ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING Monthly Teleconference: 202-991-0477/7939251# March 21, 2018; 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST MEETING SUMMARY The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB or Board) teleconference meeting was held on March 21, 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. Tom O'Farrell started the recording at 12:56pm. Dr. Delaney noted that this is the 1st post- Kristen meeting so Dr. O'Farrell and he will be taking notes together. Dr. Mike Delaney, Chair of ELAB, welcomed the members and guests to the meeting. He took roll of the members present and attending by teleconference. APPROVAL OF THE PRIOR MINUTES Dr. Delaney asked whether any members had comments about the Board's February 2018 minutes; Dr. Delaney had comments about the cyanide methodology 2mi paragraph referring to the wastewater Methods Update Rule. That paragraph should state communicating with Adrian Hanley and Lemuel Walker and not with Mr. Hautman. Dr. Dallas Wait moved to approve the minutes; Dr. Leibovitz seconded the motion. The Board unanimously approved the February minutes. OPENING REMARKS AND UPDATES FROM THE DFO Dr. Tom O'Farrell thanked everyone for attending and congratulated Mr. Michael Floumoy and Mike Delaney on their new positions and wished them the best of luck. Kristen is no longer with us; we now have Thomas Cawiezell, who is a contractor at the EPA, writing up the minutes with the meeting recording. As Lara said we are in a recruiting year so if you know anyone who would be interested in joining the board please let Dr. O'Farrell know so we can begin the onboarding process. The ELAB is looking to add 6 new people to the board. Dr. O'Farrell is going to check with Ms. Lara Phelps and review the requirements for new members to join the ELAB board. There will be a Federal Register notice (FRN) requesting nominations, but EPA is considering broadening the requirements for expertise. Until this FRN goes out we can refer to the FRN from 2 years ago if you have interested candidates, or are ------- interested in nominating people. The FRN will be posted in April or May and Dr. O'Farrell will send out the FRN from 2 years ago to reference until this FRN goes out. According to the charter, ELAB formally reports to the EPA Administrator, the Science Advisor, or the FEM. We want to try to reestablish the process according to the charter. In the future we should be formatting letters or reports for EPA so they are addressed to the EPA Science Advisor, Dr. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta. Dr. O'Farrell will work on getting everyone the correct contact information. Each letter or document should be addressed to Dr. Orme-Zavaleta, reviewed and approved by the Board and sent to Dr. O'Farrell to be processed. Dr. O'Farrell will decide who the most appropriate person in the program offices is to get the letter or report in addition to the Science Advisor. TASK GROUP UPDATES ON CURRENT TOPICS The Board possesses broad expertise and works on a variety of topics identified by ELAB members, the Agency or the environmental laboratory community. The Board addresses these topics through temporary Task Groups. The Task Group leaders or their representatives provided a report of current topics/activities. Cyanide Methodology Dr. Leibovitz sent the ELAB Cyanide Methodology letter back to EPA since our last meeting, responding to the EPA letter. This effort is on hold pending EPAs response. The wastewater Methods Update Rule (MUR) on the Clean Water Act question and answer site on cyanide hasn't been updated since 2004 and is no longer correct. Mr. Adrian Han ley and Mr. Lemuel Walker have been working on site updates and will go live with it when it has been approved. EPA is working on the next MUR and said they would like any submissions by May 30th in order to be considered. They have also updated the FAQs on the 600 series methods. Dr. Leibovitz will reach out to Richard Burrows and see if ELAB should have a task group to develop a proposal that EPA further revise and improve Methods 608.3, 624.1 and 625.1 during the next MUR cycle. Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) The SIM task group met to discuss the EPA's response for the minimum criteria arid determine how comprehensive the Board's response should be. This meeting included five members from ELAB and four external subject matter experts. Dr. Delaney will propose to task the group to revise the minimum SIM criteria. EPA's letter contained 8 pages of comments and clarifications plus a reprint of EPA research on SIM gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS) for air toxics analysis (Pleil et al. 1990. ------- Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 41(3):287-293.) EPA discussed the minimum criteria at a FEM meeting and solicited comments from subject-matter experts. Staff from EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Land and Emergency Management, Office of Resource and Conservation Recovery, OW'sOffice of Science and Technology, National Exposure Research Laboratory, NRMRL, and Region 7 provided input. Generally, EPA was "very supportive of having some minimum criteria for SIM methods" but noted that its programs have differing needs. The Agency asked ELAB to "provide a revision