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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Regional Laboratory System
EPA Regional Laboratories
Advancing the Agency's Science Agenda
Annual Report 2009
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
:Y 2009 Annual Report
Table of Contents
Preface: List of US EPA Regional Laboratories ii
Executive Summary iv
Section I - Overview 1
Mission Statement 3
Section II - Support for EPA's Strategic Goals 5
Introduction 6
Clean Air 8
Clean and Safe Water 10
Land Preservation and Restoration 15
Healthy Communities and Ecosystems 18
Compliance and Environmental Stewardship 20
Cross-Goal Strategies 21
Partnerships (state, local, tribal, etc.) 21
Expanding Scientific Knowledge and Developing
New Analytical Capabilities 22
Homeland Security 25
Section III - Infrastructure and Looking to the Future 29
Quality Systems 30
Sustainability 30
Identifying and Maximizing Efficiencies 30
Environmental Management 31
Health and Safety 31
Facilities Management 31
Future Challenges 32
Meeting the Challenge 32
Appendix A - Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities A-1
Appendix B -Abbreviations A-7
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
U.S. EPA Regional Laboratories
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Region 1: New England Regional Laboratory
Investigation & Analysis Branch
Ernest Waterman, Director
waterman.ernest@epa.gov
11 Technology Drive
N. Chelmsford, MA 01863-2431
Phone:617-918-8632
FAX: 617-918-8540
Region 2: Division of Environmental Science and
Assessment Laboratory Branch
John Bourbon, Acting Director
bourbon.john@epa.gov
2890 WoodbridgeAve.
Edison, NJ 08837
Phone: 732-321-4469
Fax: 732-321-6165
Region 3: Environmental Science Center Laboratory
Branch
Cynthia Caporale, Director
caporale.cynthia@epa.gov
701 Mapes Road
Ft. Meade, MD 20755-5350
Phone: 410-305-2732
Fax: 410-305-3095
Region 4: Analytical Support Branch
Gary Bennett, Director
bennett.gary@epa.gov
980 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30605-2720
Phone: 706-355-8551
Fax: 706-355-8803
Region 5: USEPA Region 5 Lab, Chicago Regional
Lab
Dennis Wesolowski, Director
wesolowski.dennis@epa.gov
536 S. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-353-9084
Fax: 312-886-2591
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
U.S. EPA Regional Laboratories (cont.)
Region 6: Environmental Services Branch
Houston Laboratory
David Neleigh, Director
neleigh.david@epa.gov
10625FallstoneRd.
Houston, TX 77099
Phone: 281-983-2100
Fax: 281-983-2124
Region 7: Regional Science & Technology Center
Michael Davis, Director,
Regional Laboratory
davis.michael@epa.gov
300 Minnesota Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-5042
Fax: 913-551-8752
Region 8: USEPA Region 8 Lab
Mark Burkhardt, Director
burkhardt.mark@epa.gov
16194 West 45th Dr.
Golden, CO 80403
Phone: 303-312-7799
Fax: 303-312-7800
Region 9: USEPA Region 9 Lab
Brenda Bettencourt, Director
bettencourt.brenda@epa.gov
1337 S. 46th Street, Bldg. 201
Richmond, CA 94804-4698
Phone: 510-412-2300
Fax: 510-412-2302
Region 10: Manchester Environmental Laboratory
Barry Pepich, Director
pepich.barry@epa.gov
7411 Beach Drive East
Port Orchard, WA 98366
Phone: 360-871-8701
Fax: 360-871-8747
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
:Y 2009 Annual Report
Executive Summary
The Regional Laboratory System is an inter-dependent
network of the ten regional laboratories of the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These
laboratories provide the analytical, technical and pro-
grammatic support that is critical to accomplishing the
Agency's mission of protecting human health and the
environment. The regional laboratories ensure that ana-
lytical and technical expertise are available at the re-
gional level and they are well positioned to rapidly
address the ever changing needs of a variety of environ-
mental programs.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, the regional laboratories per-
formed 126,747 analyses which covered a full range of
routine and specialized chemical and biological testing
of air, water, soil, sediment, tissue and hazardous
waste. This analytical work supported activities related
to over 1,000 sites and projects associated with a wide
range of the Agency's major programs.
The regional laboratories are also increasingly engaged
in EPA's Emergency Response Program. In FY2009,
the regional laboratories provided over 10,000 time-criti-
cal analyses associated with response to environmental
disasters, hazardous materials releases, priority con-
taminant removals, and inland oil spills that threatened
human health and/or the environment. This represents a
25 percent increase in analyses performed compared to
FY 2008.
The regional laboratories continued to play an increas-
ing role with regard to EPA's Strategic Plan for Home-
land Security. In FY2009, the regional laboratories
provided significant support for a number of Homeland
Security related efforts including pilot development of
fixed laboratory capability for chemical warfare agents
(CWA), response exercises and working with states to
encourage participation in the Environmental Response
Laboratory Network (ERLN). In addition, four methods
for CWA degradation compounds and threat agents
were developed in FY 2009 by a regional laboratory and
are being adopted as standards by the American Soci-
ety for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
In FY2009, the laboratories increased their focus on in-
ternal and external partnerships. The labs participated
in numerous projects with EPA's Office of Research and
Development (ORD) both as a result of requests for as-
sistance and through ORD's Regional Methods Program
(RMP) and ORD's Regional Applied Research Effort
(RARE) Program. The regional labs are also supporting
communities through environmental outreach, equip-
ment loan programs and volunteer monitoring efforts.
The regional laboratories continued to provide a variety
of field analytical support ranging from analyses per-
formed on-site in mobile laboratories to screening tech-
niques performed directly in the field. These services
provided real time data to improve the efficiency of field
operations and speed environmental decision making.
In FY2009, the regional laboratories performed over
5,000 field analyses in support of 37 projects and sites
located throughout the country.
This annual report is divided into
three sections.
Section I, Overview: provides general in-
formation about the regional laboratories
and outlines the mission statement of the
Regional Laboratory System.
Section II, Support for EPA's Strategic
Goals: summarizes the analyses pro-
vided for EPA's programs. This section
also provides examples of support pro-
vided for each of the Agency's strategic
goals including Clean Air; Clean and Safe
Water; Land Preservation and Restora-
tion; Healthy Communities and Ecosys-
tems; Compliance and Environmental
Stewardship; and various Cross Goal
Strategies including Homeland Security.
Section III, Infrastructure and Looking
to the Future: describes accomplish-
ments associated with various aspects
that are fundamental to the operation of
the regional laboratories. These include
quality systems, environmental manage-
ment, health and safety, and facilities
management. Section III concludes with
the identification of future challenges fac-
ing the regional laboratories and a discus-
sion of how the regional laboratories will
meet them.
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FY 2009 Annual Repot
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Overview
FY 2009 Annual Repot
The regional laboratories were primarily
established to provide analytical serv-
ices and technical support to EPA's re-
gional offices. EPA's regional offices
are responsible within their states for
the execution of the Agency's programs
and require ready access to analytical
services and technical support for vari-
ous media program activities and man-
agement priorities. Analytical services
provided by the regional laboratories in-
clude a full spectrum of routine and spe-
cial chemical and biological testing in
support of regional and national pro-
grams including air, water, pesticides,
toxics, hazardous waste, ambient moni-
toring, compliance monitoring, criminal
and civil enforcement, and special proj-
ects.
The regional laboratories also per-
form a long list of other core func-
tions, including:
- technical advice and assistance to state and
local agencies concerning analytical tech-
niques, methodology and quality control;
- field sampling support;
- expert witness testimony;
- training of program staff and other organiza-
tions;
- on-site evaluation of drinking water labora-
tories;
- audits of states' drinking water certification
programs;
- promotion of inter-laboratory communica-
tion and emergency preparedness;
- technical support to federal, state and local
laboratories;
- technical support to internal and external or-
ganizations;
- applied research for regional initiatives;
- support national laboratory program initia-
tives;
- ensure the quality of laboratory data gener-
ated in support of Agency programs;
- provide benchmarks for environmental labo-
ratories in areas such as analysis, pollution
prevention and environmental compliance.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Mission Statement
FY 2009 Annual Repot
The regional laboratories focus on the applica-
tion of science policies and methods to support
regulatory and monitoring programs and spe-
cial projects. This is done through direct im-
plementation and through partnerships with a
variety of groups including state, local and
tribal governments, private industry, the aca-
demic community, EPA's program offices,
EPA's Office of Research and Development
(ORD) and the public. The regional laborato-
ries are crucial to advancing the Agency's sci-
ence agenda and have embraced the following
commitments to achieve this goal:
To integrate laboratory activities with those of field and quality assur-
ance partners into a comprehensive, holistic, multi-media approach to
solving ecosystem-based environmental problems.
To provide scientific data of known quality to support Agency decisions
through partnerships with regional and national program offices, state,
local and tribal governments, academia, the private sector and the pub-
lic.
To maintain a fully equipped laboratory to produce physical, chemical
and biological data of known quality to be used for environmental deci-
sion-making at all levels of government.
To maintain and enhance a technically and scientifically skilled, dedi-
cated and diverse staff through the excellence of our recruitment, ca-
reer development, training, management and leadership.
To advance the Agency's science agenda at the point where crucial de-
cisions are made.
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FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goals
upport for EPAs Strategic
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Introduction
:Y 2009 Annual Report
One of the primary functions of the regional
laboratories is to supply quality analytical data
to the Agency's programs in support of a broad
range of regional initiatives that range from
routine monitoring to criminal enforcement.
The following charts represent the analyses
performed for various EPA programs in FY
2009.
Analytical Support to EPA Programs - FY 2009
FY2009 US EPA Regional Laboratories
Analyses Provided by Program (126,747 Total Analyses)
59,485
80000
70000
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50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
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29,094
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M 10'637 8,507
tf ty* ^x. Q< ^/"x *^f' {/ A ^f> ^
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A total of 126,747 analyses were performed in
support of EPA programs in FY 2009. An
analysis is one analytical test through one in-
strument. The sample is run through the entire
process and results are reported to the cus-
tomer. For example, an analysis of a sample
for 24 metals is counted as one analysis. An
analysis of a sample for 65 volatile organic
compounds also counts as one analysis. An
analytical technique that averages two or three
"burns" for one result is counted as one analy-
sis. While some of these analyses may take
only a few minutes; others may take several
hours or days to complete. It should also be
noted that the numbers reflected in the charts
do not include analyses performed for quality
assurance. Analyses for quality assurance
purposes comprise an additional 30 percent of
the laboratories' analytical effort.
Air
RCRA 2%
Other 2%
7%
Emergency
Response
Brownfields
1%
The regional laboratories are also increasingly
engaged in the Emergency Response Pro-
gram. In FY 2009, the regional laboratories
provided over 10,000 time-critical analyses as-
sociated with response to environmental disas-
ters, hazardous materials releases, priority
contaminant removals, and inland oil spills that
threatened human health and/or the environ-
ment.
In addition to fixed laboratory analytical sup-
port, the regional laboratories provide signifi-
cant field sampling and field analytical support.
