louisiana environmental laboratory accreditation program (lelap)
DESCRIPTION
Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (LELAP). Paul Bergeron LELAP Supervisor Lod Cook Alumni Center, Baton Rouge LA May 20, 2009. The NELAC Institute (TNI). A non-profit organization guiding the efforts for national environmental accreditation - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
Program (LELAP)
Paul Bergeron LELAP Supervisor
Lod Cook Alumni Center, Baton Rouge LAMay 20, 2009
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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The NELAC Institute (TNI)
• A non-profit organization guiding the efforts for national environmental accreditation
•Oversight is provided by a Board of Directors
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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TNI Programs
• Advocacy• Consensus Standard Development• Laboratory
Accreditation Systems• National Database
• National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
• Proficiency Testing• Technical Assistance
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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TNI Expert Committees
• Accreditation Body
• Field Activities
• On-site Assessment
• Proficiency Testing
• Quality System
• Stationary Source Audit Samples
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Current TNI Activities
•Accepting Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) for new national standard
•Possible adoption of new standard at San Antonio meeting this August
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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The National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program
(NELAP) Board
• Membership is comprised of representatives of state agencies, one of whom serves as the Chair•It has recognized all of the nine original state agencies as accreditation bodies
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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The NELAC Institute (TNI) NELAP Accreditation Bodies
• 1 CA Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program 8 NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection• 2 FL Dept. of Health, Bureau of Laboratories 9 NY State Dept. of Health• 3 IL EPA, Div. of Lab., QA Section 10 OR Health Division• 4 KS Dept. of Health and Environment 11 PA Bureau of Labs., Dept. of• 5 LA Dept. of Health and Hospitals Environmental Protection
6 LA Dept. of Environmental Quality 12 TX Commission on Environmental Quality• 7 NH Environmental Lab Accreditation Program 13 UT Department of Health_________________________________________
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
:FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
United StatesTNI NELAP Accreditation Bodies
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NUMBER OF NELAP-ACCREDITED LABORATORIES BY STATE
There are over 2000 laboratories in the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Korea, and Europe, participating in NELAP._________________________________________
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
:FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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The National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program
(NELAP) Board
• Working with TNI committees on interpretation of the 2003 National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) standard•Voting to recognize existing and newly applied state accreditation bodies
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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The National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) Board
•Approved new tables for proficiency testing in microbiology and whole effluent toxicity•Clarifying role in accreditation of methods versus approval of methods (i.e., new version of SW-846 methods)
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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EPA and TNI
•EPA does not operate a national accreditation program•EPA supports the activities of TNI by providing staff for accreditation body evaluations and participating in TNI forums
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Contact Information
TNIPO Box 2439Weatherford TX 76086Jerry Parr, Executive DirectorPhone 817-598-1624Email [email protected] http://www.NELAC-institute.org
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Questions?
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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LELAP Moves to LDEQ Headquarters
•Office of Environmental Services•Permit Support Services Division•Notifications and Accreditations Section
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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LELAP has a new physical location…
602 North Fifth StreetBaton Rouge LA 70802Paul Bergeron, SupervisorPhone 225-219-3247Email [email protected]
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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LELAP has the following assessors…
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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LELAP has implemented “regionalization”
An assessor is based in the Northwest Regional Office to conduct assessments for laboratories located in north and central Louisiana, the Texarkana area, and northern Mississippi
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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LELAP is implementing “ a level playing field”
•Laboratories will be assessed by LELAP staff •Contract assessors will receive fewer assignments
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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LELAP is implementing other aspects of the Ten Point Plan
•Ethics and Integrity—assessors receive annual training•Transparency—LELAP FAQs are posted on website•Front-loading—a/k/a “Accreditation 101”•Investment in Small Business—LELAP encourages small laboratories to participate on the TNI small laboratory sub-committee
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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LELAP is implementing other aspects of the Ten Point Plan
•Investment in Community Organizations and Local Governments—LELAP continues to support LWEA and its members
•Investment in Green Government and Applied Research—documents will be accepted and sent electronically; method modification will continue to be approved according to regulations
•Investment in Technology and e-Commerce—LELAP is studying improvements to its database; fees can be paid electronically, contact the LDEQ Financial Services Division
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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LELAP is implementing “Streamlining for Efficiency”
•Records are being transferred to the Electronic Data Management System (EDMS)•Scopes will be available on EDMS and website
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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“Streamlining for Efficiency”
• The LELAP Quality Assurance Plan and the standard operating procedures are being revised to increase efficiency of accreditation activities• Regulation changes will be proposed to reduce or combine assessments
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Benefits of “Streamlining for Efficiency”
Assessment time in laboratory will be reduced if the laboratories provide the documentation upfront
•Provide requested documents such as checklists to the assessor prior to the assessment
•Have training records, internal audits and annual management reviews ready for the assessor to review
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Benefits of “Streamlining for Efficiency”
Costs to Laboratories and Overtime Will be Reduced
• Contractor assessors will be reduced or eliminated• Streamlining with the use of checklists•Limiting the scope of the assessment• Rotating/target certain areas for assessment
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Benefits of “Streamlining for Efficiency”
Exit Debrief will be Reduced by Limiting Extraneous Discussion
•Submitting copy of the assessor’s checklist with previously noted and discussed findings, seriousness, and lab objections• A hard copy of the post assessment requirements will be presented to labs
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Assessment Cycle Focus
• First Assessment—Overview to determine if quality system is present• Second Assessment—Focus on methods
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Assessment Cycle Focus
• Third Assessment—Focus on data review• Fourth Assessment—Back to overview, determine if quality system is functioning in laboratory
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Assessment Cycle Focus
• Minimum Quantitation Levels (MQLs)—assessors will begin looking for implementation of new MQLs in EPA Region 6-based work• New technologies—LELAP will address nanotechnology, metals speciation, etc. as the need arises
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Assessment Cycle Focus
Other assessments will be conducted as needed• Laboratory relocations• Complaints received by LELAP• Addition of new test category or technology to scope
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Other items…
•LELAP Evaluation by TNI is scheduled for July 2009•eNewsletter is being revamped •Accreditation 101 offered as video-conferencing in planning stages - check the website or your email for details
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Reminders…
•Use accredited laboratories for subcontracted work
•Submit analytical data packages if there are no proficiency test samples available
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Reminders…
•Notify LELAP of changes affecting the condition of your laboratory accreditation (new name, address, etc.)
•Fees are due by July 1 of each year or as stated on invoice
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Reminders…
•Provide requested documents such as checklists to the assessor prior to the assessment
•Have training records, internal audits and annual management reviews ready for the assessor to review
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Reminders…
•Submit a satisfactory corrective action plan for findings identified during the assessment •Expect a teleconference or meeting if the plan is predominantly not approved
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Reminders…
•Implement the corrective action plan when it is approved! •Be prepared to provide documentation of implementation by the next assessment
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Questions…
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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Laboratory Issues and Challenges
An Open ForumPaul Bergeron, LDEQ
Lod Cook Alumni Center,Baton Rouge, LA
May 20, 2009
_________________________________________ LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY :FOR ALL YOUR ENVIRONMENTS
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