UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                                                                             WSG44A
                                                              Date Signed:  May 18, 1989
                                                                     Revised: July 1998
                                                                Revised by: Judith Fraser
MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT:   Lab Certification for Lead Contamination Control Act (LCCA)

FROM:      Arthur H. Perler, Chief
             Science and Technology Branch, CSD

TO:          Jeanne Bri skin
             Regulatory Impact Analyst, ODW

THROUGH: Joseph A. Cotruvo, Ph.D., Director
             Criteria and Standards Division, ODW
       As we discussed on the phone on May 17, 1989, here is some draft language for your
response to paragraphs 1 and 3 on page 2 of Rosov's letter.

       Q. 1   The LCCA requires that testing be done in laboratories approved by the State.
             EPA does not intend to write laboratory certification regulations under the LCCA.
             Rather, EPA recommends that States base approvals under the LCCA upon their
             existing laboratory certification program for lead compliance samples under the
             Safe Drinking Water Act. States should examine each laboratory's current
             certification status and performance on recent low-level PE-samples provided by
             EPA, or equivalent samples.

       Q. 2   In March 1997, EPA published the "Manual for the Certification of
             Laboratories, Analyzing Drinking Water Criteria and Procedures, Quality
             Assurance" (4th Edition). This manual attempts to address past difficulties resulting
             from significant differences in State laboratory certification programs. It is
             available via the internet at http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/labindex.html
(Signed by: Arthur H. Perler)

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