Environmental Law & Policy Alerts – Update from Somach Simmons & Dunn

State Water Board Adopts Regulations for Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program
 

On May 5, 2020, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted regulations to update the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, which oversees the accreditation of environmental testing laboratories that test drinking water, wastewater discharges, and hazardous waste cleanup sites for compliance with state water quality standards.  Under the adopted regulations, laboratories are required to implement “The NELAC Institute” (TNI) Standard, a national accreditation standard for laboratory compliance, which will replace the current, state-specific accreditation standard.  Specifically, the regulations incorporate by reference the 2016 TNI Standard, Volume 1: Management and Technical Requirements for Laboratories Performing Environmental Analysis (2016 TNI Standard), but with two California-specific exceptions to the 2016 TNI Standard regarding proficiency testing.  There is a three-year delayed implementation period before laboratories will be required to comply with the 2016 TNI Standard. … Read More

Written by Michelle E. Chester