[Federal Register: June 20, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 119)]
[Notices]
[Page 41992-41993]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jn02-74]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7234-9]
National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference
Meeting
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of national meeting and field activities.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection are co-hosting the Eighth Annual Meeting of
the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC),
a state-federal partnership with private sector participation. NELAC is
expanding its scope to include accreditation standards for
organizations performing sampling or conducting field analyses, which
would be used to demonstrate compliance with EPA regulations. EPA
strongly encourages participation from both public and private sector
individuals, and organizations with expertise in environmental sampling
and laboratory testing, to strengthen the development of NELAC
standards. Draft standards are available on the National Environmental
Laboratory Accreditation Conference website at www.epa.gov/ttn/nelac.
DATES: The conference will be held July 7-12, 2002. Training classes
will be held on July 7th, 8th and the morning of July 9th. The opening
session will convene at 12:30 pm on July 9th. All other meetings will
convene between 8-9 a.m. and adjourn at 5 p.m., except Friday, July
12th, when the meeting will adjourn at 1:30 pm.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Wyndam Harbour Island Hotel,
725 S. Harbour Island Boulevard, Tampa, Florida.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Conference arrangements are being
[[Page 41993]]
coordinated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in
conjunction with the University of Florida. For information on
registration, hotel rates, transportation, and reservations, go to the
University of Florida web site at http://www.treeo.ufl.edu/nelac/ or
call Janet Touchton at the University of Florida at 352-392-9570 to
receive a brochure.
Proposed Field Sampling Standards: NELAC proposes to establish
consensus uniform standards for environmental sampling and other field
activities. The EPA invites comments on the scope and content of
sampling standards from organizations which conduct sampling as well as
other interested parties. A draft proposed General Sampling Standard
may be viewed at the NELAC website at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/nelac/
propstan.html under NELAC Files and Documents, Proposed Standards,
``NELAC 8 Proposed Changes to Chapter 7: Field Activities'', 5/21/02.
The agency also invites recommendations for methods to implement a
general sampling standard, as well as related field standards. Since
the creation of NELAC, there has been a commitment to also establish
standards for sampling and field measurement, since these activities
are critical to the environmental measurement process. NELAC is
committed to maintaining consistency with international standards
related to laboratory accreditation. ISO 17025, promulgated by the
International Organization for Standardization, contains standards for
sampling as well as testing. In order to maintain consistency with the
ISO standards, NELAC intends to adopt a general sampling standard. The
proposed standard, mentioned above, is considered to be consistent with
ISO 17025. The proposal to adopt field standards is a significant
expansion of scope which potentially can involve a much larger
collection of organizations. With this notice the Agency invites
comments on (1) the proposal to establish such standards (2) the
potential costs, and (3) the value of uniform field standards, for
organizations doing sampling, their clients, data users, and other
parties. The Proposed Standards will be discussed and voted on for
adoption at the NELAC 8th Annual Meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1992 an EPA chartered federal advisory
committee recommended that a national environmental laboratory
accreditation program be established. At the same time, the committee
recognized the need for accreditation standards for field sampling and
analysis. The committee recommended that the initial step be to
establish a national laboratory accreditation program before expanding
to sampling and other field activities.
EPA established the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
Conference (NELAC) as a result of the committee's deliberations. NELAC
has successfully developed and implemented standards for the laboratory
community. Currently 12 state programs have accredited over 900
laboratories in 45 states.
NELAC provides the opportunity for the entire sampling and
analytical community to voice their concerns, provide advice based on
their professional experience, and effect positive changes to the NELAC
standards. Among those who are encouraged to attend, in addition to the
laboratory community, are those who deal directly with field
activities, e.g., state and federal regulatory officials, engineering
firms, regulated industry, samplers, and other affected parties.
John G. Lyon,
Director, Environmental Sciences Division, National Environmental
Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 02-15617 Filed 6-19-02; 8:45 am]
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