ÿWPC  Ζ]:ß2Í#£À³HmìøÊ»_Oõ6Ü„¨é¶×C]*\.İ%o#"­ZƒÜÆ&E¢[Z ±î`§­æ.’\Q•¥eÖ´Ïa8Â*›[¤µk ái²IÂá¦Ö™ÂlÊìÎØuøA÷È sw é êÙ—K¦™£'»"yg.*ƒmŒw?ÂBjYfËݸ+ÚabPùk`>ÃGÏaEQת_Û KOëÀ«% ¬CBÛ¹ÁMçgªK'ºzİÈ1$ÓµÇe@Ü+Q}æÏ—ƒ—h<èç-é±J?Rq›ꦋݪ¯U¤è~.ÓH=J8lÙYSƒs‡-Ójÿî’¨íÜ0> E…!…dÍ ñ!ò+DÈöAŸ0T¥ëÕ »uSÎL¡ñ{ÃõÉ{ÅüÀ:¤l•¯Ş6aHÅ4+¤‡/Ìg³¸KSë1ܺ ͲüǨ^ÿ1ùIh¡ †;B³!,´Û}EĞ«âÒꋬìˆÔÖ×¶+Z®µ¼¨\€Í㈽ÈVá =ÍÛäq‚Y”!F«ÕZHzÏH^`8xÖÕ5~·Çœ÷LğÔ\i[™Úü[ùe+Ğ"¢‡x’’¤”$ûnч%Ƨ’–RgĞ^!”•›’T:[# úU(N %S 0(YU:w@»4û v 0l” 0D D D 0DJ J  ” ” ” ” ” œ m êµ 0DŸ ã ã ã ã ã ã ã Bë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë ë 0L 0‚LT˜HP LaserJet IIIHPPCL5MS,,,,,,,,0 (ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡,†r‰AZ‹"Arial Regular ^ _ H` a Hb c Êd e f g ÊoL"x¬xxl<3|xg NELACIIi ELAB Summary Í  ' LBS0LBS .   ((3üİ$¤¤İ ƒ!İİ  İà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóHR(3¯$§§İ ƒ!İİ  İÈR  ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ àİ ƒ¯)İİ  ݛԇ#5XXÔòòEnvironmental€Laboratory€Advisory€Boardà@22ìàÚ  Ú1Ú  Ú€of€œ11›ˆà€|||(#àFebruary€6,€1997óóÔ#†XõNX#5#Ô(3¯$©©İ ƒ!İİ  İ d>ßb$Large Circleğğà0 à>c$"Small Circleğ"ğà0 àİ ƒ!İİ  İÔ€X#–XXXÔÔ€&w<&XX#–ÔÖ€ÿÿÖ›Ó  ÓÑ  Ñà@>>#ìàò òÔ‡X#–X&&w<ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–ÔSummary€of€theˆĞ ° Ğà@¨ ¨ ìàEnvironmental€Laboratory€Advisory€BoardˆÌÓ  ÓFebruary€6,€1997ó óĞ ˆØ ĞÌÓ  ÓThe€Environmental€Laboratory€Advisory€Board€(ELAB)€met€at€the€Hyatt€Regency€Hotel€in€ÏBethesda,€MD,€on€February€6,€1997.€€The€meeting€was€led€by€ELAB€œCo„Chairs›€Dr.€WilsonÏHershey€of€Lancaster€Laboratories,€œInc.,€representing€ACIL,›€and€Ms.€Ramona€Trovato€of€theÏU.S.€Environmental€Protection€Agency's€(USEPAğğs)€Office€of€Air€and€Radiatñc ñÔ% € Ôñc ñion€(OAR).€€InÏattendance€were€Board€members€œMr.€Milton€Bush€of€the€ğğM€Companies,€former€Chair€of€theÏCommittee€on€National€Accreditation€of€Environmental€Laboratories;€Ô#†X#–XXXõN»#ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–ÔÔ#†&̾&XXõNœ#ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾ÔMs.›€Linda€Christensen€ofĞ ü L  Ğthe€International€Association€of€Environmental€Testing€Laboratories€œ(IAETL);Ô#†X#–XXXõN¶#ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–ÔÔ#†&̾&XXõNø#ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾ÔDr.›€Kathy€Hillig€ofĞ è 8  ĞBASF€Corporation,€representing€the€Chemical€Manufacturerğğs€Association;€œDr.€WilliamÏKavanagh€of€Science€Application€International€Corporation,€representing€A2LA;€Ms.›€Cynthia€LeeÏof€Analytical€Services€Laboratory,€Inc.;€œ€Dr.€Michael€Smolen€of€the€World€Wildlife€Fund;€€Ô#†X#–XXXõNµ#ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–ÔÔ#†&̾&XXõN÷#ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾ÔDr.›Ğ ¬ü  ĞEvelyn€Torres€of€the€Fairfax€County€(VA)€Water€œAuthority;€Dr.€Allen€Verstuyft€of€ChevronÏResearch€and€Technology,€representing€the€American€Petroleum€InstituteÔ#†X#–XXXõNt#ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–ÔÔ#†&̾&XXõN¶#ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾Ô;Ô#†&̾&XXõNó#ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾ÔÔ#†X#–XXXõN±#ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–Ô€and›€Ms.