[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41992-41993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15617]


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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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