U.S. EPA Environmental Technology Verification Program
Advanced Monitoring Systems (AMS) Center
Water Stakeholder Committee Teleconference
Monday, April 24, 2006
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Eastern
Teleconference Meeting Minutes
AGENDA
Welcome, Agenda, and Meeting Objectives
ETV Program Update
Stakeholder Introductions and Insights
Update on Verification Activities
• Ballast Water Monitors
• Arsenic Monitors (Round 3)
• Beach Monitoring
Potential Technology Categories
• Microcystins ELISA Test Kits
• Estrogen ELISA Test Kits
• Chemical Oxygen Demand Techniques
• Multi-Parameter Water Monitors
Hot Topics
Next Meeting
Wrap-up and Action Items
Adjourn
Rachel Sell,
Battelle
Amy Dindal,
Battelle
Rachel Sell/
Stakeholders
Amy Dindal
Ryan James,
Battelle
Rachel Sell
Rachel Sell
Rachel Sell
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ATTENDEES
Stakeholder Committee Members:
John Carlton, Alabama Department of Environmental Management (retired)
Christine Kolbe, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Marty Link, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Alan Mearns, Hazardous Materials Response Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Lisa Olsen, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Rick Sakaji, California Department of Health Services
Geoff Scott, NOAA/NOS Center for Coastal Environmental Health & Biomolecular Research
Ken Wood, DuPont
ETV AMS Center Staff:
Amy Dindal, Battelle
Ryan James, Battelle
Bob Fuerst, EPA/RTP
Rachel Sell, Battelle
Welcome, Agenda, and Meeting Objectives
Rachel Sell, Battelle AMS Center Stakeholder Committee Coordinator, welcomed the committee
stakeholders to the second AMS Center Water Stakeholder Committee teleconference of 2006.
ETV Program Update
Amy Dindal, Battelle AMS Center Verification Testing Leader, provided an update on the ETV
Program, including an overview of the 2nd International Environmental Technology Verification
Forum held in Vancouver on March 28 and the availability of the recently published ETV
Program Case Studies document available on the ETV web site. Regarding the AMS Center, Ms.
Dindal summarized recent water, water security, and air verifications that have either completed
or are in-progress. Finally, she discussed the future of the ETV Program and the impact of the
current funding situation on the sustainability of the AMS Center.
Stakeholder Introductions and Insights
Ms. Sell asked each stakeholder to provide a brief introduction, describe his or her role within
their organization, and any ideas they may have regarding leads for long-term collaborations for
the AMS Center to pursue. Responding to a question from a stakeholder, Ms. Sell noted that
opportunities for long-term collaborations may exist in federal or local agencies as well as within
trade associations and industry.
Lisa Olsen recommended looking at the American Competitiveness Initiative and offered to send
the web site to the stakeholder committee. (Post-meeting note: Ms. Olsen sent two web sites
regarding the initiative, http://www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2006/aci/ and
http://www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2006/aci/aci06-booklet.pdf.)
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Alan Mearns suggested exploring the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine
Environmental Technology (CICEET) for potential collaboration opportunities. The AMS Center
has spoken to them on previous occasions. An action item was made for Ms. Dindal to touch
base with Kalle Matso again.
Geoff Scott said the National Environmental Observing Network (NEON), an initiative funded
by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is the first national ecological observation system
designed to answer scientific questions at regional and continental scales, is starting to get off the
ground. Dr. Liz Blood is the NSF program director for NEON. More information can be found
at: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news summ.jsp?cntnid=l00445. Dr. Scott also suggested
checking with the NOAA-funded Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT) http://www.act-
us.info/ as they might be interested in participating in a long-term collaboration and would
complement the ETV Program. The AMS Center has spoken to ACT on previous occasions and
Mario Tamburri of ACT has participated in a stakeholder meeting. An action item was made for
Ms. Dindal to contact Mario Tamburri again.
Ken Wood described his interest in whole effluent toxicity testing. He recognized that the AMS
Center has verified rapid toxicity technologies under the water security arm of the AMS Center,
and recognized the dual-use of these technologies that are also important in environmental water
monitoring as well.
Christine Kolbe mentioned that she is working with the USGS and the National Park Service
(NFS) on a continuous water quality monitoring project in the Houston-Galveston area and the
Rio Grande. She said they are using multi-parameter water sensors from Greenspan Analytical,
an Australian company
Rick Sakaji said there was interest in the verification of test kits for microcystins in California
and he has seen the Battelle proposal to the State Water Resources Board for a microcystins ETV
test. He also suggested developing a resource funding guide that could be offered to vendors on
available loans or grants. Ms. Dindal noted that under SBIR Phase II, ETV can provide letters of
support for vendors. This idea would be good to provide to the ETV Program Office.
Bob Fuerst, EPA Project Officer for the AMS Center, thanked the stakeholders for their
continued support and said to let him or Ms. Dindal know of any potential ideas or sources of
funding.
