| OQA Bulletin Board
New Analytical
Methods Available for Certification
March 2008: Issue of Revision 7, Method OQA-QAM-025
Revision 7 of Method
OQA-QAM-025, "Quantitation of Semi-Volatile Petroleum
Products in Water, Soil, Sediment and Sludge" has been
issued by the Office of Quality Assurance (OQA).
Questions regarding Method OQA-QAM-025 Revision 7 should
be directed to Peter Boughton at (690) 292-3950.
March 2008 - New Revision to Method OQA-QAM-025
The latest revision of Method OQA-QAM-025 is revision 7. The major change is the sample holding time for aqueous and solid samples from seven days to extraction to 14 days to extraction. Some editorial changes were made to the method. Laboratories do not have to send OQA any data. The SOP revisions will be inspected during the next on- site assessment. Revision 7 will directly replace revision 6 on March 3, 2008.
Major Changes as Follows:
9.1.3 (Aqueous holding time):
Samples must be extracted within 14 days from the time of collection or 12 days from verified sample time of receipt (VSTR). Extracts must be analyzed within 40 days of extraction.
9.2.3 (Solids holding time):
Samples must be extracted within 14 days from the time of collection or 12 days from VSTR. Extracts must be analyzed within 40 days of extraction.
13.0 References:
#24. Miller, M. W., Appleby, C. Wright, D., Skelton, P., "A Gas Chromatography Method to Replace Method 418.1 for the Determination of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons", Presented at National Conference on Contaminated Soils, Amherst, MA, October 1997. Available on OQA web site.
July 2007 - United States Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) Methods Update Rule (MUR)
On March 12, 2007 the USEPA issued a final MUR that revises the list of approved
analyses and sampling procedures in wastewater, drinking water and biosolids
regulations. To provide guidance to businesses certified using the NJ – Environmental
Laboratory Certification Program or accredited using the NJ – National
Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, the OQA has issued the following
letter and accompanying attachments:
OQA letter of July
13, 2007 (PDF) t hat provides
general details of the MUR's implementation and an overview
of the information contained in the included attachments
listed below.
Attachment 1 (PDF) – Table 1 - List of Chemical
and Biological Test Procedures Removed and Alternate Approved
Replacement Methods and Table 2 - Replacement Options for
Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Attachment 2 (PDF) – NJDEP
Schedule for Responding to Methods Update Rule (MUR)
Attachment 3 (PDF) – Submittal
Requirements for Requesting Changes to Certification and
Accreditation Status
March
2007 - New Low Level Air Analysis Method Required by the
NJDEP’s
Site Remediation and Waste Management Program
New Air Analysis Method Certification Available,
March 2007.
The NJDEP Site Remediation Waste Management (SRWM) Program
has developed criteria for a Low Level Volatile Organics Method
for air sampling and analysis that will be used in place of
USEPA Method TO-15. The new method is designated as NJDEP-SRWM
Low Level USEPA Method TO-15, March 2007 (NJDEP-LLTO-15-3/2007).
The specific details of the new analysis method requirements
are given in the following three documents:
- NJDEP Modified Low Level TO-15 Method (NJDEP-LLTO-15-3/2007)
[pdf 406 Kb]
- NJDEP Ambient Air Regulatory Data Report Format (Appendix
1) [pdf 530 Kb]
- Method NJDEP-LLTO-15-3/2007 Data
Reporting Spreadsheet [pdf 24
Kb]
Directions for applying for certification can be found in
the letter from the OQA to laboratories dated April 2, 2007
announcing the new air analysis
method requirements.
General information related to the Departments Vapor Intrusion
Program can be found at the NJDEP Site Remediation Waste Management
(SRWM) Program at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/srp/guidance/vaporintrusion/
Specific questions relating to certification can be directed
to Mr. Michael DiBalsi or Dr. Z. Bernie Wilk at (609) 292-3950.
January 2007
- Dioxin/Furan and PCB Congener Laboratories:
Updates Required to World Health Organization (WHO)
Toxic Equivalent Factors (TEFs).
In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) had
reevaluated its Human and Mammalian Toxic Equivalent Factors
(TEFs) for Dioxins/Furans and PCB Congeners from those initially
issued in 1998. Changes to several TEFs have been made
as a result of the 2005 reevaluation.
Because of these changes, the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection (Department) requests that all
laboratories update their reporting of Dioxin/Furan and PCB
Congener data to incorporate the new 2005 WHO TEFs.
The methods affected include EPA Methods 8290, 1613 and 1668A.
Going forward, Dioxin/Furan and PCB Congener data being reported
to the Department using these methods shall make use of the
updated 2005 TEFs when calculating Toxic Equivalents (TEQs).
The updated WHO 2005 TEF values can be accessed directly through
WHO’s web site at http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/tef_update/en/index.html.
Additionally, the laboratories shall document the updated
TEFs used in their laboratory reports.
If this office can be of any further assistance, please call
Dr. Z. Bernie Wilk
of the Office of Quality
Assurance at (609) 292-3950.
September 2004 -
Air Analysis Certification Update
On October 20, 2003, regulations were published
that required regulatory air analyses performed for the State
of New Jersey to be conducted by certified laboratories. On
that date, the Office of Quality Assurance (OQA) initiated
the process of certification of air analysis laboratories.