€JeanneĞ „Ô  ĞMourrain€of€USEPAğğs€Office€of€Research€and€Development€(ORD),€€the€ELAB€DesignatedÏFederal€OfficialÔ#†X#–XXXõNx#ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–ÔÔ#†&̾&XXõN6#ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾Ô.€Ğ \¬ ĞÌò òINTRODUCTIONó óĞ 4„ ĞÌœDr.€Hershey€opened€the€meeting€and€Ms.€TrovatoÔ#†&̾&XXõN‡ #ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾ÔÔ#†X#–XXXõNE #ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–Ô€reviewed€the€agenda,€which€included€theĞ  \ Ğfollowing€topics:ÌÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zcé İğ"ğà0  àİ  İGood€Laboratory€Practices€(GLPs)€Subcommittee€Report,݃Zcé  İŒĞĞ (#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zc« İğ"ğà0  àİ  İProficiency€Testing€(PT)€Subcommittee€Report,݃Zc« Æ İŒĞ¨ø(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zce İğ"ğà0  àİ  İDiscussion€on€National€Environmental€Laboratory€Accreditation€Conference€(NELAC)Ğ €Ğ Ğparticipation€by€Native€American€Tribal€Nations,݃Zce € ݌Р(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zc İğ"ğà0  àİ  İThird„Party€Assessors€Subcommittee€Report,݃Zc š İŒĞD!”(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zc6İğ"ğà0  àİ  İNELAC€National€Database€òòAd€Hocóó€Committee€Report,݃Zc6QİŒĞ#l!(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zcùİğ"ğà0  àİ  İPerformance„Based€Methods€System€(PBMS)€Subcommittee€Report,݃ZcùİŒĞô$D #(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚ZcÂİğ"ğà0  àİ  İELAB€nominations€for€1997„1999,݃ZcÂİİŒĞÌ&"%(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zcnİğ"ğà0  àİ  İSummary€of€the€results€of€the€Second€NELAC€Interim€Meeting,݃Zcn‰İŒĞ¤(ô#'(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zc6İğ"ğà0  àİ  İNew€issues,€and݃Zc6QİŒĞ|*Ì%)(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚ZcÒİğ"ğà0  àİ  İNext€steps.݃ZcÒíİŒĞT,¤'+(#(# ĞŒİ  İÔ  ÔMs.€Mourrain€announced€that€the€current€ELAB€charter€expires€at€the€end€of€July€1997.€€SinceÏELAB€is€a€continuing€committee,€USEPA€will€apply€for€another€two„year€charter.€€The€July€28Ïmeeting€of€ELAB€will,€therefore,€be€the€last€held€under€the€existing€charter.€€Ms.€Mourrain€alsoÏreviewed€the€Federal€Advisory€Committee€Act€rules€that€apply€to€ELAB€meetings€and€announcedÏthat€anyone€who€would€like€to€be€added€to€the€ELAB€mailing€list€should€provide€her€with€aÏbusiness€card.€€She€noted€that,€as€always,€ELAB€encourages€members€of€the€public€to€provideÏwritten€statements€concerning€any€issues€they€would€like€to€address,€and€she€noted€that€anyoneÏmay€attend€an€ELAB€meeting€and€that€time€will€be€allotted€for€public€comments.Ìò òÌGOOD€LABORATORY€PRACTICES€SUBCOMMITTEE€REPORTÌÌó óMr.€Wynn€John,€Co„Chair€of€the€GLP€Subcommittee,€presented€an€overview€of€theĞ Ô$  ĞSubcommitteeğğs€draft€report€€The€final€report€is€expected€to€be€complete€in€approximately€threeÏmonths.