In FY2009, over eight percent (10,851 field
analyses) of the total number of analyses per-
formed were field analyses in support of a vari-
ety of EPA programs. There are many benefits
to providing analyses in the field including
quicker turnaround time for sample process-
ing, real-time interaction between the analyst
and the field staff for data interpretation, and
acceleration of environmental decisions at the
site.
Counting analyses is one way to measure the
support that regional laboratories provide to
EPA's various programs. Another way to look
at the contributions of regional laboratories to
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
:Y 2009 Annual Report
Introduction (cont.)
the work of the Agency is to look at the number
of projects and/or site evaluations that labora-
tory data supports. The number of projects
and sites supported by analytical data from the
regional laboratories are listed in the table
below by EPA program element. Multiple
rounds of analytical work for the same site rep-
resent just one site supported. More than one
round of work at the same site for a different
purpose or client may be counted as two sites
supported. Multiple sample site monitoring
projects like Regional Environmental Monitor-
ing and Assessment Program (REMAP) are
counted by water body. For example, all the
sampling locations in a single lake or stream
count as one site, but different lakes or
streams count as different sites even though it
may support only one project.
Projects and Sites Supported by EPA Regional Laboratories by Program Element
FY 2009
EPA PROGRAM ELEMENT
Air - Program Implementation (air monitoring, permits, etc.)
Air - Enforcement
Water - Program Implementation (REMAP, TMDL studies, TOXNET, etc)
Water - Enforcement
Water - Drinking Water Compliance and Emergencies
Superfund - Pre-remedial/Remedial
Superfund - Removal
Superfund - Emergency Response
RCRA - Corrective Action
RCRA- Enforcement
Brownfields
LUST
Pesticides
TSCA- Remedial
TSCA- Enforcement
Criminal Investigation
Field Sampling (field sampling audits and events, etc,)
Other
TOTAL
NUMBER OF PROJECTS/SITES
(% OF TOTAL)
32 (3%)
4(<1%)
116(10%)
1 45 (1 3%)
115(10%)
255 (23%)
1 39 (1 3%)
61 (6%)
38 (3%)
53 (5%)
10(1%)
32 (3%)
20 (2%)
6(<1%)
12(1%)
24 (2%)
37 (3%)
10(1%)
1109
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 1: Clean Air
"rotect and Improve the air so it is healthy to breathe an
risks to human health and the environment are reduced.
Reduce greenhouse gas intensity by enhancing partner-
ships with businesses and other sectors.
The regional laboratories actively support the objectives
of the Agency's air goals through a variety of activities.
These activities include technical support and training,
support for air monitoring and air monitoring quality as-
surance, laboratory support for various air toxics as-
sessments, laboratory support for numerous other local
projects that address specific community risks, and
method development.
Support for Ambient Air Monitoring Quality
Assurance
EPA has a number of programs in place to ensure that
ambient air monitoring data are of a quality that meets
the requirements for informed decision making. The re-
gional labs support the following air monitoring quality
assurance programs by providing management and
technical oversight of contractors, lab space for equip-
ment storage and calibration, field and laboratory work
and audits, and logistical support.
PM 2.5 Performance Evaluation Program (PEP):
The goal of the PEP is to evaluate total measurement
system bias of the PM 2.5 monitoring network. The lab-
oratory component of the program includes particulate
matter (PM) filter handling, inspection, equilibration, and
weighing; data entry, validation, management and distri-
bution to client Regions; as well as filter archival and
data submittal to the Air Quality System (AQS). The PM
filter weighing lab is located at the regional lab in Region
4. In FY2009, the laboratory processed and weighed
1,199 filters from three state agencies, one tribal nation
and all ten EPA Regions. The lab also reviewed the data
for 842 PM2.5 PEP audits and evaluated 829 individual
audits for submittal to EPA's national ambient air data-
base. The other regional laboratories also provided
support for PEP through performance evaluation audits,
quality assurance collocations and PEP audits. In FY
2009, the regional laboratories supported the comple-
tion of nearly 400 PM2.5 PEP audits. Regional labora-
tory staff also served as trainers at the national training
class for the PM2.5 PEP program.
Through-the-Probe (TIP) Audit System:
The Through-The-Probe audit system provides perform-
ance audits at state and local ambient air monitoring
stations. In FY2009, the regional laboratories supported
the completion of nearly 250 through-the-probe audits.
These performance audits ensure the validity of the am-
bient air quality monitoring data.
Standard Reference Photometer (SRP) Program:
Standard reference photometers (SRPs) are used to en-
sure that the national network of ozone ambient moni-
tors is accurately measuring ozone concentrations.
Eight regional laboratories maintain SRPs and provide
verification or certification of primary and transfer ozone
standards from state, local and tribal organizations.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
GoaM: Clean Air (cont.)
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Other Air Projects
Emissions Testing:
As Clean Air Act (CAA) hazardous air pollutant stan-
dards are implemented overtime and new source types
become subject to regulation, new sampling and analyti-
cal challenges arise. In 2009 one regional lab worked
with their regional enforcement program to determine
how to representatively sample industrial laundry facili-
ties and foam product manufacturers. The lab identified
an appropriate analytical method for foam product sam-
pling to determine source potential. Sampling and analy-
sis of foam products is a significant challenge as the
emissions from the formed foam product are shape de-
pendent and change as the product cures. As a result,
efforts to define source potential require repeated sam-
pling overtime for a representative variety of products at
any given facility.
Analysis of Air Filters for Metals:
Development of the capability to analyze air filters for
metal by Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrome-
try (ICP/MS) was completed in order to meet an Inter-
Tribal Council's data quality objectives. Since holding
times were not an issue, the entire three year backlog of
samples was prepared and analyzed during FY 2009.
Two chemists, including one Federal Career Intern and
one mass spectroscopy expert were hired and trained to
use this instrument. They were able to receive training
from the instrument vendor and clear the backlog in less
than three months.
Air Response Team:
In FY2009, staff from one regional laboratory joined re-
gional staff from the Air Program and the Emergency
Response Program to create an Air Response Team.
This team will provide air expertise and support to On-
Scene Coordinators or incident command during a large
air release incident. The initial goal of the newly formed
team is to develop response coordination protocols and
determine the equipment and personnel available in the
Region to respond to various kinds of air emergencies.
The team will also identify its current strengths and gaps
by conducting table-top exercises using different air inci-
dent scenarios.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water
nsure drinking water is safe. Restore and maintain
oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to pro-
tect human health, support economic and recreational ac-
tivities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and
wildlife.
EPA's goals for water comprise a variety of strategic tar-
gets that include: increasing compliance with drinking
water standards, reducing pollution in waters with fish
advisories, restoring polluted waters to allow for safe
swimming, improving the quality of rivers, lakes, and
streams on a watershed basis, improving coastal and
ocean water quality and strengthening water quality
monitoring and assessment.
The regional laboratories play an important part in pro-
tecting and restoring the nation's water resources by
providing key data so that the regions and their partners
have the information they need to target actions to pro-
tect human health and aquatic ecosystems more effi-
ciently. In addition, the regional laboratories support
the Agency's water goals by providing technical and reg-
ulatory support to drinking water laboratories, by provid-
ing training and support for water quality monitoring
efforts, and by providing analytical support for various
projects across the country. Some of the areas where
the regional laboratories provide support for the
Agency's water goals are described below.
Drinking Water Laboratory Certification
Laboratories that analyze drinking water samples are re-
quired by EPA to be certified by an approved certifying
authority. EPA regional laboratory personnel who are
trained as laboratory certification officers conduct on-
site evaluations of drinking water laboratories operated
by states and tribal communities. The regional labora-
tory certification officers also perform audits of states'
certification programs to ensure that all laboratories an-
alyzing drinking water samples are following approved
methods as mandated by EPA's National Primary Drink-
ing Water Regulations. Ultimately, the effort of the labo-
ratory certification officers ensures that public drinking
water is free from harmful contaminants.
In FY2009, the regional laboratories performed 43 eval-
uations and audits related to drinking water laboratory
certification. These included both on-site evaluations of
drinking water laboratories operated by state and tribal
communities and on-site audits of states' drinking water
certification program.
Water Quality Assessment and Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program
Support
Water quality monitoring and assessment provides infor-
mation that is crucial for management of our water re-
sources. Water quality data are used to characterize
waters, identify trends overtime, identify emerging prob-
lems, determine whether pollution control programs are
working, and to help direct pollution control efforts to
where they are most needed.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a tool for imple-
menting water quality standards and is based on the re-
lationship between pollution sources and in-stream
water quality conditions. Water quality standards are set
by States, Territories, and Tribes. They identify the uses
for each body of water, for example, drinking water sup-
ply, contact recreation (swimming), and aquatic life sup-
port (fishing), and the scientific criteria to support that
use. The TMDL establishes the allowable loadings or
other quantifiable parameters for a body of water and
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water (cont.)
thereby provides the basis to establish water quality-
based controls.
Regional laboratories provide substantial analytical sup-
port for water quality assessments of and TMDL devel-
opment for water bodies throughout the country.
Remote Sensing Survey of Lakes:
Fifty-five lakes were overflown by the National Aeronau-
tics and Space Administration (NASA) remote sensing
aircraft in a collaborative effort between NASA and sci-
entists from an EPA regional laboratory and ORD. The
flyover was part of a larger effort looking into the effects
of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient loading to aquatic
systems across large geographic areas. Monitoring of
these nutrients is critical for tracking and managing sus-
pect accelerated eutrophication, potentially toxic harmful
algal blooms (HABs), decreasing biodiversity, and over-
all waterbody condition. Overflights were simultane-
ously ground-truthed by state and citizen volunteers with
the collection of water samples for comparing hyper-
spectral signatures to levels of chlorophyll-a, current
lake trophic status, presence of microcystin (potentially
toxic algae), water transparency, and nutrient loading.
These efforts are helping to establish aircraft and site-
based remote sensing technology as efficient and cost-
effective water quality monitoring tools that are useful
over broad geographic areas.
Lake Attitash Case Study:
As part of a regionwide lakes and ponds project, this
unique lake was selected as a testing ground for the de-
velopment of new field monitoring methods. This proj-
ect is also an example of how collaborative networking
can succeed, and a showcase for the importance of un-
derstanding ecosystem services and how they affect
the well-being of a community. A holistic approach was
undertaken by laboratory staff to collaborate with all
stakeholders to address the many issues associated
with this lake. Scientists from the regional laboratory
conducted fish population and planktonic surveys to de-
termine trophic balance and ecosystem health. The
lake has been recognized within the region as a hotspot
for mercury deposition and bioaccumulation in fish tis-
sue. The lake is a secondary public water supply and in
2009 suffered its first harmful algal bloom of toxic
cyanobacteria at levels almost four times the state
health advisory threshold. Lakeshore development and
agricultural sources appeared to be likely sources of
contamination. Laboratory field staff worked with home-
owners and farmers to mitigate discharges into the wa-
terbody through best management practices and new
technologies. The lake suffers from excessive aquatic
plant growth and encroaching invasive plants, with
water transparency being less than half a meter.