During the initial application period, which ended April 17,
2004, a total of 35 laboratories applied for and received
temporary certification. Beginning in July 2004, OQA has initiated
and is currently conducting on-site assessments of these 35
laboratories. Laboratories that have applied under this program
should expect to hear from the OQA in the near future regarding
the scheduling of an on-site assessment. After on-site assessments,
qualified laboratories will have their temporary certification
status changed to certified status.
During the application process, laboratories were given the
option of applying for certification under either the New
Jersey Environmental Laboratory Certification Program (NJ-ELCP)
or the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program
(NJ-NELAP). This was done in anticipation of receiving NELAP
approval to incorporate all air analysis methods in the NJ-NELAP.
Currently, New Jersey has NELAP approval to certify laboratories
for EPA methods TO-15 and TO-17. Pending NELAP approval, all
other air analysis methods (as outlined in Part
III) are currently only available for NJ-ELAC program
certification. New Jersey anticipates NELAP approval for all
air parameters in the near future. Additionally, New Jersey
will use the NELAC Standard for assessing laboratory capability
to grant both NJ-NELAC and NJ-NELAP certification.
Enterococci
Update for the BEACH program
July 9, 2004 Method Clarification
The US EPA has clarified the counting requirements
in Method 1600 used in the determination of enterococci testing
in the BEACH program. The clarification is as follows:
All blue halo colonies must now be measured. Any blue halo
colony that is less than 0.5mm in diameter is not to be
included in the final count. Only blue halo colonies which
measure equal to or greater than 0.5mm in diameter, are
to be counted as target organisms (enterococci). Colonies
are to be counted using a measuring magnifier that is accurate
to 0.1mm.
Laboratories, certified for Method 1600, were notified by
the Office of Quality Assurance regarding the changes. All
of the laboratories responsible for the testing of the public
bathing beaches have submitted documentation verifying that
they have complied with the updated method requirements for
the determination of enterococci.
For additional information please contact Debra
Waller.
April 27, 2004: For all labs conducting
bacterialogical testing of ocean and bay beaches, the monitoring
parameter has changed from fecal coliform to enterococci.
This applies to private and public, ocean and bay beaches.
For your convenience, details of the change as well as contact
information can be found in an April 27, 2004 notice(PDF)
.
April
2006 Updates to the Proficiency Testing Program
Water Supply Certifications
The starting date for the July Make-up Water Supply PT Study
(WS-July 06) is July 10, 2006, and the closing date is August
24, 2006. Laboratories that failed to submit results and/or
failed to submit analytical results within acceptable limits
for the January Water Supply PT Study (WS-January 06) must
submit results for the WS-July 06 PT Study. ELCP laboratories
must use the State of New Jersey’s PT Samples Contract.
No petitions for exemption from the contract by ELCP laboratories
will be accepted for this Study.
Water Pollution Certifications
The starting date for the June Water Pollution PT Study (WP-June
06) is June 12, 2006, and the closing date is July 27, 2006.
The next Water Pollution PT Study is scheduled for December
2006. ELCP laboratories must use the State of New Jersey’s
PT Samples Contract. No petitions for exemption from the contract
by ELCP laboratories will be accepted for these Studies.
Solid/Hazardous Waste Certifications
The starting date for the April Make-up Soild/Hazardous Waste
PT Study (SW-April 06) is April 17, 2006, and the closing
date is June 1, 2006. Laboratories that failed to submit results
and/or failed to submit analytical results within acceptable
limits for the October Solidazardous Waste Study (SW-October
06) must submit results for the SW-April 06 PT Study. ELCP
laboratories must use the State of New Jersey’s PT Samples
Contract. No petitions for exemption from the contract by
ELCP laboratories will be accepted for this Study.
PT Study Verification, Homogeneity and Stability
Data Notice
The purpose of this Notice October
20, 2005(PDF) is to assist the
laboratory community with its activities to respond to the
State's PT Study Verification, Homogeneity and Stability data
requirements.
Rule Revisions
November 2003 - Air Program Implementation
- On October 20, 2003, amendments to N.J.A.C. 7:18, “Regulations
Governing the Certification of Laboratories and Environmental
Measurements” were adopted in the New Jersey Register
(35 NJR 4878). The amendments
(PDF) expanded N.J.A.C. 7:18 to
provide for the certification of laboratories analyzing both
ambient and stack air samples in response to the Clean Air
Program (CAP). The amendments also expanded the list of air
analytical methods available for certification.
On November 26, 2003, the OQA issued a letter
to laboratories containing directions on how to apply for
certification (PDF)in air analytical
methods. Those directions required laboratories to complete
Parts I
(PDF), II
(PDF) and III
(PDF) of the application package,
and submit with it a Standard Operating Procedure for each
method in which certification is sought along with the applicable
fee (PDF). All laboratories
conducting analyses in response to a New Jersey CAP must submit
a completed application by April 17, 2004.
Specific questions regarding obtaining certification in the
Clean Air Program should be directed to Dr. Z. Bernie Wilk
at (609) 292-3950.
Guidance Documents
02/26/2007 - pH Monitoring - A generic Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) for pH
Monitoring(PDF) has been developed
by the OQA. The document provides an outline for businesses
to follow when preparing an SOP to become certified.
08/28/2003 - Continuous pH Monitoring –
A generic Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
for Continuous pH Monitoring(PDF)
has been developed by the OQA. It includes a template and
instruction
page(PDF). The documents provide
an outline for businesses to follow when preparing an SOP
to become certified.
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