Update on Verification Activities
Ms. Dindal provided an update on three verification activities. She reviewed slides from a
PowerPoint presentation distributed to stakeholders before the teleconference.
Vendor recruitment for the Ballast Water Monitoring verification will be initiated once co-
funding from the Coast Guard is secured. Perhaps by the next teleconference the experimental
design for this verification can be discussed.
The testing of an Arsenic Analyzer (Round 3) was initiated in late February and completed in
March. The technology tested was the SafeGuard™ Arsenic Analyzer from TraceDetect. The
other vendor, SpectraSensors, withdrew from the test to further develop their analyzer. Dr. Sakaji
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asked what Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) values were reported for the SafeGuard™ Arsenic
Analyzer. (Post-meeting note: According to the Verification Test Coordinator, Anne Gregg, TDS
was not analyzed in the water samples that were tested, so TDS levels in the tested samples are
unknown.) Dr. Sakaji noted that the secondary maximum contaminant level (MCL) range for
TDS based on conductivity is 900 micromhos per centimeter, with an upper limit of 1,600 and a
short term level of 2,200. The TDS would be 500 mg/L, with an upper limit of 1,000 and short
term limit of 1,500. Since TDS was not measured in any of the water samples, the information
provided by Dr. Sakaji will be considered for future tests.
Dr. Sakaji also asked how sensitive the test was in identifying inter-unit differences. (Post-
meeting note: Ms. Gregg said that a paired t-test was performed to evaluate whether the sample
results were significantly different at a 95% confidence level. The results from the two units
tested were significantly different (0.05 level) when operated by the technical user, but not
different at the 0.05 significance level for the non-technical user. For this data set (20 data
points), a difference of about 10% or more was considered statistically significant. The
difference between the average result of the two units when operated by the technical user was
17% whereas the difference with the non-technical user was 7%. Neither Unit #1 or #2 showed a
significant operator bias at the 0.05 level. The % difference in the two operator means was 8%
and 2% for Unit # 1 and Unit # 2 respectively. Sensitivity and power (|3) of the test will be
discussed in the final report to address Dr. Sakaji's comment.)
The Beach Monitoring verification test is expected to begin around Labor Day, 2006, in
collaboration with New York Suffolk County Department of Health Services. Currently, four
vendors have signed vendor agreements and seem pleased with the current test design. Ms. Olsen
asked if the testing will include damp sand as it could be another source of pathogens. (Post-
meeting note: Ms. Sell provided this comment to Ann Louise Sumner, AMS Center Verification
Test Coordinator, as she works through the details of the test with Vito Minei and his lab
director.)
Post-meeting note: Dr. Sakaji said that the Orange County Health Agency might be interested in
assisting with the beach monitoring verification, which might benefit the program from doing a
west coast and east coast site. He suggested that Battelle follow-up with Larry Honeybourne at
(714) 667-3750 or (LHoneybourne@hca.co.orange.ca.us).
Potential Technology Categories
Ryan James, Battelle AMS Center Verification Test Coordinator, provided an update on the
status of four potential technology categories.
There is a possible collaboration for verification of Immunoassay Test Kits for Microcystins;
Battelle is currently in discussions with Blue-Green Algae Task Force, primary contact is with
EPA Region 9. Dr. James will follow-up with Maria Rea in EPA Region 9 regarding this
opportunity.
Dr. Mearns said that blue-green algae is a problem at Green Lake Park in Seattle. Dr. James will
follow up with Dr. Mearns on potential leads within the City of Seattle.
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Ms. Olsen asked if the test kits measured other toxins. Dr. James said that if an antibody can be
developed for the toxin then it would be possible. Ms. Dindal added that Abraxis has an ELISA
kit for domoic acid. When developing the experimental design for the microcystin test kits, Dr.
Sakaji said to measure free product, not cellular product, and to be aware of how to interpret the
results of the environmental samples.
Dr. James reported that with additional funding, a verification of Estrogen ELISA test kits
could started in FY06. There is interest and limited funding within EPA Region 3 to support a
verification test.
Ms. Olsen said that she would provide contact information for Julie Kiang of the Interstate
Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) who might be interested in this verification.
(Post-meeting note: Ms. Olsen sent an email with contact information for Traci Kammer
Goldberg (tgoldberg@fairfaxwater. org) of Fairfax County Water Authority, the current contact
for the Potomac River Basin Drinking-Water Source-Protection Partnership. Julie Kiang of
ICPRB was the previous point person. Ms. Dindal forwarded the information to Ron Landy in
EPA Region 3 and will follow-up with him.)