Lab scientists employed low frequency sonar technol-
ogy to map bottom plant species distributions and
depths of nutrient enriched sediments. This new tech-
nological information will be used to determine treat-
ment feasibility options for the lake. Public outreach
efforts through town meetings and lake association pre-
sentations have motivated people to take a more active
role in protecting and enhancing the aquatic resources
in their communities.
I
Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS)
Survey:
Significant analytical support was provided for the
Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS) Sur-
vey including analyses for polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), pesticides, semi-volatile organics, and metals
for both sediment and water samples. This project was
conducted off the Florida coast in order to characterize
the chemical, physical, and biological status of sediment
and the water column within, and surrounding the
ODMDS. Most of the dredged material is deposited at
sites EPA specifically designates under Section 102 of
the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
(MPRSA). All ocean dumping sites are required to have
a site management and monitoring plan (SMMP). Ap-
propriate monitoring of ocean dumping sites is aimed at
assuring that disposal activities will not unreasonably
degrade or endanger human health, welfare, or the ma-
rine environment. The data from this survey will be
used to evaluate changes in environmental conditions
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water (cont.)
and will allow evaluation of specific pollutant concentra-
tions at the site.
TMDL Support:
Support for the development of mercury, pesticide and
nutrient TMDLs was provided at ten water bodies within
a single water basin. Lab staff collected sediment and
water samples at multiple locations to provide data to
support TMDL listings and modeling. Lab staff also
trained representatives from the Regional Water Divi-
sion and the Regional Water Quality Control Board on a
variety of sampling procedures.
Special Water Projects in FY 2009
Examples of some activities and projects supporting a
variety of water related strategic goals in FY 2009 are
listed here.
River Dye Studies:
The regional lab conducts several dye tracer studies an-
nually to support the National Pollutant Discharge Elimi-
nation System (NPDES) Program, as well as the states'
shellfish management programs. Four major dye stud-
ies were conducted in 2009. In April, regional lab staff
joined representatives from the state and the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration to conduct a dye study at a
wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The purpose of
the study was to determine how the effluent from the
wastewater treatment plant flows into a nearby water
body. Crews were able to obtain data for NPDES per-
mitting as well as shellfish waters closures. Another
study was conducted in May for the beaches and shell-
fish programs in a second state in the region to deter-
mine the extent and effect of flows on a nearby state
park. Additional dye studies were conducted to provide
data for NPDES permitting and shellfish water classifi-
cation. Some of this data will be used to determine if
moving the outfall associated with a WWTP is practical.
EPA Study of Discharges from Commercial Fishing
Vessels and Other Non-recreational Vessels:
The EPA was mandated by Congress to conduct a study
of discharges of effluent from marine engines, dis-
charges of laundry, shower, and galley sink wastes, and
other discharges incidental to the normal operation of
vessels, to evaluate the potential effects of the dis-
charges, including whether the discharges posed a risk
to human health, welfare, or the environment, and the
nature of those risks and the benefits of reducing those
discharges. The vessels, located throughout the United
States, included commercial fishing vessels and other
non-recreational vessels less than 79 feet in length.
Three regional laboratories assisted EPA's Office of
Water by analyzing samples from these vessels. Be-
cause of their unique diverse capability and depth of ca-
pacity the regional laboratories were well positioned to
accommodate the significant analytical demand of this
project. In addition to analytical support, the regional
laboratories provided critical technical guidance with re-
gards to sample volume, method selection and reporting
limits. A total of 15 analytical parameters were meas-
ured to characterize the vessel discharge. These in-
cluded microbiological contaminants, volatile and
semi-volatile organics, endocrine disrupting alkylphe-
nols, metals, nutrients, and other physicochemical pa-
rameters. Target contaminants varied based on the
vessel class and the type of discharge within that class.
Over 1500 analyses were required to meet the objec-
tives of this project.
Advanced Integrated Wastewater Pond System
Study:
Regional laboratory staff provided sampling and analyti-
cal support for the evaluation of an Advanced Integrated
Wastewater Pond System. Advanced Integrated Waste-
water Pond Systems (AIWPS) use a series of ponds for
domestic wastewater treatment. AIWPS have numer-
ous benefits including design and operational simplicity,
low energy use and low maintenance because of limited
mechanical equipment and minimal sludge production.
Over a three week period, the regional lab collected and
analyzed samples for organics: biological oxygen de-
mand (BOD), total dissolved solids/total suspended
solids, nutrients, chlorophyll, coliform bacteria (total & E.
coli), and other physical/water quality measurements.
The study was conducted in order to provide up-to-date
performance data for this method for treating domestic
wastewater.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water (cont.)
Additionally, the data will be used to evaluate the feasi-
bility of using the AIWPS to treat wastewater in treat-
ment plants along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Adverse Health Effects Associated With River Use:
For well over a decade, windsurfers on one major river
in the Pacific Northwest have noted adverse health ef-
fects after river exposure, including congested sinuses
and chronic runny nose, ear and eye infections, sore
throats, skin rashes, prolonged healing of wounds, burn-
ing, red, and itchy eyes, diarrhea, and fever. The river-
keeper organization collaborated with EPA to test water
quality for potential causes of these symptoms. These
tests provided a baseline of biological and chemical
contaminants present in the river gorge. In conjunction
with this effort, the regional laboratory analyzed over
400 samples from 29 recreational sites for microbiologi-
cal and organic contaminants. Results indicate that
some of the contaminants detected in the river may
cause one or more of the symptoms described as "river
nose"; however, more tests are needed to define their
distribution and their relationships to the health of river
users.
for metals, mercury, organo-chloride pesticides, polyaro-
matic hydrocarbons, and PCB Aroclors. A second re-
gional laboratory provided analysis for total organic
carbon.
Algal Nutrient Utilization Study:
The regional lab analyzed over 500 river water samples
during the summer for microcystin, a blue-green algae
toxin. Summertime blooms of the toxin-producing blue
green algae Microcystis can produce toxin levels over
1,000 times the World Health Organization (WHO)-
based health recommendation for human contact. Re-
sults from the analyses are being used by decision
makers to support public health postings along the river.
In addition to analyzing river samples for the toxin, mi-
crocystin, the lab is supporting research efforts to define
the limiting nutrients critical to algae growth in the sys-
tem.
Monitoring at a National Marine Sanctuary:
Laboratory staff provided support to the Wetlands Pro-
gram by collecting and analyzing sediment samples at a
national marine sanctuary. The project provided moni-
toring of the marine benthic biological community and
sediment chemistry in areas of grey whale feeding
grounds. The laboratory prepared all marine macroin-
vertebrate specimens fortaxonomic analysis. The pri-
mary regional laboratory provided analysis of sediments
Concentrated Animal Feedlot Operations (CAFO)
Enforcement:
In support of the Water Program, the regional lab de-
ployed and maintained a remote communication-capa-
ble water quality data system downstream of
concentrated animal feedlot operations. The water
quality monitoring system measures pH, nitrate, ammo-
nia, chloride, turbidity, temperature, oxidation-reduction
potential, specific conductance, and depth on an hourly
basis. The system provides water quality data via a cell
phone modem that was available on the internet to
CAFO enforcement personnel, f the system detects
changes in water quality parameters, consistent with an
unauthorized discharge, personnel are deployed to es-
tablish the source of the discharge and to collect addi-
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water (cont.)
tional confirmatory samples. Since the system monitors
continuously, this deployment is designed as a proof of
concept for enhancing EPA's ability to detect and act
upon such discharge events. In fact, less than 24 hours
after the system was deployed, a discharge was de-
tected and lab staff informed the appropriate enforce-
ment agency who confirmed that an illegal discharge
was in progress.
Study of Mercury and PCBs in Seafood:
The Office of Research and Development joined a re-
gional laboratory to sponsor a study to assess mercury
and PCB congener levels in composite samples from
seafood species most commonly consumed by resi-
dents. The fish market that was selected for sample col-
lection receives fish from all over the world and is the
largest seafood distributor to retailers in the United
States. The regional laboratory processed nearly 300
samples for mercury and nearly 50 samples for PCB
congeners. The laboratory tested and incorporated
changes to their sample preparation procedures in order
to enhance accuracy for both the required analytes in
fish tissue. Traditional environmental methods for fish
tissue typically yield accuracy levels of 50 to 75 percent.
The modifications resulted in accuracy levels of approxi-
mately 90 percent for both mercury and PCB con-
geners.
Ocean Survey Support on the West Coast:
EPA's Ocean Survey Vessel BOLD spent most of the
year 2008 monitoring and assessing the health of our
oceans and West Coast waters. The work on the BOLD
focused on performing the required periodic assessment
of open-water dredged material disposal sites to ensure
their consistency with regulatory requirements. The
crew supported by regional laboratory staff, conducted
sonar surveys and took numerous samples of water and
mud from the bottom of disposal sites. In addition, the
crew investigated low levels of dissolved oxygen that
have been reported in waters on the West Coast. In
2009, two regional laboratories conducted several hun-
dred sample analyses of the samples collected during
the voyage. Samples were analyzed for mercury, trace
metal contaminants, semi-volatile organics, butyl tins,
pesticides, and total organic carbon. In addition, marine
organisms were identified and counted to see if their
numbers and diversity indicate a healthy bottom habitat.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration
Preserve and restore the land by using innovative waste
management practices and cleaning up contaminated prop-
erties to reduce risks posed by releases of harmful
substances.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Com-
pensation, and Liability Act (CERCLAor Superfund) and
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
provide the legal basis for EPA's efforts to preserve and
restore land using the most effective waste manage-
ment and cleanup methods available.
In FY2009, over 55 percent of the analyses performed
by the regional laboratories supported the cleanup of
uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites asso-
ciated with the Superfund program. While EPA's Con-
tract Laboratory Program performs many of the routine
analyses associated with the Superfund program, the
regional laboratories focus on more specialized analy-
ses and provide a variety of field support and mobile lab
support to the program.
In addition, the regional laboratories provided nearly
3,000 analyses to address hazardous and non-haz-
ardous waste issues associated with the RCRA program
and over 1,500 analyses to address risks associated
with leaking underground storage tanks.
Applied Research and Method
Development
The regional laboratories are in a unique position to
meet the ever changing analytical needs of the Super-
fund and RCRA programs. Oftentimes, the regional lab-
oratories are called upon to develop or refine methods
to meet project specific data quality objectives. Meth-
ods are often refined or enhanced to include new pollu-
tants of concern. In addition, analytical procedures are
often revised to achieve lower detection limits or to ac-
commodate different and challenging matrices. An ex-
ample is described below:
Passive Diffusion Sampling of Volatiles in
Groundwater:
Regional labs help spread the use of new methods and
technologies - bridging the gap between research and
commercial availability. One region provides unique ex-
pertise in passive diffusion sampling of volatiles in
groundwater. A passive diffusion sampler consists of a
volume of de-ionized (Dl) water sealed in a permeable
membrane that is deployed in a well for at least two
weeks to equilibrate with ambient water quality by diffu-
sion of contaminants across the membrane. After re-
trieval the sampler is cut open and the sample is
carefully decanted into normal volatile organic analytes
(VOA) vials and analyzed by EPA method 8260. This
technique is an alternative to the traditional method that
requires purging water from a well prior to sampling.
