The presentations in the LIMS Session at NEMC this year may be downloaded off the following link under LIMS in the Modern Laboratory: http://nemc.us/meeting/2017/techprog.php#tpm1_2

EPA approved 17 additional methods available for analyzing drinking water samples.
• EPA Method 150.3, Determination of pH in Drinking Water
• Standard Methods 7500-Ra E and 7500-Ra E-07 for Radium 226 and 228
• Standard Method 7110 D-17 for Gross Alpha and Gross Beta
• ASTM D2972-15B and C for Arsenic
• ASTM 3559-15D for Lead
• ASTM D3645-15B for Beryllium
• ASTM 3895-15 A and B for Selenium
• ASTM 6508-15 for Nitrate, Nitrite and Orthophosphate
• ASTM D7283-17 for Gross Alpha and Gross Beta
• TECTA Method for Total Coliforms and E. coli
• Thermo Fisher Method 557.1 for Haloacetic Acids
• Tintometer Lovibond PTV 1000 Method for Turbidity
• Tintometer Lovibond PTV 2000 Method for Turbidity
• Tintometer Lovibond PTV 6000 Method for Turbidity
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-07-27/pdf/2017-15380.pdf

The US EPA gives clarification of significant figures and rounding rules. This letter was published to Dr. Edward Askew at Askew Scientific Consulting, LLC (http://www.askewscientific.org).

Khemia Software is pleased to support Lee Otis and her daughter Lauren in their hiking of Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier.  If you would also like to donate to the cause, please click on the link below:

https://give.wta.org/fundraiser/965700

This information was taken from the Calibrate newsletter on May 30th, 2017 (http://www.catalystinforesources.com/):

As reported previously, the new Administration asked that all Agencies recall all actions that had not yet been published in the Federal Register. The MUR was caught up in this recall and this action has been withdrawn from the Office of the Federal Register. EPA indicates they are not able to provide a date for when the final rule will be published. Until the final rule is published in the Federal Register, it is not considered in effect.  Also, note that until the rule does become effective, the revised EPA methods, new and/or revised methods published by voluntary consensus standard bodies, and the methods reviewed under the ATP program that were included in the final rule are not formally approved at part 136.  In the interim, until a final rule is published in the FR and becomes effective, a user may, on a facility-by-facility basis, seek limited use approval from their Regional ATP Coordinator for use of the methods included in the final rule when measuring regulated pollutants and reporting results for compliance monitoring required under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Regional ATP Coordinator may choose to grant approval of these methods as alternate test procedures for limited use as specified at 136.5.  With regard to allowing the use of methods that fall within the flexibility to modify approved methods approved at 136.6 for compliance monitoring, EPA is encouraging States and Regions to allow for the use of these methods provided that the requirements for establishing equivalent performance specified at 136.6(b)(2)(i) and the requirements for documentation specified at 136.6(b)(2)(ii) are met.  Additional guidance regarding method developer responsibilities and method user responsibilities with regard to establishing equivalent performance and requirements for documentation may be found in a memorandum from Richard Reding dated November 20, 2007 with the subject line “Flexibility to Modify CWA Methods” available at: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/documents/cwa-method-flexibility_memo_11-20-2007.pdf