ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
Monthly Teleconference: 202-991-0477/7939251#, December 19, 2018, 2018; 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 December 19. 2018. 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. Michael Delaney called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF THE PRIOR MINUTES
Dr. Delaney motioned to approve the November minutes, and Ms. Deb Waller seconded the
motion. The November minutes were approved unanimously.
OPENING REMARKS AND UPDATES FROM THE DFO
Dr. Tom O'Farrell discussed the ELAB Charter as it relates to the frequency of meetings. The
Charter requires approximately 12 meetings a year. In the interest of conserving resources, it is
acceptable to skip monthly meetings when either attendance is low. or the agenda consists
entirely of updates that may be done by e-mail. Next. Dr. O'Farrell introduced the topic of
attendance for the January face-to-face meeting in Milwaukee, WI. hereafter referred to as the
January meeting. He asked if it was determined who will Chair the meeting.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE JANUARY FACE TO FACE MEETING
Dr. Delaney verified attendance and mode of attendance for the January meeting:
•	Those attending the meeting in-person are: Dr. Jayesh Gandhi, Dr. O'Farrell, Ms. Deb
Waller, Mr. Michael Flournoy (maybe), Ms. Stacie Crandall. Ms. Sharon Mertens, and
Mr. Brad Meadows
•	Those attending the January meeting via telephone are: Dr. Francoise Chauvin, Dr.
Deyuan (Kitty) Kong, Mr. Richard Gossett, and Mr. David Thai.
•	Those not attending the meeting are: Dr. Kim Anderson.

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• Lastly, the January meeting attendance status is uncertain for: Dr, I lenry Leibovitz, Mr.
Ray Frederici, and Dr. Brian Buckley.
Dr. Delane\ decided there will be a forum for the meeting, and then determined a Chair. Mr.
Michael Llournoy declined chairing the January meeting. Dr. Delaney's second choice for
meeting Chair is Dr. Henry Leibovitz. who was not in attendance at the December ELAB
meeting nor has previously communicated his ability to attend the January meeting. Ms. Debra
(Deb) Waller volunteered to chair the meeting if Dr. Henry Leibovitz declines.
Dr. OTarrell said the January meeting will be recorded, and the minutes will he produced as
usual I (c also confirmed that the time for the January meeting will be 1:30 central time/2:30
eastern time. Ms. Sharon Mcrtcns states that there will be a break at 3 pm central time. Dr.
Delaney would like to address most topics for the January meeting in the 90 minutes before the
break, and before attendance dw indles. Everyone concurred that someone attending the January
meeting needs to make sure everything is ready prior to the presentation time.
Dr. Delanev had tentatively assigned leaders to discuss slide topics for the January meeting in a
previous meeting. Dr. OTarrell is responsible for Updates from the DFO. Next, Dr. Delaney will
talk about activities since August. This will be followed with the task group topics.
Dr. Delaney reviewed the presentation slides for the January Hl.AB meeting.
TASK GROI P UPDATES ON (KRRKNT TOPICS
User-Generated Mass Spectral Library Acceptance Criteria
Dr. Delaney will talk with Dr. Brian Buckley to verify his attendance at the January meeting.
A letter was sent to the EPA. and HLAB is awaiting further guidance on this topic. Dr. OTarrell
confirmed that there is currently one response, and that he will wait to release all responses he
receives until after the holidays.
Acrolein andAcrylonitrile
Prior to the December HLAB meeting, Mr. Brad Meadows agreed to check with the American
Council of Independent Laboratories (AC1L) if there was interest in conducting a study on this
topic. Dr. Delaney asked Mr. Meadows for an update and to discuss this topic at the January
meeting.
Mr. Meadows said that AC! ESS will discuss this topic on December 20. and he agreed to
provide an update at the January meeting.
PCB Congener Method
Multi-lab studies are in progress. Results will be available in 2019. Dr. Delaney inquired
whether Mr. Adrian Hanley will attend the January meeting. If so, Mr. Adrian Hanley will be
asked to discuss this topic.