This sample technique allows the deployment of multi-
ple samplers in a single well to provide a vertical profile
of the groundwater. In 2009, regional laboratory staff
provided support to allow for the use of this technique at
two Superfund sites. Use of this technique assisted with
defining the complicated groundwater flow regimes at
the two sites.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration (cont.)
Superfund and RCRA Projects
Examples of some activities and projects supporting a
variety of Superfund and RCRA projects in FY 2009 are:
Superfund Sites Targeted for Federal Stimulus
Funds:
In 2009, EPA announced that $528 million in federal
economic stimulus funding would be used to help clean
up the sites in 28 states. In association with the clean-
up of these sites, the regional laboratories have con-
ducted numerous organic and inorganic analyses of soil
and groundwaterto provide crucial data to site program
officers. One example is a 15 acre site in a rural area
where the primary sources of drinking water are private
and community wells. From 1970 to 1995, the owner of
the site pumped residential, commercial and industrial
septic wastes and sludges; installed and repaired septic
tanks; and provided a variety of industrial waste removal
services. Eight to ten unlined lagoons were used to
hold the septic wastes. The lagoon sludges were exca-
vated and piled adjacent to the lagoon area. The site's
affected media are soil and ground water. Vanadium is
the most significant soil contaminant. Ground water
contaminants above the maximum contaminant level in
the monitoring wells are arsenic, manganese, iron,
vanadium and 1,4 dichlorobenzene.
Analysis for PCBs Associated with Electrical
Transformer Manufacturing:
Unusually quick turn-around was provided for a large
number of samples from a Superfund site associated
with an abandoned electrical transformer manufactur-
ing, recycling and repair facility. It was determined that
soils to a depth of 15 feet were contaminated with PCBs
at levels potentially harmful to human health. Over a two
month period, approximately 2000 soil samples were
analyzed with preliminary results available in 24 hours
and final, reviewed results available in seven days. The
rapid turnaround was critical for verifying that residential
areas had been cleaned up to appropriate safe levels
while the remediation contractor was still on site. The
ability to get quick confirmation that the clean up goals
had been met resulted in significant savings to the Su-
perfund program.
Post-Remedial Monitoring of Marine Sediment
Associated with a Superfund Site:
Support was provided for post-remedial monitoring at a
Superfund site. The site was previously used to
process and package pesticides with Dichlorodiphenyl-
trichloroethane (DDT) accounting for the majority of its
operations. These activities resulted in the contamina-
tion of upland soils and marine sediment in the
adjacent waterways. Water samples were collected
using the regional lab's pontoon boat and samples were
sent to researchers at The Massachusetts Institute of
Technology for DDT analysis. In addition, transplanted
mussels and semi-permeable membrane samplers were
deployed at nine stations throughout the adjacent har-
bor to characterize pollutant flux and provide composite
modeling of water column pollutant loads.
Emergency Response
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plays a lead-
ership role in the national system to respond to environ-
mental disasters, hazardous materials releases,
time-critical removals, and inland oil spills that threaten
human health and/or the environment. The regional lab-
oratories have provided valuable analytical support to a
variety of emergency response projects including:
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Drinking Water Contamination Associated with
Electroplating Facility:
For multiple sampling events, a regional laboratory pro-
vided 72 hour turnaround for volatile compound analy-
ses in private drinking water well samples. The wells are
near a former electroplating facility which operated from
the late 1950s to the mid 1980s. The chemical com-
pound trichloroethene (TCE) was used at the facility to
clean and/or degrease metal objects prior to electroplat-
ing. The analyses showed TCE levels in some wells
were above the Safe Drinking Water Act maximum con-
taminant level for TCE and triggered EPA's Emergency
Response Program to provide bottled water to affected
residents.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
:Y 2009 Annual Report
Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration (cont.)
Elevated Arsenic and Lead in Drinking Water:
As part of an investigation of soil and water contamina-
tion associated with a former fruit orchard, EPA con-
ducted extensive sampling and analysis of soil and
groundwater around the site. Elevated levels of arsenic
and lead in soil and drinking water had been observed.
The regional laboratory provided analyses of 410 sam-
ples to support the removal action at this site. The lab
provided data that was crucial to this effort within a short
turnaround time of 96 hours.
Liquid Fertilizer Spill:
Analytical support was provided in the aftermath of the
collapse of a storage tank at a petroleum and petroleum
products facility. The storage tank collapse resulted in a
two million gallon spill of liquid fertilizer some of which
made its way to a nearby river and a nearby bay. Pre-
liminary analytical results were provided within three to
48 hours of sample receipt. The rapid turnaround al-
lowed on-scene coordinators to clear residences
quickly, allowing displaced homeowners to return to
their homes.
Coordination of various units in the Incident Command
System (ICS) was tested as well as various forms of
communication (cell, satellite, and email).
RadNet Deployment Training and Exercise:
RadNet is a national network of both fixed and deploy-
able monitors for the collection of air, precipitation,
drinking water, and milk samples for analysis of radioac-
tivity. In FY 2009, refresher training for Regional On-
Scene Coordinators and Regional Support Corps
members was hosted by a regional laboratory. The
focus of the training was deployment of portable radia-
tion sensors provided by EPA's Office of Radiation and
Indoor Air. Participants practiced assembly of the
portable devices and participated in an exercise in
which the campus around the regional lab was used to
practice the application of deployment protocols for the
evaluation of potential sites. This training provided es-
sential practice to the Regional Support Corps who
would be responsible for deploying these monitors in
case of a radiological release.
Coal Ash Spill:
The regional laboratory provided 48 hour turnaround for
metals analyses of public and private drinking water
samples from a location near the site of a massive coal
ash spill from a surface water impoundment at a coal
fired power plant. Officials estimated that about 5.4 mil-
lion cubic yards of ash escaped from the site. This ash
and water spread over a half square mile area adjacent
to the plant. Some flowed into a nearby river associated
with a water reservoir. Ash also covered portions of
nearby roads and the railroad tracks which supplied coal
to the plant. Laboratory testing indicated that the regu-
lated metals were not above the maximum contaminant
levels for drinking water specified in the Safe Drinking
Water Act.
Emergency Response Exercise:
An emergency response exercise was conducted by a
regional office and included participation by state and
local agencies along with EPA staff from the regional lab
and the Superfund and Drinking Water programs. The
regional mobile laboratory was deployed for this exer-
cise and performed field testing on samples collected for
total conforms (by Colilert), volatile organic compounds
(by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), metals
(by x-ray fluorescence), and pH. A new field-portable
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
database was tested to provide electronic as well as
hardcopy reports to the Environmental Unit (EU) Coordi-
nator and other field staff. The field portable LIMS data-
base was also instrumental in porting the data back to
the primary LIMS database at the fixed laboratory.
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FY 2009 Annual Report
Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems
Protect, sustain, or restore the health of people, communi-
ties and ecosystems using integrated and comprehensive
approaches and partnerships.
To protect, sustain, and restore communities and
ecosystems, EPA focuses on the management of envi-
ronmental risks. Environmental risks include those pre-
sented by pesticides and chemicals, threats to the
nation's watersheds, and hazards posed by pollutants
entering homes, schools, workplaces and neighbor-
hoods.
I
I
Key components of this goal include:
Directing risk management effort towards the
greatest threats to communities and the most sen-
sitive populations, including children, the elderly,
Native Americans, and residents of areas that may
be disproportionately exposed to environmental
hazards;
Protecting critical ecosystems such as wetlands
and estuaries;
Collaborating with states and others on efforts to
protect resources such as the Great Lakes,
Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Communities
EPA estimates that there are more than 450,000 Brown-
fields in the United States. Brownfields include aban-
doned industrial and commercial properties, former
mining sites and sites contaminated with a hazardous
substance or pollutant of concern. EPA's Brownfields
Program is designed to empower states, communities,
and other stakeholders to inventory, assess, clean up,
and redevelop potentially contaminated lands in order to
recreate these lands into vital, functioning parts of their
communities. In FY2009, the regional laboratories per-
formed over 900 analyses in support of the EPA's
Brownfields Program.
The regional laboratories also support Agency efforts to
address community-based environmental and public
health issues including:
Testing of Soils for Lead and Arsenic in
Communities:
Surface soil contamination around older homes, caused
by the historical use of lead based paints and arsenic
based pesticides, is a common problem, but is not a
well characterized problem in any given neighborhood.
One region has put their fixed lab and field x-ray fluores-
cence (XRF) capability at the disposal of a number of
community groups and a program run by a state univer-
sity to test soil for planned and existing community and
residential gardens. In 2009 the region tested over 400
soil samples for this purpose.
Water Quality Monitoring Equipment Loan Program:
Two regional laboratories currently operate water quality
equipment loan programs for citizen volunteer organiza-
tions in their Regions. The equipment loaned to com-
munity groups is used to measure water flow, dissolved
oxygen, pH, temperature, salinity, macro invertebrate
communities, and positioning data for map-making. The
loans empower citizen monitoring organizations to col-
lect defensible data for monitoring water quality using
high quality equipment.
EPA-930-R-09-001
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems (cont.)
Volunteer water monitors use the data to help govern-
ment agencies identify and restore water quality and be-
come advocates for their watersheds.
Volunteer and Citizen Monitoring Support:
Regional laboratories often provide analytical support to
volunteer and citizen monitoring groups. For example,
support was provided to citizen monitoring groups for
the analysis of water samples for total conforms, E. coli,
and Enterococcus. During dry and rainy seasons, vol-
unteers collect weekly samples for five weeks from up to
ten sites per creek or watershed. The regional lab pro-
vides data to the citizen monitoring groups who com-
pare results to state or federal water quality standards
for bacteria. The results have shown that sewage leaks
or spills are readily apparent from E. coli analyses. Ab-
sence of bacteria has also led to detection of residual
chlorine from drinking water leaks. Bacterial data have
allowed volunteers in several communities to work
closely with local governments to mitigate sewer leaks
or inform the public about bacterial contamination in
their watersheds.
Volunteer Monitor
Celebrating
Ecosystems
EPA's strategies to protect, sustain, and restore the
health of natural habitats and ecosystems include identi-
fying and evaluating problem areas and developing
tools to address these problems. One example of an
ecosystem related project is described below.
PCB Congener Monitoring of the Lake Ontario
Watershed:
Analytical support for regular monitoring of tributaries of
the Lake Ontario Watershed was provided. The purpose
of this program is to develop reliable estimates of load-
ings of critical pollutants to the Lake in order to provide
accurate information for updates of the Lake-wide Man-
agement Plan. Data from the program are also shared
with modelers for use with the Lake Ontario Mass Bal-
ance Model, and with the State, who can use it to sup-
plement their ambient data for 303(d) reporting. The
regional laboratory provides analysis of all 209 PCB
Congeners at the part per quadrillion (ppq) level. The
laboratory uses a modified version of EPA Method
1668A, published by the Office of Water in December,
1999. This method uses a high resolution gas chro-
matograph/mass spectrometer and identifies pollutants
at the trace levels required by the Lake Ontario Water-
shed Monitoring Program.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Goal 5: Compliance and Environmental Stewardship
Improve environmental performance through compliance
with environmental requirements, preventing pollution, and
promoting environmental stewardship. Protect human
health and the environment by encouraging innovation and
providing incentives for governments, businesses, and the
public that promote environmental stewardship.
