(1) The requirements of this rule apply to any ambient air monitoring performed by the department or any other entity as required by this chapter, including any ambient air monitoring performed as a result of any condition of any permit issued under subchapters 7 or 8 regardless of the date of issuance, or any other ambient air monitoring by any entity in order to determine compliance with subchapters 2 or 8.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, or unless written approval is obtained from the department for an exemption from a specific part of the Montana Quality Assurance Project Plan, all sampling and data collection, recording, analysis, and transmittal including, but not limited to, site selection, precision and accuracy determinations, data validation procedures and criteria, preventive maintenance, equipment repairs, and equipment selection must be performed as specified in the Montana Quality Assurance Project Plan, incorporated by reference in ARM 17.8.202, except when more stringent requirements are determined by the department to be necessary pursuant to the Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems, or 40 CFR Part 50 including Appendices A through E, Part 53, and Part 58 also incorporated by reference in ARM 17.8.202, at which time the latter two documents shall be adhered to for the specific exception.

(3) Failure to comply with this rule is grounds to partially or totally invalidate the appropriate ambient air monitoring data which subsequently could result in:

(a) a violation of the conditions of a permit issued under subchapters 7 or 8; or

(b) a determination by the department that a permit application submitted under subchapters 7 or 8 is incomplete; or

(c) a determination that insufficient ambient air quality data is available to determine compliance with any ambient air quality standard contained in subchapter 2 or a prevention of significant deterioration increment contained in ARM 17.8.804.