€€Mr.€John€reminded€ELAB€that€the€Subcommitteeğğs€goal€is€to€identify€options€for€GLPÏlaboratory€accreditation€that€meet€USEPAğğs€needs€and€address€the€concerns€of€USEPAğğsÏEnvironmental€Monitoring€Management€Council€(EMMC)€and€NELAC.€€The€Subcommittee€isÏalso€addressing€cost€considerations€and€international€and€interagency€concerns.ÌÌMr.€John€reported€on€the€activities€of€five€different€teams€established€by€the€Subcommittee:ÌÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İò òİ‚Zcİğ"ğà0  àİ  İTeam€1Aó ó,€charged€with€identifying€and€characterizing€the€needs€of€USEPA€and€industry;݃Zc#݌Рp(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İò òİ‚Zcíİğ"ğà0  àİ  İTeam€1Bó ó,€charged€with€defining€program€options€for€consideration€by€the€Subcommittee;݃Zcí İŒĞüL(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İò òİ‚ZcÕİğ"ğà0  àİ  İTeam€2Aó ó,€charged€with€examining€interagency€concerns;݃ZcÕóİŒĞØ((#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İò òİ‚Zcİğ"ğà0  àİ  İTeam€2Bó ó,€charged€with€examining€international€concerns;€and݃Zc»İŒĞ´(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌñf ñİ‚Zcÿİİ  İò òİ‚Zcpİğ"ğà0  àİ  İó óÔ#†X#–XXXõNz #ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–ÔÔ#†&̾&XXõN8 #ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾Ôñf ññf ñİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zckİğ"ğà0  àİ  İñf ñò òTeam€3ó ó,€charged€with€collecting€and€analyzing€data€on€the€potential€cost€of€accreditationĞ à Ğfor€GLP€laboratories.݃Zcp݌Р(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌHe€noted€that€in€October€1996,€the€Subcommittee€met€to€review€and€evaluate€a€list€of€35€differentÏprogram€options€developed€by€Team€1B.€€At€the€conclusion€of€that€meeting,€the€list€forÏconsideration€was€narrowed€to€four€options.€€Since€that€time,€one€additional€option€has€beenÏadded,€and€the€Subcommitteeğğs€final€report€will€address€these€five€options€in€detail.ÌÌThe€five€options€under€consideration€are:ÌÌ1.à8  àAugmentation€of€the€existing€USEPA€¢GLP£€program€with€increased€funding,ĞÌ'#&Ğ Ğ  ĞÌ2.à8  àThird„party€accreditation€for€GLP€laboratories,Ф)ô$(Ğ Ğ  ĞÌ3.à8  àA€sponsor€(i.e.,€industry)€monitoring€program,Ğ|+Ì&*Ğ Ğ  ĞĞ h,¸'+ Ğ4.à8  àInclusion€of€the€GLP€program€under€NELAC,€andаРР ĞÌ5.à8  àA€Federal€Insecticide,€Fungicide,€and€Rodenticide€Act/Toxic€Substances€ControlĞ ˆØ ĞAct€(FIFRA/TSCA)€testing€facility€registration€program.Ğ Ğ Ğ  ĞÌMr.€John€briefly€reviewed€the€Subcommitteeğğs€preliminary€list€of€advantages€and€disadvantagesÏfor€each€option.€€He€noted€two€general€conclusions.€€ÌÌñd ñİ‚Zcÿİİ  İò òİ‚Zcö!İğ"ğà0  àİ  İó óÔ#†X#–XXXõNâ#ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–ÔÔ#†&̾&XXõN$#ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾Ôñd ñThe€Subcommittee€believes€that€most€of€the€options€under€consideration€will€require€aĞ  ` Ğchange€in€statutes€or€regulations,€and€İƒZcö!"