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600-Series Methods
Dr. Delaney will ask Dr. Leibovitz for a brief update at the January meeting. Dr. Leibovitz may
have convened a task group meeting on this subject. A brief update is needed at the January
meeting.
OGWDW Guidance on Drinking Water MDLs
Ms. Waller will present this topic at the January meeting. The final tetter to EPA on this topic
might be ready to vote on at the February ELAB meeting.
Inactive Topics
a) Cyanide Methodology*
There is no update for this topic.
h) Whole Effluent Toxicity PT Standards
Dr. Delaney e-mailed Dr. Leibovitz regarding this topic on Dec. 19 and is awaiting a reply.
Dr. Delaney would like to invite someone from the TNI WET committee and an EPA
representative from the DMRQA program to discuss the purpose of PT and the merits of how PT
samples are tested at a future ELAB meeting. There is no update for this topic.
c)	In-Line. On-Line Monitoring Interagency
There is no update for this topic.
d)	Addressing Emerging Contaminants
There is no update for this topic.
There was a discussion about whether ELAB should have a public discussion on PFOS/PFAS at
the January in person meeting. Ms. Merten's slide on emerging contaminants will ask for input
from the public on this topic.
EPA Method537.1 & PFAS
KLAB received an e-maii regarding HPA method 537.1, regarding PFAS chemicals. Ms. Waller
asked Ms. Mertens if we should let people know about the email and about ELAB's plans to
reconvene a working group on Emerging Contaminants. Ms. Mertens replied that we should wait
for EPA guidance, as this is a broad topic and the guidance will focus the discussion. Dr.
Delaney stated that neither the labs nor the EPA know what methods will he required for
different programs and they are uncertain of how to prepare. Mr. Flournoy stated that we should
discuss this topic at the January meeting and ask the community for input, and Ms. Waller agreed
adding that ELAB should tell the puhlic about the committee that has been formed and take
suggestions from the public. Ms. Mertens replied that there is not an active Emerging

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Contaminants committee because they decided that they needed more direction. The committee
has never met. and some of the members may have left.
Next, Dr. Delaney led a discussion 011 what the EPA should be doing regarding PFAS. Mr.
Flournoy believes that the EPA needs to be involved in a multi-lab validation for proper
management of PFAS chemicals. Ms. Mertcns discussed how levels of concern and limits vary
by state, and the potential impact (his will have. Ideally, the EPA should prevent their being
many different state-level testing methods, unless they are based on good science.
Dr. Delaney shifted the discussion to what EI LAB should be doing regarding PFAS. Mr. Thai
stated that this is difficult to determine in the absence of advisory at the national level.
Specifically, we need a regulatory framework covering methods, limits, and permitting of these
chemicals. The framework should also cover determining when the water or soil is clean enough.
Only some of the chemicals addressed have MDLs. Likewise, Ms. Mertens is interested in the
regulatory framework. She will ask the public at the January meeting what gaps HLAB could
highlight for EPA to address.
Everyone in ELAB was forwarded a letter from Ms. Christina Langlois-Miller regarding an
intra-agency method workgroup 011 PFAS method development for multiple matrices. The letter
states: Validated method 8327 will be released early 2019, and multi-lab validation for 8328 will
be expected mid-2019. Ms. Waller noticed that tissue testing for PFAS is not addressed in the
letter. Dr. Delaney is interested in what the EPA is doing regarding the biological tissue testing.
Mr. Thai replied that fish tissue testing is covered by EPAns Office of Water Methods and gives
method 1613 and 1668 as examples. Mr. Flournoy, Ms. Mertcns, and Dr. OTarrcll agreed that
these methods have already been validated. Ms. Mertens is a member of the Wisconsin lab
advisory board and informed everyone that the Wisconsin State Board of Hygiene developed a
method that is not yet finalized. Mr. Thai informed everyone that the LP A Office of Water
typically accepts methods that can be validated by an ASTM procedure. Dr. Gandhi is a member
of the ASTM D19 Water Committee and is aware of a validated ASTM method D7979 for
PFOS/PFAS in drinking water that the EPA has not accepted because it was not multi-lab
validated.
e)	Drinking Water Program Adoption of Recent Approved Methods
There is no update for this topic and ELAB is awaiting on further guidance from EPA.
f)	Selected Ion Monitoring
There is no update 011 this topic. ELAB is awaiting any comments from EPA on its recent letter.
NEW TOPICS/ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION
a) New ELAB Charter for 2019
Dr. O'Farrcll addressed questions about a new 2019 ELAB charter.

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There was a discussion about EPA following its policy for method validation. Dr. Dclaney is
going to review the policy for the next meeting.
\V R AI'-1 [ P/SIM \1 A R Y OF ACTION I IK MS
Dr. Delancy announced he will put together the list of action items with Dr. O'Farrell.
Slides for the January meeting are due January 15lh. Dr. Delaney and Dr. O'Farrell will distribute
final presentation to ELAB near January 21sl.
CLOSING REMARKS/A1)JOI RNMENT
The January 2019 ELAB Meeting will be held on January 28. 2019 at 1:30 pm Central Time.
Brad Meadows moved to adjourn, and it was passed. The meeting adjourned around 2 pm.

