last published: May 20, 2025

• Section 80.600(a)(10) says, Any refiner or importer shall maintain copies of all product transfer documents required under §80.590. If all information required in paragraph (a)(6) of this section is on the product transfer document for a batch, then the provisions of this paragraph (a)(10) shall satisfy the requirements of paragraph (a)(6) of this section for that batch.” Does that mean that if a refiner or importer has a PTD containing the information no other record is required? That seems unneeded. Does that paragraph mean something else?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Section 80.600(a)(10) first requires that product transfer documents under § 80.590 be maintained by refiners and importers. It then states that if such product transfer documents contain all the information required under paragraph (a)(6) of § 80.600 for…

  • Last published: June 3, 2025

• 1. What is a pesticide-producing or device-producing establishment?

  A pesticide-producing or device-producing establishment includes: Any site where a pesticide , active ingredient used to produce a pesticide, or device is produced. In addition to the manufacturing and formulation of pesticides, production also includes any packaging, repackaging, labeling or relabeling of a pesticide or device. Sites that produce these…

  • Last published: January 14, 2026