to the minimum criteria." In its feedback, EPA provided a number of editorial suggestions, as well as 7 pages of technical suggestions about background/definitions, personnel, method flexibility, type of MS, MS tuning criteria, number of scans per peak and scan descriptors, SIM acquisition parameters, sensitivity, retention time windows, identification and identification verification criteria, automated peak detection, and other criteria that have not been mentioned. The SIM task group will address EPA's comments in the revised minimum criteria document, though not point by point. User-Generated Library Acceptance Criteria Dr. Brian Buckley sent a draft letter earlier today regarding the topic discussed last month to suspend the tuning criteria. This effort was recommended at the end of last meeting. Dr. Buckley requests that the Board please read and make comments and send to him. The Board will then vote on the final draft. Unless EPA will suspend the requirement of calibration, none of the criteria matter in terms of using user-based libraries. The effects of not allowing the suspension is people must detune instruments, which reduces sensitivity. The Board has considered going to the FEM to discuss and think about considering all programs that use GC/MS. Ms. Phelps suggested allowing flexibility in some EPA methods. The Board has suggested removing the word suspend from the letter and using words such as flexibility more. The Board suggested meeting again with Ms. Phelps via teleconference to get her opinion on methods. This will give the Board a way to express ideas and methods, and to talk about how many methods are not flexible enough. This is an opportunity to provide more sensitivity and selectivity and take advantage of newer technology. Dr. O'FarrelI expressed that this cannot be a formal meeting, so there cannot be a quorum of members. Dr. Buckley suggested the next steps to take place would be to set up a task group to meet with Ms. Phelps. He will draft a letter to her. Addressing emerging contaminants In the Absence of Ms. Sharon Mertens, no update was provided. ------- Acrolein and Acrylonitrile Dr. Mahesh Pujari explained that he would like to submit a letter with the current data to EPA regarding the analysis requirements and pH preservation for acrolein and acrylonitrile, asking whether the Board supported submitting another letter to EPA. EPA had not incorporated the recommended changes into the revised MUR because submitted data was not in sample matrix and it was in deionized water. Dr. Pujari will work on getting more data to EPA, suggesting that this change is very much needed. Dr. Leibovitz heard back from Dr. O'Farrell about the use of commercial laboratory data to support this position, and EPA has concerns about conflict of interest between contracted and industry labs. Dr. O'Farrell talked to people in General Council and they recommended not using commercial laboratories. Dr. O'Farrell will write up an explanation from General Council as to why EPA doesn't want to use commercial laboratories. Dr. Richard Burrows (TestAmerica, Inc.) explained in the previous meeting that they have plenty on data that they would share to help ELAB's positions. Dr. Pujari will write up another letter to EPA stating science is science and urge them to consider taking data from other sources. Drinking Water Program Adoption of Recent Approved Methods In the absence of Ms. Deb Waller, no update was provided. Inactive Topics 1. Whole Effluent Toxicity PT Standards Dr. Henry Leibovitz had no updates on this topic. Before the next meeting he will reach out to Ms. Lynn Bradley about TNI meeting minutes. He will follow-up with updates during next month's ELAB meeting. 2. Drinking Water Certification In the Absence of Ms. Sharon Mertens, no update was provided 3. In-line/On-line Mr. Flournoy had no update, waiting to hear back from EPA. Dr. O'Farrell will reach out to Mr. Lemuel Walker about if there have been any more meetings on in-line/on-line monitoring. 4. Interagency data quality task force Dr. Leibovitz indicated no meeting on this topic has happened between EPA and DOD members on the task force. Ms. Phelps mentioned that this is still something they want to do, it's just a matter of getting meetings scheduled. The Board asked that Dr. O'Farrell reach out ------- and see if anything has been any scheduled or will be scheduled. Dr. Wait and Dr. Leibovitz have asked to be included on these meetings if that were possible. NEW TOPICS/ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION Dr. Richard Burrows commented in the February meeting saying ELAB isn't doing what labs and industry want us to do. Dr. Burrows has requested that the Board consider establishing a group to develop a proposal that EPA further revise and improve methods 608.3, 624.1 and 625.1 during the next MUR cycle. Dr. Leibovitz will follow-up with Dr. Burrows to obtain further information. Please read the draft that Dr. Buckley wants to send to EPA asking about whether they would be willing to suspend the current tuning requirement to allow us to consider validation criteria for user generated library spectra. Dr. Delaney would like to finalize it and vote to send it at the April meeting. WRAP-UP/SUMMARY OF ACTION ITEMS Dr. O'Farrell reviewed the action items identified during the