Compliance with and enforcement of environmental
laws are key elements of EPA's goal to improve environ-
mental performance. The regional laboratories provide
significant technical and analytical support to both re-
gional and national civil enforcement cases including the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) Permit Program. In addition, regional labs
support RCRAsite investigations for both corrective ac-
tion and enforcement programs. In 2009, the regional
laboratories provided analyses of over 1,200 samples to
support a variety of criminal enforcement actions. Some
of the highlights of regional laboratory support for com-
pliance assistance, civil enforcement and criminal en-
forcement are listed below.
RCRA Enforcement Support:
Verifying compliance at a commercial hazardous waste
treatment, storage, and disposal facility requires repre-
sentative sampling of widely varied waste streams for a
broad spectrum of target analytes, often contained in
difficult matrices. During 2009 two regional labs and
EPA's National Enforcement Investigations Center
(NEIC) teamed together to develop a sampling and
analysis plan and assemble a field sampling team to
collect and analyze samples from just such a facility. In
order to protect the health and safety of the field team
and in order to pick the right sample locations out of the
array of waste tanks and containers, field air monitoring
was conducted to target potential leaks. Potential for
unknowns meant that a significant fraction of sampling
had to be conducted with level B personal protective
equipment (PPE) and all sampling activities were in at
least level C PPE. Ten tanks, two roll-off containers, 40
containers and a storm water discharge were sampled
at the site and analyses for toxicity characteristic leach-
ing procedure (TCLP), volatile organics, metals, pesti-
cides, pH and flashpoint were provided by the regional
lab. Sample matrices included soils, aqueous mixtures,
oil based mixtures, and paints.
Criminal Investigation Support:
Regional laboratories often work closely with Criminal
Investigation Division (CID) agents to coordinate and fa-
cilitate sample collection, sample arrival, sample analy-
sis, and sample reporting. In FY2009, a regional
laboratory analyzed 161 samples in support of criminal
investigations with preliminary results often reported in a
matter of days. In another region, a regional laboratory
microbiologist provided testimony in a criminal case
against a business owner that had been injecting sur-
face water suspected of containing microbiological con-
taminants into a ground water aquifer. The business
owner conducted activity during the rainy season in
order to recharge the aquifer and thereby potentially
contaminated the groundwater source.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Cross Goal Strategies
Many of EPA's efforts contribute to progress toward all
five of the aforementioned goals. These efforts include
strengthening partnerships with states and tribes, ex-
panding scientific knowledge and supporting homeland
security activities. Some examples of how the regional
laboratories have contributed to these cross-agency and
cross-media efforts are discussed in the following exam-
ples.
Partnerships (state, local, tribal, etc.)
EPA is committed to strengthening its partnerships with
state, tribal, and local governments in order to make
progress towards the Agency's five strategic goals.
Some examples of regional laboratory partnership ef-
forts include:
Sharing Analytical Capabilities and Capacity:
One of the most important partnerships amongst re-
gional and state labs is sharing unique expertise where
and when needed. In 2009, regional labs continued to
turn to each other when capability limitations or lack of
sample capacity became an obstacle to providing sup-
port for a variety of projects. One regional lab shared
their capability to analyze for perchlorate by liquid chro-
motography/dual mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for
samples from a former Air Force base in another region.
PCB congener analysis not available in one region was
provided by another region with the relevant capability.
In other cases, regional laboratories regularly provide
analytical assistance to each other when an instrument
breakdown at one lab prevents completion of a sched-
uled analysis.
Outreach to Youth and Schools:
Regional laboratories are often the destination for field
trips from a variety of schools in communities near the
lab facilities. Laboratory staff provide lab tours, lab
demonstrations and career advice for numerous stu-
dents. The students get the opportunity to explore how
the labs support the Agency's mission through demon-
strations, by EPA lab staff, in microbiology, marine inver-
tebrate toxicity, and chemical analysis.
Support to Tribes:
The regional laboratory provided a number of analyses
for nutrients, total organic carbon (TOC), total phospho-
rus, dissolved ortho-phosphorous, chlorophyll a, and
algal growth potential for a project with the Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Regional personnel
conducted field sampling and measurement activities on
EBCI tribal lands. The sampling and analyses were as-
sociated with a baseline water quality study to assess
the viability of the fishery on tribal lands. This study in-
cluded field measurement of temperature, pH, dissolved
oxygen (DO), and Secchi depth along with the chemical
and biological analyses.
World Water Monitoring Day:
Each year, several regions and regional labs join
citizen volunteers, students and teachers from around
the world to celebrate citizen monitoring and collect
water quality data on International Water Monitoring
Day. EPA lab scientists conduct training exercises with
the public and students to teach them about water qual-
ity parameters. Actual samples are collected and in
many cases analyzed by the regional lab for bacteria,
nutrients, and pesticides. In one instance, the laboratory
results were used to help isolate various land uses and
help a small city better target its efforts to clean up
creeks that had consistent toxicity.
Collaboration with EPA's Office of Pesticides
Program:
Regional lab staff worked with the Office of Pesticides'
Analytical Chemistry Branch to develop a more cost ef-
fective method for the detection of nanosilver in water.
Currently, the methods available worldwide to character-
ize the size of silver nano particles require the use of an
electron microscope which is very costly. The project is
focusing on the use of inductively coupled plasma/mass
spectrometer (ICP/MS) for this determination.
2009 Laboratory Technical Information Group (LTIG)
Conference:
The Region 10 laboratory hosted the 2009 Laboratory
Technical Information Group (LTIG) Conference. There
were about 30 attendees, including laboratory scientists
from the Regions, Program Offices, Headquarters,
NEIC, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The LTIG
was formed in 1998 to create and sustain working rela-
tionships among USEPA regional laboratories and other
EPA entities (ORD, NERL, NEIC) to promote a free ex-
change of technical knowledge and ideas. The LTIG
EPA-270-R-10-001
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
goal is to create a forum for technical discussion where
chemists and biologists from all ten regional laboratories
and other EPA labs and offices can easily communicate
and exchange ideas on analytical methods, instrumen-
tation and common problems. The group has sub-
groups for a variety of analytical disciplines including
organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, metals and mi-
crobiology. Agenda items at the 2009 conference in-
cluded presentations of analytical data use at the
Bunker Hill Superfund site, asbestos analyses, descrip-
tion of ordnance pollution and data needs for a former
military site, laboratory information management sys-
tems, application of newer organic methods that result
in solvent reduction use, waste characterization leach-
ing methods, arsenic speciation method validation, and
liquid chromatograph/tandem mass spectrometry meth-
ods, among others.
Partnership with Hospitals:
Heavy metals can be common ingredients in many tradi-
tional medicines, toys and household items. As a follow
on to participation in a major study of ayurvedic medi-
cines, one regional laboratory continues to partner with
regional hospitals on an as needed basis to conduct
XRF analysis of traditional medicines, toys, and other
items to support forensic investigations into the source
of heavy metal poisonings. In 2009, at the request of
local hospitals, the lab analyzed samples for two differ-
ent poisoning cases. One case traced back to ingestion
of lead paint and the other case was traced back to the
use of a folk remedy for the treatment of alcoholism
which contained antimony.
Invited Speaker at Ireland Conference:
A regional laboratory chemist was invited to the Interna-
tional Ion Chromatography Symposium in Dublin, Ire-
land to speak on recent achievements in IC/MS/MS
methodology. The papers presented were "Trace Analy-
sis of Amines by IC/MS/MS" and "Green Analysis -
Bridging the Gap for Environmental Samples using
IC/MS/MS and LC/MS/MS". The first paper highlighted
innovative ways to test for CWA degradation products,
specifically amine compounds, using new state of the
art equipment. The second focused on innovative ideas
for reducing chemical waste in the laboratory.
Regional Methods Program:
The Regional Methods Program (RMP) is a mechanism
used by of the Office of Research and Development
(ORD) to respond to high-priority, near-term methods
development needs of EPA's regional offices. The pro-
gram also serves to enhance interactions between re-
gional staff and ORD scientists; and to improve ORD's
capacity to bring science to bear on practical environ-
mental issues such as those faced by Regions.
There were several ongoing RMP projects in 2009 in-
volving work by the regional labs. These include:
Developing a method using hydrogen carrier gas
in GC/MS organic semi- volatile analysis.
Developing methods for dynamic headspace and
pulsed vacuum extraction to measure polar
volatile organic compounds.
Verification of commercially available, cost-effec-
tive, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
test kits for the quantitative determination of en-
docrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) associated
with waterways impacted by poultry, swine, and
dairy animal feeding operations.
Testing of a Lake Macroinvertebrate Integrity Index
(LMII) for Mid-Atlantic lakes and reservoirs.
Developing a standardized testing procedure for
the identification and quantification of Cryp-
tosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis
Oocysts using real-time polymerase chain reaction
assay.
Expanding Scientific Knowledge and
Developing New Analytical Capabilities
Scientific knowledge and technical information are criti-
cal elements in the process of understanding and ad-
dressing complex environmental problems.
Furthermore, better analytical capabilities are funda-
mental to meeting the Agency's goals. Better scientific
knowledge and analytical capabilities mean improved
assessment, better identification of data and research
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
needs, greater ability to track implementation of specific
solutions and more meaningful evaluation of implemen-
tation results. Regional laboratories play a unique and
critical role in enhancing EPA's ability to respond to var-
ied and technical challenges such as those presented
by emerging pollutants, complex environmental matri-
ces, and the demands for lower detection. Some exam-
ples of these efforts are described in the following
paragraphs.
Asbestos Analysis and The NELAC Institute (TNI)
Certification:
In 2009, a regional laboratory became National Environ-
mental Lab Accreditation Conference (NELAC) accred-
ited for the analysis of bulk asbestos containing building
materials and is also capable of conducting analysis of
other matrices, including bulk soil, sediment, and ver-
miculite products. The lab supports asbestos analysis
for EPA's Enforcement and Superfund Programs, and
also serves as a quality assurance (QA) reference lab
for asbestos work. Qualitative analysis is conducted
using a polarized light microscope (PLM) to observe
characteristic optical properties to identify different types
of asbestos, and is complemented by other analytical
techniques, including x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scan-
ning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy
dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). These methods provide
verification of asbestos mineral type based on crystal
structure by XRD and element composition by EDS. In
addition, the SEM enables the analyst to document the
morphology of fine fibrils that are too thin to be resolved
by PLM. Quantitative analysis is typically conducted
using a combination of gravimetric matrix reduction and
asbestos point counting by PLM. During the year, the
regional lab was given lead responsibility for working
with the Idaho National Laboratory to develop a tech-
nique that uses a fluidized bed to segregate low con-
centrations of asbestos from samples of soil and sedi-
ment. Currently, this project is evaluating the precision
and sensitivity of the fluidized bed asbestos segregator.