Dr. Sakaji noted that the WateReuse Foundation or the Water Environment Foundation might be
interested in the estrogen ELISA test kit verification. Post-meeting note: Dr. Sakaji said it would
be best if the AMS Center could partner with a member agency such as a large sanitary district
that practices water reuse. Potential partners could include: Orange County Water District
(Michael Wehner; mwehner@ocwd.com: (714) 378-3297), West Basin (RichNagel;
richn@ web water, org: (310) 660-6210), or County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
(Vicki Conway; (562) 908-4288 x2502).
Dr. James said that no testing has been previously conducted for Chemical Oxygen Demand
Techniques, but that test kits are often used. Eleven commercially available technologies have
been identified. Mr. Wood said that many plants at DuPont use the Hach spectrophotometer
COD kits, but the new methods seem to be much quicker. He said that a lot of groups, such as
the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA), would be interested in a
verification of this technology category. Ms. Dindal said that the AMS Center plans to contact
the Water Environment Federation (WEF).
Finally, Dr. James described a potential verification of Multi-Parameter Water Monitors using
a grab sampling technology by Sensicore. Previous verification tests in this area were applied
within a distribution system from a water security standpoint or included sondes in open water
sources. This latest verification could include testing source and finished drinking water samples.
Ms. Kolbe said that it may be feasible to test the other multi-parameter water sensors (e.g., the
Greenspan system) simultaneously with the Sensicore system. An action was taken for Dr.
James to follow-up with Ms. Kolbe to discuss multi-parameter water sensors.
Post-meeting note: Ms. Olsen forwarded a list of additional vendors for this category.
Dr. Mearns asked if the Sensicore system could be applied to saltwater. Dr. James will check on
this question with Sensicore.
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Dr. Sakaji said that for drinking water, or in-plant compliance monitoring, the verification needs
to include free and residual chlorine measurements as well as turbidity measurements. He
mentioned using EPA Method 180.1 as a reference method for turbidity. Ms. Olsen said that in
addition to finished water applications, there is interest in environmental and wastewater
applications.
Members of the committee supported proceeding with this verification. Ms. Kolbe, Mr. Wood,
and Ms. Olsen volunteered to meet again to discuss the development of the test/QA plan. Ms.
Kolbe also expressed interest in supporting the test.
Hot Topics
Ms. Sell asked the stakeholders if they were aware of any new opportunities that the ETV/AMS
Center should be exploring, and when making a recommendation, to try to indicate the level of
importance or priority the technology category exhibits.
Dr. Sakaji suggested testing UV sensors and offered to provide a lead at HydroQual who does
testing in this area. (Post-meeting note: Dr. Sakaji said that that Karl Scheible at HydroQual has
the primary responsibility for the UV testing facility at Johnstown, NY. He can be contacted at
(201) 529-5151 or kscheible@hydroqual.com. They have tested UV reactors for the New York
City water supply and may be able to provide the AMS Center with direction on UV sensor
testing.)
Upcoming Schedule
Ms. Sell said that because of busy travel schedules during the summer months, another
teleconference would be ideal. The stakeholders agreed that having a teleconference in the
summer made sense. She noted the next teleconference would be planned for in the late
July/early August timeframe. Ms. Sell said the AMS Center would explore the idea of having an
in-person meeting in late Fall of 2006.
Wrap-up and Review of Action Items
Ms. Sell reviewed the action items brought forth on the call:
1. Ms. Olsen will pass along the link for the American Competitiveness Initiative to
Battelle. (Action completed after the teleconference.)
2. Battelle will touch base again with CICEET and ACT on potential long-term
partnerships.
3. Battelle will follow up with Dr. Sakaji regarding his questions on the Arsenic Analyzers
(Round 3) verification. (Action completed after the teleconference.)
4. Battelle will contact Larry Honeybourne with the Orange County Health Agency
regarding the beach monitoring verification.
5. Dr. James will follow-up with Maria Rea in EPA Region 9 regarding the microcystins
verification.
6. Dr. James will follow up with Dr. Mearns on potential leads within the City of Seattle for
microcystins testing.
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7. Ms. Olsen will pass along information for the Potomac River Basin Drinking-Water
Source-Protection Partnership. (Action completed after the teleconference.)
8. Battelle will follow up on suggestions provided by Dr. Sakaji for the Estrogen ELISA test
kits verification.
9. Dr. James will follow-up with Ms. Kolbe to discuss multi-parameter water sensors.
10. Dr. James will check if the Sensicore system can be used for saltwater applications.
11. Battelle will follow up on the suggestion provided by Dr. Sakaji for testing UV sensors.
12. As an action item from the February 6 teleconference, Dr. Mearns said that he will check
on potential opportunities in the area of dissolved oxygen monitoring at NOAA's
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Kasitsna Bay Laboratory as well
as contact the Northwest Straits Commission and investigate ETV co-funding
opportunities.
Ms. Sell thanked all of the stakeholders for attending the meeting and contributing so much to
ETV. The call adjourned at 3:20 pm Eastern.
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