Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board Meeting Monthly Teleconference February 20, 2019

ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
Monthly Teleconference: 202-991-0477/7939251#, February 20, 2019; 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
MEETING SUMMARY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board
(ELAB or Board) teleconference meeting was held on February 20, 2019. The agenda for this
meeting is provided as Attachment A, a list of meeting participants is provided as Attachment B,
and action items are included as Attachment C. The official certification of the minutes by the
Chair or Vice-Chair and the Designated Federal Officer is included as Attachment D.
ROLL CALL/ INTRODUCTION
Dr. Delaney called the meeting to order and called roll.
APPROVAL OF THE PRIOR MINUTES
Dr. Jayesh Ghandi motioned to approve the December 2018 meeting minutes. Ms. Sharon
Mertens seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved.
Mr. Brad Meadows motioned to approve the January 2019 meeting minutes. Dr. Francoise
Chauvin seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved.
OPENING REMARKS AND UPDATES FROM THE DFO
Dr. Tom O'Farrell informed the Board that Mr. Mike Flournoy is the new ELAB Chair. ELAB
members should send nominations for the Vice Chair position to Dr. O'Farrell by March 1.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Environmental Samples: Challenges and
Opportunities for Environmental laboratories. Dr. Jennifer Field, Oregon State University.
Dr. Field gave an overview of the topic highlighting the magnitude of the analytical challenge,
the types of sophisticated instrumentation needed, and how these measurements arc used to
characterize sources of human and ecosystem exposure.

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TASK (;roi p updates on current topics
User-Generated Mass Spectral Library Acceptance Criteria
OW and OLEM have provided comments and OLEM's final comments were received this
morning in memo form. OLEM also provided comments on the SIM letter. Dr. OTarrell has
drafted a letter hack to KLAB summarizing the comments that will he signed by the Science
Advisor's Office.
Acrolein and Acryionitrile Preservation
Mr. Meadows is working with the ACIL ESS committee to recruit labs for a study to address
Acrolein and Acryionitrile pH preservation in wastewater samples,
600-Series Methods
Dr. Delaney, Mr. Richard Gosselt. Mr. Frederici. Dr. Chauvin. and Mr. Thai will be on the work
group. Dr. Lcibovitz will send out invitations for the first meeting.
OGti'Dlf Guidance on Drinking Water MDLs
A draft letter to EPA on this topic has been prepared. Dr. Delaney asked if the letter needs
further editing. The letter will be discussed further at the next meeting. Mr. Adrian Haniey said
the wastewater MUR will be ready by the end of the year.
Inactive Topics
a) Improved PCB Congener Method
Mr. Haniey stated that 12 labs are on the current multi-lab validation study. It will be several
months before all the results are in and several months after that will be needed to process and
review the results,
b) Whole Effluent Toxicity FT Standards
Mr. Greg Savitske (EPA) is willing talk with the ELAB task group and she NELAC Institute
(TNI) on this topic in April. There will be an attempt to schedule a meeting.
c) In-Line/On-Line Monitoring
There are no updates on this topic,
d) Addressing Emerging Contaminants
There are no updates on this topic. Ms. Mertens will address any comments or suggestions on
this topic.

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e) Drinking Water Program Adopt ion of Recently Approved Methods
()\V responded to ELAB's letter on February 7lh. and FLAB will probably respond with a
"Thank You" letter. Anyone with comments should express them to BLAB.
NEW TOPICS/ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION
a) What does the laboratory community want ELAB to work on?
Mr. Meadows suggested that EPA and TNI inform attendees of the NEMC meeting in August
that ELAB will be taking suggestions there.
b) Is EPA following its policy and guidance on method validation?
Dr. Dclancy reviewed the chemical method validation policy and guidance that EPA developed.
The documents appear to be a reasonable approach to validation, including a multi-lab study and
peer review. ELAB should consider sending EPA a letter asking that this approach be followed
for new EPA methods. However, the EPA policy on validation does not cover method revision.
Mr. Hanlcy indicated the recent 600-series revisions had no multi-lab validation.
c) Should EPA give more specific guidance on sets of data for initial demonstrations of
capability and MDL studies? (Chauvin)
Dr. Chauvin brought up the topic of guidance on how to address QC failures in Initial
Demonstration of Capability (IDOC) studies for multi-analyte methods. For example, the newer
EPA Drinking Water methods include a new requirement to determine the prediction interval of
result (PIR) at the reporting limit. As causes of failures can be diverse (known technical issue
that affects only the analysis of one sample (e.g. a missed autosamplcr injection), statistical
failures, "bad actors"), it would be prudent lor EPA to provide guidance. This would be
consistent with recently issued documents (40 CFR, Part 136 Appendix B. TNI Standard 2016)
that provide guidance on how to address batch QC failures.
Mr. Frederici suggested this topic be addressed by TNI, instead of EPA. ELAB could send a
letter lo EPA requesting specific guidance on the sets of data for initial demonstrations of their
capability and MDL studies.
WRAP-UP/SI MMARY OF ACTION ITEMS
Dr. Dclancy and Dr. OTarrell reviewed the list of action items.
CLOSING REMARKS/ADJOURNMENT
The March 2019 ELAB Meeting will be held on March 20. 2019 at 1 pm Eastern.
Mr. Frederici moved to adjourn. Dr. Leibovitz seconded, and it was passed.