meeting, which are included in attachment C. The next ELAB meeting is scheduled for the 18th of April. Dr. O'Farrell noted more rounds of edits to the minutes may need to take place. CLOSING REMARKS/ADJOURNMENT Dr. Buckley moved to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded. The Board unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 2:14 pm. ------- Attachment A ENVIRONMENTAL LABPORATORY ADVISORY BOARD (ELAB) Face-to-Face Meeting/Teleconference: 202-991-0477 / 793-9251# Date i I hue 3/21 /2018 I 1:00-3:00PM EST I ¦ • Mike Delaney Item Call Meeting to Order Introduction of Board Members/Roll Call Approval of Minutes for Previous Meeting(s) Opening Remarks and Updates from DFO Updates on Current Topics A. Cyanide Methodology — Delaney B. Selecting Ion Monitoring — Delaney C. User-generated Library Acceptance Criteria — Buckley D. Addressing Emerging Contaminants — Mertens E. Acrolein and Acrylonitrile Preservation and pH — Pujari F. Improving PCB congener method option — Pujari G. Drinking Water Program Adoption of Recent Approved Methods — Waller Inactive Topics awaiting feedback/input Board A. Whole Effluent Toxicity proficiency study standards — Leibovitz B. Drinking Water Certification Officer's Training Course — Mertens C. In-Line/On-Line Monitoring — Flournoy D. Interagency Data Quality Task Force/Data Quality Objective Process — Leibovitz New Topics/Issues for Consideration Delaney Wrap-Up/Summary of Action Items O'Farrel 1/Cawiezel 1 /Delaney Owner Delaney Board Delaney O'Farrell Board Closing Remarks/Adjou rnment O'Farrell/Delaney ------- Attachment B PARTICIPANTS LIST Board Members Attendance (Y/N) Name Affiliation N Dr. Michael (Mike) Delaney (Chair) Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MVVRA) Representing: MWRA I Y Mr. Michael Floumoy (Vice- Chair) Eurofins Environment Testing USA Representing: American Council of Independent Laboratories Y Dr. Thomas OTarrell (DFO) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Representing: CPA ! Y Dr. Kim Anderson Oregon State University Representing: Academia—Oregon State University Y Dr. Brian Buckley Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute Representing: Academia and La boratory—R ut jiers Y Ms. Patricia (Patty) Carvajal San Antonio River Authority Representing: Watershed/Restoration Y Dr. Deyuan (Kitty) Kong Chevron Energy Technology Company Representiim: Chevron N Mr. Jeff Loewe NiSource, Inc. Representing: Industry— NiSource. Inc. Y Dr. 1 lenrv Leibovilz Rhode Island State 1 lealth Laboratories Representing: Association of Public 1 lealth Laboratories N Mr. Brad Meadows Babcock Laboratories, Inc. Representing: Commercial Laboratory— Babcock Laboratories, Inc. N Ms. Sharon Merteiis Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Representing: The NELAC Institute Y Dr. Mahesh Pujari City of Los Angeles Representing: National Association of Clean Water A uendes Y Mr. Elan Rieser Con Edison - Representing: Utility Water Act Group ------- Y Dr. A. Dallas Wait Gradient Representing: Consumer Products Indnstrv N Ms. Debra (Deb) Waller New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Representing: State Government— NJDEP PARTICIPANTS LIST (CON'T) Contractors and Guests Attendance (Y/N) Name Affiliation N Mr. Thomas Cawiezell (Contractor) Oak Ridge Associated Universities at EPA Y Mr. Travis Bartholomew (Guest) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Y Ms. Francois Chauvin (Guest) New York City Department of Environmental Protection ------- Attachment C Action Items 1. Tom O'Farrell - Ask Lara Phelps if ELAB User-Generated Library Acceptance Criteria task group can meet with her to talk about the issue of adding flexibility to EPA methods. Possible engagement with FEM on this topic. 2. Tom O'Farrell - Provide ELAB members with a summary of the Office of General Council's determination on whether commercial labs can provide data on acrolein and acrylonitrile. 3. The Selected Ion Monitoring task group will meet to discuss the latest version of their response letter to EPA. 4. ELAB Members - Review the next draft of the Mass Spectral Library letter. Provide feedback to Brian Buckley with the goal of final discussion at the next ELAB meeting. 5. Mahesh Pujari - Invite Adrian Hanley to next ELAB meeting to discuss PCB congener method options. 6. Tom O'Farrell - Ask Lemuel Walker (EPA, OW) if there have been any further meetings on In-Line/On-Line Monitoring. 7. Henry Leibovitz - Ask Richard Burrows if ELAB should have a task group on EPA 600 Series methods. 8. Henry Leibovitz - Ask Lynn Bradley if there was any additional discussion of whole effluent toxicity in the latest TNI meetings. 9. Tom O'Farrell - Ask Lara Phelps if there have been any further meetings of the Interagency Data Quality Task Group. 10. Tom O'Farrell - Ask Lara Phelps if stakeholders need to send supporting letters for ELAB members being renewed for another term on ELAB. 11. Tom O'Farrell - Send 2016 Federal Register Notice for recruiting new members of ELAB to ELAB members. ------- Attachment D I hereby certify that this is the final version of the minutes for the Environmental Advisory Board Meeting held on March 21, 2018. H Recoverable Signature }\U. UoJ f' Dr. Michael Delaney Chair Sianed bvc Delarvev, Mike X ¦ 0^7, Or. Thomas O'Parrel! Desionated Federal Officer ------- |