[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 121 (Friday, June 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 31939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15888]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5524-1]


Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board; Meeting Date and Agenda

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB) will 
convene an open meeting on Sunday, July 21, 1996, from noon to 5:00 
p.m. The meeting immediately precedes the National Environmental 
Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC), and will be held in the 
same location: the Washington Hilton and Towers, 1919 Connecticut 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20009; Telephone 202/797-5820.
    One item on the agenda will be a report from the subcommittee 
charged with reviewing the issues surrounding Good Laboratory Practices 
(GLP), a program operated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 
The committee is identifying the unique characteristics of the GLP 
program and evaluating the relationship with NELAC.
    A second agenda item is a deliberation on the status of the NELAC 
General Members Committee. A report on the authorized functions and the 
legal limitations of the General Members Committee and the role of ELAB 
will precede the discussion.
    A third potential agenda item is the scope of accreditation, with 
specific attention given to non-commercial environmental laboratories. 
The regulated industries have expressed concern regarding requirements 
to inspect ``in-house'' laboratories which generate data to demonstrate 
compliance with EPA regulations.
    The fourth agenda item, which shall constitute the majority of the 
discussion, will be on proficiency testing (PT) samples, otherwise 
known as performance evaluation (PE) samples. Changes in EPA's current 
system of manufacturing and distributing PT samples are under 
consideration. Included in the options are operation by the private 
sector, another government body, the states, and/or non-profit 
organizations. The discussion will be directed towards national 
consistency and quality of the samples, overall costs, impact on the 
state accrediting authorities, and the time needed to implement any 
change. Advice and comments will be solicited from ELAB regarding the 
potential consequences to the proposed NELAC structure and operation.
    The public is welcome to attend. Time will be allotted for public 
comment. Written comments are encouraged and should be directed to Ms. 
Jeanne Mourrain, Designated Federal Official; USEPA, NERL (MD-75); 
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. If questions arise, please contact 
Ms. Mourrain at 919/541-1120, fax 919/541-4101, or E-mail 
``MOURRAIN.JEANNE@EPAMAIL. EPA.GOV''.

    Dated: June 14, 1996.
E. Ramona Trovato,
Director, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air.
[FR Doc. 96-15888 Filed 6-20-96; 8:45 am]
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