---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 C.F.R. § 260.21"
title: "40"
number: "260.21"
heading: "Petitions for equivalent testing or analytical methods."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/40/260.21"
---

# §260.21. Petitions for equivalent testing or analytical methods.

- (a) Any person seeking to add a testing or analytical method to part [261](/cfr/40/part261.md), [264](/cfr/40/part264.md), or 265 of this chapter may petition for a regulatory amendment under this section and [§ 260.20](/cfr/40/260.20.md). To be successful, the person must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Administrator that the proposed method is equal to or superior to the corresponding method prescribed in part [261](/cfr/40/part261.md), [264](/cfr/40/part264.md), or 265 of this chapter, in terms of its sensitivity, accuracy, and precision (i.e., reproducibility).
- (b) Each petition must include, in addition to the information required by [§ 260.20(b)](/cfr/40/260.20.md?p=b):
  - (1) A full description of the proposed method, including all procedural steps and equipment used in the method;
  - (2) A description of the types of wastes or waste matrices for which the proposed method may be used;
  - (3) Comparative results obtained from using the proposed method with those obtained from using the relevant or corresponding methods prescribed in part [261](/cfr/40/part261.md), [264](/cfr/40/part264.md), or 265 of this chapter;
  - (4) An assessment of any factors which may interfere with, or limit the use of, the proposed method; and
  - (5) A description of the quality control procedures necessary to ensure the sensitivity, accuracy and precision of the proposed method.
- (c) After receiving a petition for an equivalent method, the Administrator may request any additional information on the proposed method which he may reasonably require to evaluate the method.
- (d) If the Administrator amends the regulations to permit use of a new testing method, the method will be incorporated by reference in [§ 260.11](/cfr/40/260.11.md) and added to “Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods,” EPA Publication SW-846, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Washington, DC 20460.

## Notes

### Amendments

[45 FR 33073, May 19, 1980, as amended at 49 FR 47391, Dec. 4, 1984; 70 FR 34561, June 14, 2005; 74 FR 30230, June 25, 2009]

### Authority

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a), 6921-6927, 6930, 6934, 6935, 6937, 6938, 6939, 6939g, and 6974.

### Source

Source: 45 FR 33073, May 19, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[45 FR 33073, May 19, 1980, as amended at 49 FR 47391, Dec. 4, 1984; 70 FR 34561, June 14, 2005; 74 FR 30230, June 25, 2009]