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Attachment A
AGENDA
Teleconference Numbers 202-991-0477 / 7939251#
February 20, 2019
Webconference: epawebconferencing.acms.com/ofarrelll/
f,	Call Meeting to Order	Delaney
II.	Introduction of Board Members/Roll Call	Board
III.	Approval of Minutes for Previous Meetings	Delaney
IV.	Remarks and Updatesfrom the DFO	O'Farrell
V.	Special Presentation: Per- and PolyfluoroalkyI Substances in Environmental Samples: Challenges
and Opportunities for Environmental laboratories. Dr. Jennifer Field, Oregon State University
VI.	Updates on Current Topics
a.	User-Generated Library Acceptance Criteria	Buckley
b.	Acrolein and Acrylonitrile Preservation and pH	Meadows
c.	600-Series Methods	Leibovitz
d.	OGWDW Guidance on Drinking Water MDLs	Delaney
f. Inactive topics awaiting feedback/input:
Improved PCB Congener Method	Delaney
Whole Effluent Toxicity proficiency study standards	Leibovitz
In-Line/On-Line Monitoring	Flournoy
Addressing Emerging Contaminants	Mertens
Drinking Water Program Adoption of
Recent Approved Methods	Waller
VII.	New Topics/Issues for Consideration	Delaney
What does the Laboratory community want ELAB to work on? (Waller)
Is EPA following its policy and guidance on method validation? (Delaney}
Should EPA give more specific guidance on sets of data for initial
demonstrations of capability and MDL studies? (Chauvin}
VIII.	Wrap-Up/Summary of Action Items
IX.	Closing Remarks/Adjourn
O'Farreli/Delaney
O'Farrell/Delaney

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Attachment H
PARTICIPANTS LIST
Board Members Attendance
(Y/N)
Name
Affiliation
Y
Dr. Michael (Mike) Delanev
(Chair)
Massachusetts Water
Resources Authority
CMWRA)
Representing: MWRA
N
Mr. Michael Flournoy (Vice-
Chair)
Hurofins Environment Testing
USA
Representing: American
Council of Independent
Laboratories
Y
Dr. Thomas OTarret! (DFO)
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
Representing: EPA
Y
Dr. Kim Anderson
Oregon State University
Representing: Academia-
Oregon State University
Y
Dr. Brian Buckley
Rutgers Knvironmental and
Occupational Health Sciences
Institute
Representing: Academia and
Laboratory—Rutgers
Y
Dr. Franeoise C'hauvin
NYC Dept. of Environmental
Protection
Representing: NYCDEP
N
Dr. Deyuan (Kitty) Kong
Chevron Energy Technology
Company

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Representing: Chevron
Y
Ms. Stacie Crandali
Hampton Roads Sanitation
District
Representing: IISRD
Y
Dr. Henry Leibovitz
Rhode Island State Health
Laboratories
Representing: Association of
Public I lealth Laboratories
Y
Mr. Brad Meadows
Babcock Laboratories, Inc.
Representing: Commercial
Laboratory Babcock
Laboratories. Ine,
Y
Ms. Sharon Mertens
Milwaukee Metropolitan
Sewerage District
Representing: The NKLAC
Institute
Y
Mr. Richard Gossctt
FIIYS1S Labs
Representing: PHYSIS Labs
Y
Mr. David Thai
Environmental Standards Inc.
Representing: Environmental
Standards Inc.
Y
Dr. Jayesh Ghandi
Metrohm USA
Representing: Metrohm USA
N
Ms. Debra (Deb) Waller
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
(NJDEP)
Representing: State

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Government—NJDEP
Y
Mr. Ray Frederici
TestAmerica
Representing: TestAmerica
PARTICIPANTS LIST (CONT)
Contractors and Guests
Attendance (Y/N)
Name
Affiliation
N
Ms. Alexis Bryant
Contractor at EPA
Y
Mr. Adrian Hanley
EPA, OW
Y
Ms. Christina Langlois-
Miller
EPA. OLEM
Y
Ms. Penny Shamblin
Hunton. Andrews, Kurth
Y
Mr. Jeff Loewe
Ni Source

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Attachment C
Action Items
1. Dr. OTarrcli and Dr. Dclaney will finalize the December and January minutes.
2. Dr. 0'Farrell will send a ballot for Vice Chair on 3/1. Members were encouraged to
submit any additional nominees.
3. Dr. Delaney will send a thank you note to Dr. Field. Members are reminded not to share
her slides.
4. Dr. Delaney will send comments and a cover letter on MS Libraries and SIM.
5. Mr. Meadows will continue to engage with ACIL on an Acrolein preservation study. The
study plan should be reviewed by Adrian I lanley.
6. Dr. Leibovitz will convene a meeting of the 600 Series Methods task group. This will
include Mr. Gossett. Mr. Frederici, Dr. Ghandi. Dr. Chauvin. and Dr. Delaney.
7. Ms. Waller. Ms. Mertcns, and Dr. Delaney will submit a final draft letter on the HPA DW
MDL document. Members are encouraged to submit any comments on the circulated
draft.
8. Congener PCB Method can be taken off the next agenda. EPA won't have results until
late 2019.
9. Dr. Delaney will invite Greg Savitske. TNI. to a WET PT task group meeting in April
along with Ms. Grande!I and Dr. Leibovitz.
10. Ms. Waller will draft a thank you letter to Dan liautman oil EPA's DW approved
methods letter.
11. Dr. O'Farrelt, Dr. Delaney. Mr. Meadows and Ms. Mertcns will ask the NEMC technical
program organizer, Jerry Parr, and Lara Phelps how to advertise the August ELAB
meeting at NEMC to increase attendance by the public.
12. Dr. Chauvin will draft a letter on DW IDOC/MDL/MRL data sets.

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Attachment I)
I hereby certify that this is the final version of the minutes for the Environmental Laboratory
Advisory Hoard Meeting held on Feb. 20. 2019.
Ur~ft
{ Li o\\
Michael Flournov
Chair


!07^Jf, *I
Dr. Thomas O'Farrell
Designated Federal Officer

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