݌Р(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌñe ñİ‚Zcÿİİ  İò òİ‚Zc #İğ"ğà0  àİ  İó óÔ#†&̾&XXõNª"#ÔÔ‡XõNX&&̾ÔÔ#†X#–XXXõNh"#ÔÔ‡XõNXXX#–Ôñe ñThe€options€need€to€be€defined€in€greater€detail€before€a€final€evaluation€of€their€relativeĞ Ø(  Ğadvantages€and€disadvantages€can€be€completed.݃Zc #¾#݌Р(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌHe€noted€that€the€Subcommittee€will€be€working€between€now€and€July€to€more€fully€describe€theÏñg ñÔ% € Ôñg ñoptions.€€The€Subcommittee€is€also€discussing€issues€of€equability€because€some€members€believeÏthat€certain€options€would€provide€unfair€advantages€to€selected€segments€of€the€industry.ÌÌMr.€John€also€reported€that€Team€3€has€developed€a€survey€to€gather€data€on€the€current€cost€ofÏGLP€compliance€to€laboratories€and€industry.€€The€survey€will€be€sent€to€laboratories€and€industryÏusers€of€GLP€laboratories€through€a€cooperative€effort€with€several€trade€associations.ÌÌò òPERFORMANCE€EVALUATION€SUBCOMMITTEE€REPORTó óĞ P ĞÌMr.€Tom€Coyner€of€Analytical€Products€Group,€Inc.,€and€Ms.€Marlene€Moore€of€AdvancedÏSystems,€Inc.,€Co„Chairs€of€the€PT€Subcommittee,€presented€the€Subcommitteeğğs€report.€€Mr.ÏCoyner€noted€that€the€Subcommittee€was€constituted€in€September€to€examine€the€inter„¼relationship€and€potential€impact€of€USEPAğğs€effort€to€externalize€the€water€laboratoryÏperformance€evaluation€PE€studies€on€the€NELAC€proficiency€testing€(PT)€program.€€TheÏSubcommittee€was€asked€by€ELAB€to€make€recommendations€regarding€coordination€of€the€twoÏprograms.ÌÌMr.€¢Coyner£€stated€that€the€Subcommittee€has€agreed€on€three€recommendations€to€date:ÌÌ1.à8  àThat€the€NELAC€basis€for€accreditation€and€the€definition€for€fields€of€testingĞ $`" Ğshould€be€that€advocated€by€the€NELAC€Program€Policy€and€Structure€CommitteeÏ(i.e.,€program/method/¢analyte£);Ğ Ğ Ğ  ĞÌ2.à8  àThat€ELAB€should€recommend€to€the€NELAC€Board€of€Directors€that€the€goal€ofĞ À'#& Ğthe€NELAC€PT€program€should€be€provision€of€full„volume,€real„world€samples;Ğ Ğ Ğ  ĞÌÔ& Ä Ô3.à8  àThat€ELAB€should€recommend€to€the€NELAC€Board€of€Directors€that€theĞ „*Ô%) Ğmultiple„provider€system€envisioned€by€both€USEPA€and€NELAC€must€have€aÏdesignated€oversight€body€in€order€to€be€successful.Ô'Ä„*',ÔĞ\,¬'+Ğ Ğ  Їñb ñELAB€ñb ñña ñThe€Advisory€Board€ña ñdiscussed€each€of€the€three€recommendations€individually.ÌÌWith€respect€to€the€first€recommendation,€Mr.€Coyner€stated€that€the€issue€of€whether€to€makeÏlaboratory€accreditation€method„specific€is€important€when€more€than€one€method€can€be€used€toÏanalyze€a€particular€analyte.€€He€provided€the€example€of€lead€in€drinking€water.€€In€the€discussionÏthat€followed,€ñ_ ñthe€Advisory€Board€ñ_ ññ` ñELAB€ñ` ñrecognized€that€one€of€the€chief€concerns€is€the€number€of€PT€samples€that€aÏlaboratory€would€need€to€purchase€in€order€to€be€accredited€for€more€than€one€method€perÏanalyte,€in€the€event€that€accreditation€is€method„specific€and€successful€performance€on€a€PTÏsample€is€required€for€each€method€accredited.