1. Independent Testing Laboratory Association
EPA’s Water Laboratory Alliance and Environmental Response Laboratory Network
Good morning, it is a pleasure to be here today to talk to you about EPA’s Water Laboratory Alliance and Environmental Response Laboratory Network.
Independent Testing Laboratory Association
June 1

2. Objectives For Today
Provide an overview of the Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks (ICLN)
Explain what the Environmental Response Laboratory Network (ERLN) is and how it fits into the ICLN
Explore the Water Laboratory Alliance (WLA), its role under the ERLN, and how environmental laboratories are involved in the network
Understand EPA’s Water Security Tools 2

3. National Laboratory Initiatives
The federal government’s national laboratory initiatives cover sample analysis from any source, be it food, animal, clinical, agricultural, or environmental. The hope is that all of these networks can communicate their findings to the chain of command in the event of a major emergency. 3

4. Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks (ICLN)
ICLN created in response to:
Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs)
Need for agency coordination
Goal: Create a U.S. Homeland Security infrastructure that would provide an interoperable system of (Federal) laboratory response networks
ICLN is hosted by Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
ICLN was created in 2005
Ten federal agencies are signatories: USDA, DoC, DoD, DoE, HHS, DHS, DoL, DoJ, DoS, and EPA
With that said, the Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks, or ICLN, was created in an attempt to centralize command of the various laboratory networks in the event of a major emergency.
The realization of incompatibility among data received from laboratory networks after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina stemmed the development of the ICLN.
The goal was to create an infrastructure where the various federal laboratory networks would be merged into one interoperable system.

5. Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks (ICLN)
Joint Leadership Council (JLC)
(Assistant Secretary Level)
DHS Chair TE
Technical Experts
Network Coordinating Group (NCG)
DHS Chair
Exec Sec
DHS
This slide illustrates the overall structure of the ICLN and the networks involved.
LRN-CDC, clinical
NAHLN-USDA, food animal/other
NPDN, USDA, crops/plants
FERN, USDA/FDA, food supply
ERLN, EPA, environmental (soil, air, water, surfaces)
Some things to think about:
If you are a member of more than one of these networks:
Are the data reporting requirements the same across the networks?
How many different points of contact would you be required to report to?
LRN
Laboratory Response Network
NAHLN
National Animal Health Laboratory Network
NPDN National Plant Diagnostic Network
FERN
Food Emergency Response Network
ERLN
Environmental Response Laboratory Network 5

6. Responsible Federal Agency Matrix
Chemical
Biological
Radiochemical
Lab Support to Phase of Response
Sample Matrix
Monitoring/ Surveillance
Incident Response
Remediation
Forensics
Monitoring/ Surveillance
Monitoring/ Surveillance
Human Clinical
HHS
FBI
Environmental
EPA
Multiple
DOE/ EPA
Food
USDA/ HHS
HHS/ USDA
Animal
USDA
Plant
Drinking Water
Dependant upon the matrix and the contaminant(s) involved, several different agencies could be involved in response. This chart identifies the responsible department/agency in each situation.
*NOTE: While in the past, responders might have had to rely solely on commercial laboratories, now responders can also rely on ERLN/WLA network laboratories to assist with analysis. The ERLN/WLA includes federal, public health and environmental, utility, and select commercial laboratories.
White: capability is/can be established within the department.
Green: capability in place through agreements.
Yellow: capability not in place, agreements needed. 6

7. What is the ERLN ?
Network of Federal, Public, and Commercial Laboratories
Member of the ICLN
Addresses chemical, radiological, and limited biological threats during environmental responses and nationally significant incidents
The ERLN was developed in response to Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs) 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 to protect the nation from the potential threats posed by terrorism or catastrophic events.
The ERLN is a network of Federal, Public, and Commercial Laboratories
Member of the ICLN
Addresses chemical, radiological, and limited biological threats during environmental responses and nationally significant incidents 7

8. What does the ERLN Do?
Provides an all hazards/all environmental media laboratory network
Chemical Agents (including toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents)
Biological Agents (no select agents)
Radiological Agents
Addresses preparedness, response, remediation, and recovery activities
Sets procedures/practices that allow for day-to-day use in order to seamlessly support incidents of any scale
Organizes a network of laboratories with known quality
Provides support to the response community
Operates under Incident Command System (ICS) structures
The ERLN is important because it is a national network of laboratories that can be accessed as needed to support large-scale environmental responses by providing consistent analytical capability, capacity, and data quality in a systematic, coordinated manner. The ERLN integrates capabilities of existing public sector laboratories with accredited private sector laboratories to support environmental responses.
Provides an all hazards/all environmental media laboratory network
Chemical Agents (including toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents)
Biological Agents (no select agents)
Radiological Agents
Addresses preparedness, response, remediation, and recovery activities
Sets procedures/practices that allow for day-to-day use in order to seamlessly support incidents of any scale
Organizes a network of laboratories with known quality
Provides support to the response community
Operates under Incident Command System (ICS) structures 8