Metals Speciation:
Metals chemists at a regional laboratory are working on
expanding their analytical capabilities to include specia-
tion. Speciation analysis is the separation and quantifi-
cation of chemical forms of a particular element. In the
past, the determination of total element concentrations
was considered to be sufficient for environmental con-
siderations. Although it is still useful to know the total
concentration of an element and it is essential in many
areas, the determination of each species is more rele-
vant in determining toxicity levels. A new inductively
coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) with a
high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) sepa-
ration system has become an essential analytical tool
for determinations of trace levels of speciated elements
such as arsenic, selenium, and chromium. The lab plans
to expand their capabilities to include analysis of speci-
ated metals in water, soil and tissues.
American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM)
Standards:
Regional lab staff completed the process forgetting two
additional endocrine disrupter methods accepted as
ASTM standards. Both a low level liquid chromatogra-
phy - mass spectrometry method for nonylphenols and
their ethoxylates and a separate method for low level
bisphenol A were accepted as ASTM standards in 2009.
In addition, the same regional laboratory has completed
four chemical warfare agent degradation product identi-
fication methods in drinking/surface water using
LC/MS/MS. All four methods were submitted to ASTM
for consideration as standard test methods.
Multi-Increment Sampling:
For a site investigation of a former Navy firing range
site, a new sample compositing technique called "multi-
increment sampling" (MIS) was applied. This site was
known to be polluted with bullets or ammunition frag-
ments over many years. No removal of these materials
had occurred at the site, and there had been no esti-
mates made for the amount of lead present. Surface
soil samples were collected to characterize potential
surface contamination using MIS which is an advanced
technique for collecting samples that represent a spe-
cific area or population (decision unit). Many incre-
ments of soil were systematically collected in each
decision unit to form composites that represented the
compositional and distributional heterogeneity. The
samples, which were submitted for lead and ordnance
compounds (nitroaromatics, nitroamines, and nitrate
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
esters) analyses, were homogenized at the regional lab-
oratory per EPA Method 8330B by using a ring mill (or
puck grinder) to reduce the particle size. The ground
material was then sub-sampled applying the MIS tech-
nique prior to analyses for lead, other metals, and the
ordnance compounds. This sample compositing tech-
nique is much more effective at characterizing decision
unit contamination, while significantly reducing the num-
ber of required analyses.
Trace Analysis of Pesticides and Pesticide
Degradates:
Regional laboratory chemists have recently developed a
method for trace (10 to 50 parts per trillion) analysis of
pesticides and pesticide degradates in water. The
analysis employs liquid chromatography/mass spec-
trometry techniques. The method has several advan-
tages over conventional extraction & analysis methods
including: no need for field preservation; small field sam-
ple size; minimal sample preparation before analysis;
and, increased sample throughput. For emergency re-
sponse situations, preliminary analysis results can be
available within 24 hours of receipt. In 2009, this
method was used to analyze over 280 water samples.
Trace Metals Analysis in Field Mice that Potentially
Contain Hantavirus:
After receiving a request to analyze for trace metals in
field mice collected from a legacy mining site, the re-
gional lab's health and safety officer determined that as
many as 25 percent of the mice collected during the
summer months might contain Hantavirus. This mining
site has been responsible for contaminating over 20
square miles of land from their smelter and mine tail-
ings. Because of the potential for personnel exposure
during the grinding of these tissues, EPA contacted the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to
identify a suitable means to inactivate the virus without
jeopardizing analyte recoveries. The final method,
which required oven heating the rodents for a period of
four hours at 60 degrees Celsius, was confirmed to have
acceptable recoveries for lead on virus-free mice, and
then applied the preparation technique to over 110 sam-
ples that were subsequently analyzed using ICP/MS.
Analysis of Toxaphene Congeners:
Regional scientists are working with the Office of Re-
source Conservation and Recovery on the Phase II vali-
dation of the draft SW-846 method 8276 for the analysis
oftoxaphene congeners and breakdown products.
Toxaphene is an agricultural pesticide that was one of
the most heavily used insecticides in the United States
until it was banned by EPA in 1990. As a result of its
wide spread application, the mixture and its breakdown
products remain pollutants of concern at many locations
in the U.S.
Toxaphene is not a single compound but a mixture of
more than 670 closely related compounds, known as
congeners. In the environment, the mixture breaks
down as a result of weathering processes. These
breakdown products form a mixture different from the
original toxaphene, resulting in an altered chemical
residue. As a result, measuring toxaphene accurately
and at low levels has been a challenge using traditional
gas chromatography (GC) techniques such as Method
8081. Method 8276 is a gas chromatography/negative
ion mass spectrometry (GC/NIMS) method which em-
ploys mass spectral identification oftoxaphene con-
stituents. The Phase II method validation will evaluate
the method for reproducibility, linearity, accuracy and
precision across a variety of real world test matrices (i.e.
soil, sludge, and fish tissue). Following Phase II valida-
tion testing, a statistical evaluation of the data will be
performed in order to establish method precision and
bias. The final version of Method 8276 will be modified
based on the results of the Phase II validation study.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
Homeland Security
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 caused EPA
to reevaluate the types of events which might result in
environmental emergencies and require laboratory sup-
port. The ability to analyze samples for chemicals that
might be used in terrorist incidents is an important as-
pect of the EPA's emergency response responsibilities.
The ten regional laboratories have consequently made it
a high priority to provide accurate environmental data to
emergency responders and to participate in the Office of
Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER)-Of-
fice of Emergency Management's (OEM) Environmental
Response Laboratory Network (ERLN) a high priority.
In order to enhance regional capability to respond to
emergencies, whether from natural causes or terrorist
activity, the regional laboratories are working on several
significant development projects:
eveloping capability to analyze environmental
samples for chemical warfare agents and their
environmental degradation products.
Developing and testing response plans with
state and other stakeholders to enable a coordi-
nated multi-laboratory response to a major con-
tamination event.
Expanding membership in the ERLN.
I
Chemical Warfare Agent Method Validation
Study
In the wake of 9/11, the federal government initiated
several high level studies to investigate vulnerabilities to
recover from credible weapons of mass destruction
(WMD) attack scenarios. The study revealed that EPA
and its federal and state partners had the capability to
address the release of toxic industrial chemicals but that
little capability was available at any level of government
to address the release of the most toxic chemical war-
fare agents. To address this issue the Science and
Technology Directorate of the newly formed Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) partnered with EPA's Of-
fice of Emergency Management to address this national
vulnerability and develop the laboratory capability and
capacity to support decontamination and recovery from
a terrorist event using chemical warfare agents (CWA).
Many different efforts are underway that contribute to
this goal, but a primary scientific task is the develop-
ment and demonstration of analytical methods to detect
chemical warfare agents in environmental media.
The initial method development was performed by con-
tractors managed out of ORD's National Homeland Se-
curity Research Center with input from supporting
regional labs. This produced a modified version of EPA
method 8270 believed capable of supporting the analy-
sis of four nerve agents and one blister agent in environ-
mental samples. Validation of the method, teasing out
operational issues, providing performance data, and en-
suring that the method could reliably detect the target
agents in environmental samples with the throughput re-
quired to sustain the anticipated workload fell to a small
team of chemists at two regional laboratories.
In 2009 this team achieved several very substantial
milestones in the development of CWA methods. At the
start of the year a Phase 1 Method Validation Study was
conducted in both regions. Both Regions ran the same
protocol. They each encountered problems with running
the method, some the same and some different. During
the validation study they each independently developed
solutions to these problems. For example, Phase 1 had
to solve a number of basic procedural issues key to
maintaining health and safety requirements and the
strict accountability for use of CWA agents. Tracking
systems were developed that accounted for material
usage down to microliter quantities; a screening proce-
dure was developed using the AP2Ce detector to
screen shipping containers and verify shipment was not
compromised before opening was developed; and er-
gonomically efficient procedures were developed for
making analysis standards under 100 percent engineer-
ing control.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
JY 2009 Annual Report
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
The outcome of this work was brought back to the larger
workgroup involved with the overall project. Method
modifications were discussed and deliberated and by
mid-year a proficiency test was being run that tested the
comparability of the labs. In early September the labs
began Phase 2 of the Method Validation Study. Phase 1
and 2 provided several substantive findings including:
Shaking rather than vortexing water samples pro-
vides better recovery of target analytes.
Selected Ion Mode (SIM) calibration standards
are not stable for an extended period and a new
aliquot has to be used for each 24 hour analytical
period.
The SIM technique for wipes and the analysis of
VX (chemical warfare nerve agent) will require
further refinement to correct persistent problems.
Material used in analysis and CWA decontamina-
tion requirements trigger additional operation &
maintenance requirements (e.g. glassware has to
be scrupulously cleaned after decontamination by
bleaching to remove all traces of bleach, and, to
prevent standard degradation, the GC injector
port must be maintained at the beginning of every
analytical run).
As a result of the milestones reached:
The EPA Regional laboratories have demon-
strated, for the first time ever, a civilian capability
to test for CWA residuals in environmental media.
The multi-lab studies conducted to validate the
CWA test method demonstrated the feasibility of
the pilot project initiated by DHS and EPA.
The work completed leads the way to further ad-
vances in CWA method development and the
eventual technical transfer of capability to other
ERLN laboratories.
Full Scale Exercise
Several regional labs participated in a multi-region full-
scale exercise (FSE) that was designed to exercise and
evaluate the Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan
(WLA-RP) and other Environmental Response Labora-
tory Network (ERLN) and Laboratory Response Network
(LRN) emergency response procedures, and identify op-
portunities for enhancement and improvement of collab-
oration, communication and coordination. The full-scale
exercise assessed the effectiveness of response to a
combined chemical and biological warfare agent attack.
The FSE was divided into the following three major
components:
Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) and Toxic Indus-
trial Chemical (TIC) Environmental - A light air-
craft, operated by a terrorist, sprays a large,
fully-occupied sports arena with the chemical
warfare agent mustard-lewisite. Shortly after the
attack, the airplane collides with an industrial
building in which toxic industrial chemicals (TICs)
are stored, resulting in a fire and explosion.
CWA Clinical-As a result of the chemical war-
fare agent attack, many people are exposed to
chemical warfare agents and are seeking care in
their local hospitals. Patient specimens are sent
to state public health laboratories for analyses.
Select Biological Agent Environmental - A bacter-
ial select agent is introduced directly into a metro-
politan drinking water distribution system by the
same terrorist cell responsible for the CWA attack
on the stadium.
ack
The exercise design for each component consisted of
an Exercise Design Team, Participant Team, and Evalu-
ator Team, who were supported and guided by EPA and
contractor staff to develop and implement the exercise.
The CWA and TIC Environmental Scenario was con-
ducted by EPA. The CWA Clinical and Select Biological
Agent Environmental Scenarios were run by state public
health labs in partnership with CDC.