€€Ms.€Lee€noted€that€this€would€impose€a€high€costÏburden€on€small€laboratories.€€Dr.€Hershey€suggested€that€the€PT€samples€should€be€provided€in€aÏvolume€sufficient€to€allow€analyses€of€a€single€sample€by€multiple€methods.€€Other€ELABÏmembers€agreed.€€Three€important€points€were€made€by€members€of€the€audience:ÌÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zcc1İğ"ğà0  àİ  İDr.€Ken€Jackson€of€the€NY€State€Department€of€Health,€noted€that€if€accreditation€isĞ ¬ü  Ğanalyte„specific€rather€than€method„specific,€PT€results€may€give€a€less€accurate€indicationÏof€a€laboratory's€performance€for€analytes€with€multiple€methods€because€the€laboratoryÏcould€successfully€run€a€PT€sample€by€one€method€and€be€certified€to€run€an€analyte€byÏthat€method€and€by€other€methods€with€which€it€was€unfamiliar.݃Zcc1~1݌Р(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zc›3İğ"ğà0  àİ  İDr.€Michael€Miller€of€the€NJ€Department€of€Environmental€Protection€stated€thatĞ 4„ Ğlaboratories€should€have€the€option€of€analyzing€PT€samples€and€reporting€results€for€moreÏthan€one€method€per€analyte.€€He€also€stated€that€performance€on€PT€samples€does€notÏprovide€a€full€picture€of€laboratory€performance€and€that€the€accreditation€decision€shouldÏnot€be€made€without€a€comprehensive€on„site€assessment.݃Zc›3¶3݌Р(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚ZcÇ5İğ"ğà0  àİ  İMs.€Athene€Thacker€of€EA€Laboratories€related€an€experience€in€which€her€laboratory€lostĞ ¼  Ğits€drinking€water€certification€for€all€methods€pertaining€to€a€particular€analyte€when€itÏdeveloped€a€performance€problem€with€only€one€of€the€methods.€€The€incident€occurredÏbecause€the€Drinking€Water€Certification€program€is€¢analyte£„€(rather€than€method„)Ïspecific.݃ZcÇ5â5݌Р(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌAt€the€conclusion€of€the€discussion,ELAB€agreed€to€report€to€the€NELAC€Board€of€DirectorsÏthat€the€issue€of€how€to€define€the€basis€for€NELAC€accreditation€is€of€concern€to€the€laboratoryÏcommunity€and€should€continue€to€be€addressed€jointly€by€the€NELAC€Committees€onÏProficiency€Testing€and€Program€Policy€and€Structure.€€ELAB€participation€in€the€effort€will€beÏthe€responsibility€of€Mr.€Coyner€and€Ms.€Moore,€who€are€members€of€the€Proficiency€Testing€andÏProgram€Policy€and€Structure€Committees,€respectively.€€Mr.€Verstuyft€suggested€that€in€itsÏreport€the€Subcommittee€provide€a€written€description€of€the€lead€in€drinking€water€example€andÏdiscuss€the€implications€for€accreditation€raised€by€Ms.€Thacker.€€Mr.€Coyner€agreed€that€theÏSubcommittee€will€provide€a€detailed€write„up€on€this€issue.ÌÌWith€regard€to€the€second€recommendation,€Mr.€Coyner€stated€that€the€Subcommittee€membersÏbelieve€that€full„volume,€real„world€PT€samples€are€necessary€to€ensure€consistency€andÏequivalency€of€the€studies€and€will€contribute€to€ensuring€that€the€results€reflect€routine€laboratoryĞ T,¤'+ Ğperformance.