TNI Advocacy Program Update

1. TNI Advocacy Program Update AURORA SHIELDS

2. Judy Duncan Marlene Moore Kenneth Jackson Barbara Finazzo Kevin Coast Lara Autry Gary Ward Susan Wyatt Jim Pletl Zonetta English Andy Eaton Michael Wichman Jerry Parr Michael Perry Robert Wyeth Aurora Shields ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

3. TNI Vision All entities generating environmental data in the United States will be accredited to consensus national standards.

4. Advocacy Committee Charter • Establish relationships with trade organizations that have an interest in accreditation issues, • Establish relationships with EPA program offices, • Develop presentations and papers to promote national accreditation, and • Develop presentations and papers to promote TNI. • Assist with publication of the newsletter.

5. Member Demographics Other: 4% PT Providers: 4% Vendors: 7% EPA: 3% Other Federal Agencies: 3% Commercial laboratories: 39% State agencies: 15% Regulated industry: 3% Municipalities: 22%

6. Region 6 QA Conference October EPA Quality Conference New York/Pennsylvania Association of Accredited Laboratories Midwest Environmental Laboratory Summit EPA: OAR OIG OSW OW FEM OEI Texas Trade Fair DOE Consolidated Audit Program DOD Environmental Monitoring & Data Quality Workshop Edison Electric Institute AWWA California-Nevada Section meeting AWWA / WEF / NACWA Florida Society of Environmental Analysts NACWA Pretreatment Meeting 2007 PRESENTATIONS

7. Outreach Efforts: Trade Associations • Small focus group meetings with representatives from: • American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL) • Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) • American Water Works Association (AWWA) • Water Environment Federation (WEF) • National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) • “Non-NELAP” states

8. ACIL Feedback • Endorses NELAP accreditation. • All environmental data should come from accredited laboratories. • The rigor of the standard should not be based on the size of the lab but on the use of the data. • There is a need for help of small organizations. • Support for scaled implementation models

9. AWWA Feedback • Cost of implementation is high. • Too difficult for small laboratories. • Frequency, cost and type of PTs is an issue. • Standard should specify the minimum requirements for data quality. • Data of known and documented quality is a benefit. • One uniform requirement for accreditation to deal with lack of consistency issues caused by EPA program offices. • Supports the concept of national accreditation.

10. APHL Feedback • Strong support for EPA to become an accrediting authority or at least EPA oversight of the state laboratories. • They need accreditation for all programs. • Supports the concept of national accreditation.

11. WEF Feedback • The standards should be developed to support data quality. • Support a national program based on quality systems and performance approach. • NELAC can not demonstrate cost benefit. • Small laboratories are overwhelmed with administrative requirements. • The program should have EPA oversight. • Supports the concept of national accreditation.

12. Non-NELAP State Feedback • Issues with consistency and stability of NELAC as an organization. • Not clear that the NELAC standard results or improves data quality. • Statuary authority issues having to do with fees and the use of those fees. • Too much work for a state with no resources. • No support from constituency. • Legislative difficulties.

13. Focus Group:Water Laboratories • By far, the largest group of laboratories that is currently not accredited to NELAC standard. • Includes drinking water and wastewater laboratories. • Municipal, industrial, and commercial laboratories. • First Focus Group meeting was conducted August 2007 with AWWA, WEF, and NACWA

14. Preliminary Outcomes AWWA, WEF, NACWA • Continue broad-based outreach efforts with trade associations. • Conduct Focus Group meetings on potential changes needed to accreditation and standard approach to better meet their needs. • Take results to appropriate committees in TNI.

15. Outreach Efforts: EPA • NELAC Special Committee letter in 2006 • TNI letter to EPA in 2006 • TNI meetings in 2007 • Office of Solid Waste • Office of Water • Forum on Environmental Measurements (FEM) • Office of Inspector General • Office of Environmental Information • Office of Air • Primary focus of meetings was to introduce TNI and indicate willingness to harmonize efforts and meet program needs

16. Preliminary Outcomes: EPA • FEM designated EPA liaison to serve on TNI Board of Directors. • Barbara Finazzo, Region 2 • EPA regions will provide individuals to serve as evaluators of ABs. • EPA will provide support for an evaluator coordinator for the next round of AB evaluations.

17. Preliminary Outcomes: EPA • Mutual interest in harmonizing drinking water certification program with TNI efforts. (See letter from EPA OW and Mike Shapiro’s presentation at the EMNC Boston) • Continued active participation of EPA staff in TNI activities. • Opened discussions with the EPA Office of Air about audit program for entities analyzing air samples.

18. FUTURE PLANS • Continue outreach efforts with trade organizations, EPA, other Federal Agencies, and states. • Outreach efforts to laboratories. • Promote the TNI standard for field activities and identify and meet with potential users. • Collect data about the benefits of national accreditation. • Focus on internal communications! • Newsletter • Website content