The FSE involved participants from EPA Regions, EPA
headquarters (HQ), CDC, Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion (FBI), state public health and state environmental
laboratories, drinking water utilities, and federal, state,
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
and local first responders and law enforcement. This
multi-region exercise provided a venue for participants
to practice procedures related to providing support to an
environmental and public health incident that included
actual sample analyses, communication, coordination,
and data reporting. Many of the steps and issues cov-
ered in the scenario were taken from lessons learned
and corrections to plans and procedures derived from
functional exercises held in each EPA Region during
2008 and from the findings of the May 13-14, 2008 EPA
New England Homeland Security Environmental Sum-
mit.
The FSE took place over an eight-day period starting on
a Friday (Day 1) and ending on the following Friday
(Day 8). As each participating group completed their ex-
ercise activities, they were given the opportunity to meet
and discuss their exercise activities through a half-hour
debriefing. Following the exercise hot washes were
conducted for each scenario to allow the participants to
discuss and share their findings with the other partici-
pants in their group.
gional Laboratory. The exercise Field Team developed
the sample documentation and packed and shipped the
samples to the various participating laboratories during
the week of the exercise. This allowed testing of coordi-
nation of analytical services, sample packing, shipping,
and sample receipt, sample analysis, quality assur-
ance/quality control (QA/QC), generation of electronic
data deliverables, and data management.
Participants in the FSE rated the exercise as successful
and stated that they enjoyed the interaction between the
laboratories and with an Incident Command, implemen-
tation of the draft response plans, and the opportunity to
work with real samples. The exercise identified neces-
sary improvements to existing and draft plans and to co-
ordination and communication across regions and
agencies. Needed refinements to sample management,
QA/QC, data reporting and data management expecta-
tions and plans were also identified. In addition to iden-
tifying improvements to plans and procedures across
organizations, each participating organization leveraged
the exercise to practice and enhance their own internal
operating procedures.
ntegrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks (ICLN)
Food
Emergency
Response
Network
(FERN)
National Plant Environmental
Diagnostic Response
Network Laboratory
(NPDN) Network (ERLN)
Laboratory
Response
Network
(LRN)
National
Animal Health
Laboratory
Network
(NAHLN)
Water Laboratory Alliance (WLA)
WLA Response Plan (WLA-RP)
1 1
ERLN
For the CWA and TICs Environmental Scenario, the inci-
dent command (1C), Regional environmental unit (EU),
and field team were located at one Regional Laboratory.
EPA Headquarters Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) and the EPA Water Desk participated in the exer-
cise and tested components of the ICLN Network Coor-
dinating Group (NCG) standard operating procedure.
State laboratory participants in the CWA and TIC Envi-
ronmental portion of the exercise were primarily from
one region, while state laboratories from a second Re-
gion provided overflow capacity. Additional laboratories
from other Regions also participated. All samples for
the exercise were shipped in advance to the lead Re-
in 2008 the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Re-
sponse (OSWER) launched the Environmental Re-
sponse Laboratory Network (ERLN). The initial launch
of the ERLN included the ten regional laboratories and
two state laboratories with unique testing capabilities. In
2009, the regional laboratories worked with OSWER to
expand the network to include additional state and com-
mercial laboratories. OSWER established the ERLN as
an Agency asset to ensure sufficient analytical capability
and capacity to respond to routine accidents as well as
nationally significant incidents, such as terrorist attacks
involving weapons of mass destruction and for other
purposes such as surveillance and monitoring.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
The ERLN is an Agency-wide, integrated network requir-
ing coordination across offices to cover chemical (in-
cluding toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare
agents), biological, and radiological/nuclear agents in
drinking water and all other environmental media. It is a
scalable network which expands and/or leverages exist-
ing laboratory infrastructure and networks, and is de-
signed to implement responsibilities under Homeland
Security Presidential Directives 7, 9, 10 and 22. As a
charter member of the Integrated Consortium of Labora-
tory Networks (ICLN), EPA also coordinates externally
with other federal laboratory networks to produce timely,
high quality, interpretable data.
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FY 2009 Annual Repot
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Section
While supporting the EPA goals is the primary mission
of the regional laboratories, they also strive to be good
environmental stewards and to provide a healthy and
safe working environment for their employees. The rep-
utation of the regional laboratory is judged by the quality
of science it offers to regional and national programs.
Far less visible, but no less important, is the diligence
and commitment of laboratory management and staff to
supporting the infrastructure required to deliver the sci-
ence.
Quality Systems
The policy of the regional laboratories is to conduct all
business with integrity and in an ethical manner. It is the
basic and expected responsibility of each staff member
and each manager to adhere to EPA's Principles of Sci-
entific Integrity, dated November 24, 1999. This policy
statement has been incorporated into the quality man-
agement plans of all the regional laboratories. It pro-
vides the foundation for the inclusion of ethics and
ethics training into the quality systems to insure the pro-
duction of data that is scientifically sound and defensi-
ble.
Evaluation and accreditation of the regional laboratories
is crucial to ensuring the quality of environmental data.
In part, as a response to EPA's January 6, 2004 policy
directive "Ensuring the Competency of Environmental
Protection Laboratories," EPA's regional laboratories are
committed to accreditation through the National Environ-
mental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP).
NELAP is the program that implements the quality sys-
tem standards adopted by the National Environmental
Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC). Both
the NELAC standards and the NELAP program fall
under the NELAC Institute (TNI). TNI is a non-profit or-
ganization whose mission it is to foster the generation of
environmental data of known and documented quality
through an open, inclusive, and transparent process that
is responsive to the needs of the community.
Nine out often EPA regional laboratories have received
and are currently maintaining accreditation through
NELAP for the analysis of samples in one or more of the
following matrices: drinking water, non-potable water,
solid and chemical materials, and air and emissions. In
FY 2009, all regional laboratories that had re-assess-
ments scheduled were successfully re-accredited by
NELAP.
Sustainability
Sustainability covers a variety of elements that are es-
sential to effective laboratory operation. These include
environmental management, health and safety, and
facilities management. In recent years, identifying and
implementing long-term efficiencies and cost saving op-
portunities within the regional laboratory network has
become another key Sustainability issue.
i. Identifying and Maximizing Efficiencies
In FY2009, the ten regional laboratories continued their
efforts to identify and implement long-term efficiencies
and cost saving opportunities within the regional labora-
tory network. These efforts included investigating op-
portunities to reduce individual laboratory costs, improve
energy and water conservation, and evaluate strategic
sourcing options. For example:
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design:
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) is an internationally recognized green building
certification system for high-performance, low impact
buildings. LEED provides third-party verification that a
building is designed, built and operated using strategies
aimed at improving performance related to energy sav-
ings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, im-
proved indoor environmental quality, stewardship of
resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Currently, two
regional laboratory facilities have achieved Gold Certi-
fied LEED status. A third regional laboratory facility has
now registered to gain LEED certification by 2011. The
regional laboratory has assembled a cross-divisional
team that includes lab staff. In 2009, work began on
gathering data related to energy use, site management,
water use efficiency, indoor air quality, green purchas-
ing, solid waste management and green cleaning that
will be needed for LEED certification.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
Section III (cont.)
ii. Environmental Management
EPA continues to move forward to integrate and utilize
environmental management systems (EMS) as the
framework for enhancing its environmental perform-
ance, reducing its environmental footprint, and demon-
strating its leadership in environmental stewardship.
Likewise, the regional laboratories are committed to em-
ploying EMS in order to prevent and reduce environ-
mental impacts and in order to comply with legal and
applicable requirements. Notable environmental man-
agement measures implemented in 2009 include:
Strive for 45 Recycling Rally:
The Strive for 45 Recycling Rally was a six month recy-
cling competition among EPA offices and laboratories
that ran from January to June of 2009. The goal of the
Rally was to infuse a spirit of friendly competition into
EPA waste reduction initiatives including a goal to
achieve a 45 percent Agency-wide waste diversion rate.
Eighteen EPA facilities participated in the Rally including
four regional laboratories. Office and labs quickly
demonstrated considerable waste diversion prowess. In
the end, the participating facilities diverted more than
918 tons of materials from EPA's waste stream in only
six months.
Solvent Reduction:
Solvent reduction under the EMS program at one re-
gional laboratory allowed the laboratory to be reclassi-
fied as a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity
Generator (less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste
per month) for the first time in the lab's history.
Analytical Procedural Change:
A regional laboratory changed its analytical techniques
for the automated analysis of inorganic constituents to a
technique that uses discrete analyzer (DA) technology.
This technology uses 100 times less sample, generates
at least 10 times less waste and can run up to seven
tests in one run compared to the previous technique
which ran one at a time.
iii. Health and Safety
The health and safety of laboratory personnel is the
most important laboratory management imperative. The
usage of glassware, fire and heat, high-pressure com-
pressed gases or liquefied gases, solvents and contami-
nated samples combine to increase the probability for
accidents and creates safety concerns that make labo-
ratories inherently more risky than office environments.
All of the EPA's laboratories have invested heavily in
their health and safety programs and have an excellent
safety record as proof of their efforts. Efforts related to
health and safety include:
Medical monitoring programs to evaluate and
track the health of those employees with a signif-
icant possibility of workplace exposure to haz-
ardous compounds.
Periodic, comprehensive audit of safety, health,
environmental compliance and internal controls
by the EPA Headquarters.
Health and safety committees with representa-
tion from laboratory employees to provide a
forum for discussing safety and health issues,
and assist the safety officer in planning training
activities and organizing safety inspections.
Annual refresher health and safety training.
iv. Facilities Management
EPA regional laboratories are housed in various types of
facilities, from converted World War I buildings to the lat-
est architectural designs which incorporate energy effi-
ciency and make use of alternative fuel sources. While
some facilities are U.S. Government owned, most are
operated under lease agreements through the General
Services Administration. The regional laboratories are
home to fixed laboratory functions, field investigation
functions, and mobile laboratories. Facilities manage-
ment involves not only day-to-day oversight activities for
proper maintenance, but the planning, budgeting, and
construction of needed modifications such as building
expansions and upgrades of servicing equipment.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
:Y 2009 Annual Report
Section III (cont.)
Future Challenges
Each regional laboratory is a center of applied scientific
support that meets the unique needs of its geographical
region, states and tribes. As environmental analytical
laboratories, all ten organizations share many long-term
and short-term challenges to meeting their goals. The
following challenges represent a summary of those
needs identified by the regional laboratories.
Ability to meet customer needs as the demand
for quicker turnaround times for analytical results
continue to be the trend in Superfund removal
actions and emergency response.
Ability to balance increasing demands for scien-
tific support with static or decreasing staffing lev-
els and loss of expertise due to retirement of
senior scientists.
Ability to maintain and expand capacity to pro-
vide analytical services in a cost-effective and
efficient manner.
Ability to remain flexible and cultivate the neces-
sary foresight to meet changing analytical needs
and to address emerging pollutants and contam-
inants of concern.
Maintenance of accreditation under the National
Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Confer-
ence (NELAC) or similar programs.