€€He€stated€that€the€Subcommittee€members€believe€that€it€is€important€to€make€thisÏformal€recommendation€because€documents€published€by€USEPA€regarding€externalization€of€theÏwater€laboratory€PE€studies€are€silent€on€this€issue.€€After€a€brief€discussion,€ELAB€membersÏagreed€to€forward€a€recommendation€to€EMMC€and€the€NELAC€Board€of€Directors€that€the€goalÏof€the€NELAC€PT€program€should€be€to€provide€full„volume,€real„world€samples,€keeping€in€mindÏconsiderations€of€practicality€and€cost.ÌÌIn€discussing€the€third€recommendation,€Ms.€Trovato€asked€the€ñ^ ñELAB€ñ^ ññ] ñAdvisory€Board€ñ] ñto€consider€two€separateÏissues:ÌÌ1.à8  àIs€a€national€oversight€body€necessary€for€the€multiple„provider€system€envisionedĞ è 8  Ğby€USEPA€and€NELAC?Ğ Ğ Ğ  ĞÌ2.à8  àIf€so,€should€the€national€oversight€body€be€a€government€organization?Ьü Ğ Ğ  ĞÌAfter€some€discussion,€ELAB€members€agreed€unanimously€to€recommend€that€an€oversight€bodyÏbe€established€as€an€essential€element€of€a€multiple„provider€system.€€ELAB€members€furtherÏagreed€to€recommend€that€there€should€be€only€a€single€oversight€body€for€the€program.€€SeveralÏState€representatives€from€the€audience€commented€that€there€are€numerous€reasons€why€StatesÏprefer€a€government€oversight€body.€€Mr.€Jerry€Parr€of€Quanterra€Environmental€Services€statedÏthat€he€believes€ELAB€should€state€that€there€is€a€strong€preference€for€USEPA€to€serve€as€theÏoversight€body€and€that€if€USEPA€is€unable€to€serve€in€this€capacity,€another€governmentÏorganization€such€as€the€National€Institute€of€Standards€and€Technology€(¢NIST£)€should€be€namedÏthe€oversight€body.€€After€some€discussion,€ELAB€agreed€to€recommend€that€USEPA€serve€as€theÏoversight€body€for€the€PT€program,€with€the€necessary€resources€and€commitment€to€improve€theÏcurrent€system.€€Alternatively,€ELAB€members€recommended€that€the€oversight€body€be€anotherÏgovernment€organization€and€that€steps€be€taken€to€ensure€a€smooth€transition.ÌòòÌò òóóNELAC€RECOGNITION€OF€NATIVE€AMERICAN€TRIBAL€NATIONSó óĞ €Ğ ĞÌDr.€Roger€Bucholz€of€Red€Hawk€Laboratory,€Inc.,€representing€the€Sioux€Nation,€made€a€briefÏpresentation€regarding€the€need€to€establish€a€means€for€official€participation€and€recognition€ofÏTribal€Nations€by€NELAC.€€He€stated€that€various€sovereignty€issues€prevent€Tribal€Nations€fromÏparticipating€through,€being€represented€by,€or€being€accredited€by€State€accrediting€authorities.€ÏAfter€a€brief€discussion,€ELAB€members€recognized€that€an€amendment€to€the€ConstitutionÏand/or€Bylaws€may€be€necessary€to€provide€specifically€for€Tribal€Nations€in€NELAC€and€agreedÏto€recommend€that€the€Program€Policy€and€Structure€Committee€address€this€issue.ÌÌò òTHIRD„PARTY€ASSESSORS€SUBCOMMITTEE€REPORT€ó óĞ ¸'#& ĞÌMr.€Bush,€Chair€of€the€Subcommittee,€made€a€brief€presentation€concerning€the€results€of€theÏSubcommitteeğğs€deliberations.€€He€reminded€ELAB€that€the€purpose€of€the€Subcommittee€is€toÏâ âexamine€the€issue€of€an€appropriate€role€for€third€parties€in€the€accreditation€process.