EPA Publishes a New List of Contaminants for Potential Regulation under the Drinking Water Program

EPA has published a draft list of contaminants that are currently not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulations. These contaminants are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This draft list is the fourth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 4) published by the agency since 1996. This Draft CCL 4 includes 100 chemicals or chemical groups and 12 microbial contaminants.  The list is appended to this issue as Attachment 2. (2/5/15; 80 FR 6076) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-02-04/pdf/2015-02210.pdf

Webinar on the Elements of Analytical Laboratory Data Quality

This two hour training course on February 24 will focus on the critical elements that must be considered when documenting the quality and usability of data produced by the analysis of samples from contaminated waste sites. Critical elements discussed in the course include: chain-of-custody; proper sample collection, storage, and preservation; methods and SOPs for preparation and analysis; documentation of processes that affect samples; documentation of the peer review process; and quality control and data validation guidelines. The basic process of data review is discussed in detail, and several tools that have been developed and are in use by EPA to enhance and document this process are also presented.

http://clu-in.org/live/#NARPM_Presents…The_Elements_of_Analytical_Laboratory_Data_Quality_20150224

Forum on Laboratory Accreditation Feb 2nd – Feb 5th

Please stop by and see the Khemia booth at the Forum on Laboratory Accreditation Feb 2nd – Feb 5th in Crystal City, VA.  More details may be found at http://www.nelac-institute.org/.

Changes to the Definition of Solid Waste Under RCRA

EPA published a final rule that revised several recycling-related  provisions associated with the definition of solid waste used to  determine hazardous waste regulation under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). 

• EPA is retaining the exclusion for hazardous secondary materials that are legitimately reclaimed under the control of the generator, with certain revisions
• EPA will allow higher-value solvents transferred from one manufacturer to another for the purpose of extending the useful life of the solvent by remanufacturing the spent solvent back into the commercial grade solvent.
• EPA has codified in its regulations the long-standing policy that hazardous secondary materials found to be sham recycled are discarded and solid wastes.

(1/13/15; 80 FR 1693) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-13/pdf/2014-30382.pdf

TNI Adds Low-Level Halocarbons to PT Requirements

The NELAC Institute has updated the Fields of Proficiency Table for non-potable water, adding 3 halocarbons, in concentration ranges from 0.2 – 2 ug/L.  These new requirements become effective March 15, 2015. http://www.nelac-institute.org/fopt.php