Expansion of collaborative efforts with the scien-
tific community in order to advance the science
of environmental monitoring and analysis.
Involvement in a variety of efforts to support
Homeland Security including establishment of
the Environmental Response Laboratory Net-
work (ERLN), development of analytical capabili-
ties to give appropriate analytical support in
emergency situations, and acquisition of neces-
sary training for the identification and measure-
ment of unknown threat agents.
Conducting business as usual while some re-
gional laboratories undergo renovation.
Meeting the Challenge
The regional laboratories play a key role in supporting
the Agency's strategic goals and provide significant sci-
entific foundations to meet these goals. In addition to
supporting national laboratory program initiatives, the
laboratories provide strong science and laboratory capa-
bilities for the regions. The laboratories are a crucial
part of the integrated analytical capacity needed to meet
specific environmental objectives on a global, national,
regional and local basis. As EPA moves into the future,
the regional laboratories will take on a variety of chal-
lenges in order to continue their support for the mission
of the Agency. The regional laboratories intend to meet
these challenges by, among other activities:
Identifying and addressing priorities.
Identifying and implementing additional long-
term efficiencies and cost saving opportunities.
Maintaining highly skilled laboratory staff through
training, employee development, scientific col-
laborations, and technology and information
transfer.
Updating laboratory equipment in order to in-
crease analytical capabilities.
Identifying opportunities for regional laboratories
to pool their efforts in order to address high prior-
ity projects.
Staying current with technology and science is-
sues relating to analytical methodology, instru-
mentation and emerging pollutants of concern.
Exploring opportunities for alternative/additional
mechanisms for financial support.
Improved marketing of services and capabilities.
Enhancing communication and coordination with
programs.
Intra-regional networking with other governmen-
tal and private sector laboratories to improve
communications, coordinate development efforts
and provide mutual support.
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US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
L.MIILD STAVES
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-------
:Y 2009 Annual Report
EPA Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities - FY 2009
I. Chemistry
ANALYTE / GROUP
NAME
SAMPLE MEDIA
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
2
3
4
5 6
7
8
9
10
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY:
Acidity
Alkalinity
Asbestos
Chloride
Chromium,
Hexavalent (Cr+6)
Cyanide, Amenable
Cyanide, Total
Fluoride
Hardness
Mercury, Total
Mercury, Total
Mercury (TCLP)
Metals, Total
Metals (TCLP)
Metals, Total
Metals (TCLP)
Metals, Total
Metals (TCLP)
Water
Water
Solids/Bulk material
Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Water
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste
Water
Water
Water
Water
Water
Water
Soil/Sediment
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Soil/Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil /Sediment
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Soil/Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Tissue (Fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Soil/Waste (oil, drum, etc.)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Tissue (Fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Soil/Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Titrimetric
Titrimetric
PLM
PLM
Colorimetric
1C
Titrimetric
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C
1C
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
ISE
1C
Colorimetric
Titrimetric
ICP/Calculation
CVAA
CVAA
CVAA
CVAA
CVAA
ICP/AES
ICP/AES
ICP /AES
ICP/AES
ICP/AES
GFAA
GFAA
GFAA
GFAA
GFAA
ICP/MS
ICP/MS
ICP/MS
ICP/MS
ICP/MS
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
EPA-270-R-10-001
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
:Y 2009 Annual Report
EPA Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities - FY 2009
I. Chemistry (continued)
ANALYTE / GROUP
NAME
Nitrogen (Ammonia)
Nitrogen
(NO3 &/or NO2)
Nitrogen,
Total Kjeldahl
Perchlorate
Phosphorus, Ortho
Phosphorus, Total
Sulfate
Sulfide
SAMPLE MEDIA
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Water, Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Water
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Water
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
Electrode
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C
1C
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C
1C
1C with LC/MS confir-
mation
LC/MS
LC/MS/MS
Colorimetric
1C
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C
1C
Turbidimetric
Turbidimetric
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C, Turbidimetric
Titrimetric
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
4
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
5
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
7
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
8
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
10
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY:
BNA
BNA(TCLP)
BNA(TPH)
BOD
COD
EDB&DBCP
Herbicides
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Solid/Waste
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Water
Water
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS or GC
GC/MS or GC
Membrane Electrode
Photometric
Colorimetric
GC/ECD
GC/ECD; GC/NPD
GC/ECD; GC/NPD
GC/ECD; GC/NPD
GC/ECD; GC/NPD
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
EPA-270-R-10-001
-------
:Y 2009 Annual Report
EPA Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities - FY 2009
I. Chemistry (continued)
ANALYTE / GROUP
NAME
Herbicides (TCLP)
Oil & Grease
Pesticides /PCBs
Pesticides (TCLP)
Phenolics
PAHs
TOO
VOA
VOA (TCLP)
VOA (TPH)
SAMPLE MEDIA
Solid/Waste
Solid/Waste
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Solid/Waste
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Air
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil
Water
Water
Water
Soil/Sediment
Air
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Solid/Waste
Water
Soil/Sediment
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
GC/ECD
HPLC/UV Detection
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
GC/ECD
GC/ECD
GC/ECD
GC/ECD
GC/ECD
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
Combustion / IR
Combustion / IR
Combustion/Oxidation
UV/Persulfate
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC
GC
GC
GC/MS
GC/MS or GC
GC/MS or GC
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
4
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
5
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
7
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
8
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
10
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
II. Physical & Other Determinations
ANALYTE /GROUP
NAME
SAMPLE MEDIA
Conductivity
Flash Point
Ignitability
Water
Aqueous/Liquid
Waste (oil, drum, etc.)
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
Specific
Conductance
Pensky-Marten or
Seta
Pensky-Marten or Seta
Closed Cup
Pensky-Marten or Seta
Closed Cup
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
X
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
4
X
X
X
X
5
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
X
7
X
X
X
8
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
10
X
X
X
EPA-270-R-10-001
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
:Y 2009 Annual Report
EPA Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities - FY 2009
II. Physical & Other Determinations (continued)
AN ALYTE/ GROUP
NAME
SAMPLE MEDIA
PH
Solids,
Non-Filterable
Solids, Percent
Solids, Total
Solids,
Total Dissolved
Solids,
Total Volatile
Turbidity
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Water
Water
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
Electrometric
Electrometric
Electrometric
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
Nephelometric
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
4
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
5
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
7
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
8
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
10
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
I. Biology
ANALYTE / GROUP
NAME
Coliform, Total
Coliform, Fecal
E. coli
Toxicity
(Acute & Chronic)
SAMPLE MEDIA
Water, Soil &/or Sludge
Water, Soil &/or Sludge
Water, Soil &/or Sludge
Water
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
Various
Various
Various
Fathead,
Ceriodaphnia
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
X
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
X
4
5
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
X
7
X
X
X
8
X
X
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
10
X
X
X
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2009 Annual Repot
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
:Y 2009 Annual Report
Abbreviations
AIWPS
APEs
AQS
ASTM
BNA
BOD
CAFOs
CDC
CERCLA
CID
C02
COD
CVAA
CWA
CWA
DA
DBCP
DDT
DHS
Dl
DO
EBCI
EDB
EDCs
EDS
ELISA
EMS
EOC
EPA
ERLN
EU
FBI
FERN
FIFRA
FSE
FY
GC
GC/ECD/PID
GC/MS
GC/NIMS
GC/NPD
GFAA
HABs
HPLC
HQ
1C
ICLN
ICP
ICP/AES
ICPMS
Advanced Integrated Wastewater Pond System
Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
Air Quality System
American Society for Testing and Materials
Base/Neutrals and Acids Extractable Organics
Biological Oxygen Demand
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
Criminal Investigation Division
Carbon Dioxide
Chemical Oxygen Demand
Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Chemical Warfare Agent
Clean Water Act
Discrete Analyzer
Dibromochloroproprane
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
Department of Homeland Security
De-ionized
Dissolved Oxygen
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Ethylene Dibromide
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds
Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Environmental Management Systems
Emergency Operations Center
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Response Laboratory Network
Environmental Unit
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Food Emergency Response Network
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
Full Scale Exercise
Fiscal Year
Gas Chromatography
Gas Chromatograph/Electron Capture Detector/Photo-lonization Detector
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Gas Chromatography/Negative Ion Mass Spectrometry
Gas Chromatography/Nitrogen-Phosphorous Detector
Graphic Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Harmful Algal Blooms
High Performance Liquid Chromatography
EPA Headquarters
Ion Chromatography
Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks
Inductively Coupled (Argon) Plasma
Inductively Coupled Plasma/Atomic Emission Spectrometry
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
:Y 2009 Annual Report
Abbreviations
ICS
IR
ISE
LC-MS
LC/MS/MS
LEED
LIMS
LMII
LRN
LTIG
LUST
MIS
mg/L
MPRSA
MS-MS
NAHLN
NASA
NCG
NDMA
NEIC
NELAC
NELAP
NERL
N03
NO2
NOX
NPDES
NPDN
ODMDS
OEM
ORD
OSWER
PAHs
PCBs
PCR
PEP
PLM
PM
PPE
ppq
QA
QC
RARE
REMAP
RMP
RCRA
SDWA
SEM
SIM
Incident Command System
Infrared
Ion Selective Electrode
Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Liquid Chromatography/Dual Mass Spectrometry
Leadership in Energy and Environment Design
Laboratory Information Management System
Lake Macroinvertebrate Integrity Index
Laboratory Response Network
Laboratory Technical Information Group
Leaking Underground Storage Tank
Multi-Increment Sampling
Milligrams/liter
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
Mass Spectrometer-Mass Spectrometer
National Animal Health Laboratory Network
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Network Coordinating Group (ICLN)
N-Nitrosodimethylamine
National Enforcement Investigations Center
National Environmental Lab Accreditation Conference
National Environmental Lab Accreditation Program
National Exposure Research Laboratory
Nitrate
Nitrite
Nitrogen Oxide
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
National Plant Diagnostic Network
Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site
Office of Emergency Management
Office of Research & Development
Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Performance Evaluation Program
Polarized Light Microscopy
Particulate Matter
Personal Protective Equipment
part per quadrillion
Quality Assurance
Quality Control
Regional Applied Research Effort
Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
Regional Methods Program
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Selected Ion Mode
-------
:Y 2009 Annual Report
Abbreviations
SMMP Site Management and Monitoring Plan
SRP Standard Reference Photometer
SO2 Sulfur Dioxide
TCE Trichloroethene
TCLP Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure
TIC Toxic Industrial Chemical
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
TNI The NELAC Institute
TOC Total Organic Carbon
TOXNET Toxicology and Environmental Information
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act
TTP Through-The-Probe
ug/L Micrograms/liter
VD/GC/MS Vacuum Distillation in Combination with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
VOA Volatile Organic Analytes/Analyses
VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds
VX Chemical Warfare Agent (nerve agent)
WHO World Health Organization
WLA Water Laboratory Alliance
WLA-RP Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan
WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction
WSC Water Security Division
WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant
XRD X-ray Diffraction
XRF X-ray Flourescence
303(d) Clean Water Act Section/ Total Maximum Daily Loads
------- |