€€He€notedĞ h+¸&* Ğthat€a€contingent€of€third„party€accrediting€bodies€had€provided€the€Subcommittee€with€a€letterÏthat€made€the€following€three€requests:Ìâ âÌ1.à8  àThat€NELAC€set€up€a€centralized€program€for€recognition€of€private„sectorĞ tÄ Ğaccrediting€bodies;Ğ Ğ Ğ  ĞÌ2.à8  àThat,€in€the€event€USEPA€Regional€Offices€implement€the€accrediting€authorityĞ 8 ˆ Ğapproval€and€oversight€functions€of€NELAP,€USEPA€provide€for€coordinationÏamong€the€Regions€to€avoid€duplication€of€effort€in€reviewing€private„sectorÏaccrediting€bodies;€andĞ Ğ Ğ  ĞÌ3.à8  àThat€an€information€clearinghouse€be€established€regarding€the€assessment€andĞ Ô$  Ğapproval€status€of€private„sector€accrediting€bodies€participating€in€NELAC.Ğ Ğ Ğ  ĞÌMr.€Bush€noted€that€the€chief€concern€of€the€third„party€organizations€is€to€avoid€duplicativeÏassessments€by€USEPA€and€the€States.€€He€stated€that€the€Subcommitteeğğs€recommendation€isÏthat€USEPA€and€private€accrediting€bodies€work€together€to€set€up€a€cooperative€program€forÏassessment€of€State€accrediting€authorities€and€third„party€accrediting€bodies.€€The€SubcommitteeÏfurther€recommended€that,€if€ELAB€agrees€with€the€recommendation,€it€should€establish€aÏpermanent€subcommittee€to€define€the€specifics€of€such€a€program.ÌÌIn€the€discussion€that€followed,€several€State€representatives€from€the€audience€noted€that€theÏStates,€for€a€variety€of€reasons,€would€be€required€to€use€their€own€selection€procedures€andÏcriteria€for€selecting€private„sector€organizations€to€assist€with€their€programs.€€Dr.€KavanaughÏsuggested€that€ELAB€recommend€to€the€NELAC€Board€of€Directors€that€the€NELAC€nationalÏdatabase€include€publicly€available€information€describing€the€functions€performed€by€individualÏprivate€organizations€for€specific€State€programs.€€ELAB€members€agreed€unanimously€with€Dr.ÏKavanaughğğs€suggestion.ÌÌò òNELAC€NATIONAL€DATABASE€òòAD€HOCóó€COMMITTEE€REPORTó óĞ l¼ ĞÌDr.€Charles€Hartwig,€Chair€of€the€NELAC€Board€of€Directors,€provided€ELAB€with€a€briefÏpresentation€of€the€results€of€the€first€meeting€of€the€NELAC€òòAD€Hocóó€Committee€on€the€NationalĞ 0"€  ĞDatabase.€€In€his€charge€to€the€Committee,€he€requested€that€it€examine€a€number€of€issues,Ïincluding:ÌÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zc‰Qİğ"ğà0  àİ  İSelection€of€an€existing€database€for€NELAC,݃Zc‰Q¤QİŒĞà%0!$(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚ZcBRİğ"ğà0  àİ  İThe€data€elements€to€be€included€in€the€database,݃ZcBR]R݌и'#&(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚ZcSİğ"ğà0  àİ  İThe€process€for€data€entry,݃ZcSSİŒĞ)à$((#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zc¨Sİğ"ğà0  àİ  İThe€need€for€controlled€access€to€data€files,݃Zc¨SÃSİŒĞh+¸&*(#(# ĞŒİ  İĞ T,¤'+ Ğİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚ZcvTİğ"ğà0  àİ  İThe€time€frame€for€data€entry,݃ZcvT‘T݌а(#(# ĞŒİ  İÌİ‚Zcÿİİ  İİ‚Zc!Uİğ"ğà0  àİ  İThe€format€for€data€entry€and€display,€and݃Zc!U