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Attachment A
AGENDA
Teleconference Numbers 202-991-0477 / 7939251#
December 19, 2018
Webconference: epawebcoriferencing.acms.com/ofarrel/1/
I.	Call Meeting to Order	Delaney
II.	Introduction of Board Members/Roll Call	Board
III.	Approval of Minutes for Previous Meeting	Delaney
IV.	Remarks and Updates from the DFO	O'Farrelt
V.	Preparations for the Face-to-Face Meeting	Delaney
VI.	U pdates on Current Topics
a.	User-Generated Library Acceptance Criteria	Buckley
b.	Acrolein and Acrylonitrile Preservation and pH	Delaney
c.	Improved PCB Congener Method	Delaney
d.	600-Series Methods	Leibovitz
e.	OGWDW Guidance on Drinking Water MDLs			Delaney
f. Inactive topics awaiting feedback/input:
¦	Cyanide Methodology	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
¦	Selected Ion Monitoring	Delaney
VII.	New Topics/Issues for Consideration	Deianey
VIII.	Wrap-Up/Sumrnary of Action Items	O'Farrell/Delaney
IX
Closing Remarks/Adjourn
O'Farrell/Delaney

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Attachment H
PARTICIPANTS LIST
Board Members Attendance
(Y/N)
Name
Affiliation
Y
Dr. Michael (Mike) Delaney
(Chair)
Massachusetts Water
Resources Authority
(MWRA)
Representing: MWRA
Y
Mr. Michael Fiournoy (Vice-
Chair)
Eurofins Environment Testing
USA
Representing: American
Council of Independent
Laboratories
Y
Dr. Thomas O'Farrell (DFO)
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
Representing: EPA
Y
Dr. Kim Anderson
Oregon State University
Representing: Aeademia-
Orcgon State University
N
Dr. Brian Buckley
Rutgers Environmental and
Occupational 1 lealth Sciences
Institute
Representing: Academia and
Laboratory—Rutgers
Y
Dr. Franco ise Chauvin
NYC Dept. of Environmental
Protection
Representing: NYCDEP
Y
Dr. Deyuan (Kitty) Kong
Chevron Energy Technology
Company

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Representing: Chevron
Y
Ms. Staeie Crandall
Hampton Roads Sanitation
District
Representing: 11SRD
N
Dr. Henry Leibovitz
Rhode Island State I icalth
Laboratories
Representing: Association of
Public Health Laboratories
Y
Mr. Brad Meadows
Babcock Laboratories, Inc.
Representing: Commereial
Laboratory— Babcock
Laboratories, Inc.
Y
Ms, Sharon Mortens
Milwaukee Metropolitan
Sewerage District
Representing: The NELAC
Institute
Y
Mr. Richard Gossett
PHYSIS Labs
Representing: PHYSIS Labs
Y
Mr. David Thai
Environmental Standards Inc.
Representing: Environmental
Standards inc.
Y
Dr. Jayesh Gandhi
Melrohm LISA
Representing: Metrohm USA
Y
Ms. Debra (Deb) Waller
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
(NJDEP)
Representing: State

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Government—NJDEP
N
Mr. Ray Frederici
Test America
Representing: TestAmerica
PARTICIPANTS LIST (CONT)
Contractors and Guests
Attendance (Y/N)
Name
Affiliation
Y
Ms. Alexis Bryant
Contractor at EPA

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Attachment C
Action Items
1.	Topic leaders should update their slides and send to Tom and Mike D. by 1/15/19. They
will consolidate and send the final version for review by 1/21/19, Tom will send the final
slides to TNI and bring a backup thumb drive to the meeting on 1/28/19.
2.	Mike D. will check with Brian and Henry to see if they will attend the January meeting,
confirm that they will present their topics, and ask them to update their slides.
3.	Mike D. will check with Henry to see if he w ill attend the January meeting in person and
if he is willing to chair the meeting. If not. Deb or Sharon will chair the meeting.
4.	Tom with check with Adrian Hanley to see if he is attending the January meeting and if
he is willing to give an update on the PCB congener method.
5.	Brad will follow up with ACIL ESS on a possible aerolein/aerylonitrile wastewater VOA
preservation study.
6.	Mike D. will find the EPA FEM guidance on method validation and will send it to the
members to see if Shis is good framework for method validation.
7.	Tom will confirm the voting by email process so that official voles can be taken when a
meeting isn't possible/necessary.

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Attachment i)
I hereby certify that this is the final version of the minutes for the Environmental Laboratory
Advisory Board Meeting held on December 19, 2018.
JuuJUtfM

X
Dr. Michael Delanev	Dr. Thomas O'Farrell
Chair	Designated Federal Officer

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