9. 1 ERLN - Phase 1 Phase 1: 18 member laboratories
15 EPA Regional and Program Laboratories
Region 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
NAREL
NEIC
Pesticides Environmental Chemistry Branch
Pesticides Microbiology Laboratory Branch
Pesticides Analytical Chemistry Branch
R&IE National Laboratory
2 State Laboratories
FL DEP
VA DCLS
1 Federal Laboratory
LLNL
The ERLN was rolled out in two phases…
Objective: The primary goal of Phase I was to use EPA asset laboratories to test the parameters of the ERLN system. Recruitment was focused on EPA programmatic and Regional laboratories, two State laboratories, and a Federal laboratory in developing specialized environmental analytical capability for chemical warfare agents.
Members: During this time, the EPA accepted 18 ERLN laboratories, including nine EPA Regional laboratories; six EPA Program laboratories; one Federal laboratory; and two State laboratories. Notification letters of successful membership were sent to ERLN laboratories in July 2008.
The 18 member laboratories from Phase I include:
15 EPA Regional and Program Laboratories
Region 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
NAREL – National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory
NEIC – National Enforcement Investigations Center
Pesticides Environmental Chemistry Branch
Pesticides Microbiology Laboratory Branch
Pesticides Analytical Chemistry Branch
R&IE National Laboratory – Radiation and Indoor Environment National Laboratory
2 State Laboratories
FL DEP – Florida Department of Environmental Protection
VA DCLS – Virginia Department of Consolidated Laboratory Services
1 Federal Laboratory
LLNL – Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 9

10. ERLN - Phase 2 2
PHASE 2 solicitation (September 2009): Open for State, Federal, local, and commercial laboratories
Goals:
Build a comprehensive list of laboratories and capabilities
Enhanced national capacity for environmental analyses
Analytical Service Requester (ASR) has more laboratory alternatives to best meet their needs
Anticipated Membership: Could include over 700 laboratories
Easily accessible information: Launch of ERLN Website (
Phase two of the rollout opened enrollment to any State, Federal, local, or commercial laboratories that met predetermined membership criteria.
Goals:
Build a comprehensive list of laboratories and capabilities
Enhanced national capacity for environmental analyses
Analytical Service Requester (ASR) has more laboratory alternatives to best meet their needs
Anticipated Membership: Could include over 700 laboratories
Easily accessible information: Launch of ERLN Website ( 10

11. ERLN Tools Laboratory Compendium Standardized Analytical Methods
EPA’s Compendium of Environmental Testing Laboratories (Laboratory Compendium) - an online database of environmental laboratories containing each laboratory's specific capabilities to analyze chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants (
Standardized Analytical Methods
Standardized Analytical Methods for Environmental Restoration Following Homeland Security Events (SAM) identifies analytical methods to be used by laboratories tasked with performing analyses of environmental samples following a homeland security event. (
WebEDR
The Web-based Electronic Data Review (WebEDR) application performs automated data evaluation of ERLN electronic data deliverables (EDDs) against specified measurement quality objectives (MQOs)
Lab Compendium – Great resource to find laboratory resources
Available to EPA; Federal, State, and local emergency responders; laboratory personnel; and (with limited access) water utilities.
Approx. 500 participating laboratories
Currently on ERLN website
Provides a filter to identify both ERLN and WLA laboratories
WebEDR – Great Data Management Tool
Management tool to coordinate samples and results
Performs automated data evaluation on ERLN electronic data deliverables (EDD)
*NOTE: These tools are free 11

12. What is the WLA?
The Water Laboratory Alliance (WLA) provides the Water Sector with an integrated nationwide network of laboratories The WLA is composed of drinking water, public health, environmental, and select commercial laboratories
What is the WLA? The Water Laboratory Alliance (WLA) provides the Water Sector with an integrated nationwide network of laboratories to support drinking water contamination events. The WLA is composed of drinking water, public health, environmental, and select commercial laboratories. 12 12

13. The WLA is Part of the ERLN
The WLA focuses solely on water and is an integral part of EPA’s ERLN
The WLA focuses solely on water matrices and is an integral part of the ERLN.
WLA relies on the ERLN for chemical warfare agent (CWA) and radiochemical capabilities and, in turn, the ERLN relies on the WLA for its water response capability.

14. Why Create the Water Laboratory Alliance?
Water contamination incidents, in many people’s minds might solely focus on terrorist attacks due to the increased security experienced over the past several years, but in reality, so of the most real threats stem from natural disasters such as hurricane Katrina and the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. No matter what the cause, there needs to be a way to ensure the public is kept safe in case of water contamination, and thus the WLA came into existence. 14

15. What does the WLA Address?
This network of laboratories offers capabilities and capacity to analyze drinking water in the event of:
natural,
intentional, or
unintentional water contamination
Involving:
chemical,
biological, or
radiochemical contaminants
So what exactly does the WLA do?
It offers capabilities and capacity to analyze water samples in the event of natural, intentional, or unintentional water contamination involving chemical, biological, or radiochemical contaminants.
Things to think about:
-What is your laboratory’s throughput ability for samples?
-If your capacity was reached, who would you contact for support?
-Who would you send samples to for analyses if you cannot perform the analyses in house?

16. Actual Contamination Incidents
Alamosa, Colorado (Salmonella)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Cryptosporidium)
Blackstone, Massachusetts (Intentional contamination)
Question: Have any of you been involved in analysis of water samples for a potential or actual water contamination event?
To emphasize the importance of such a network, let’s explore a few examples from Colorado, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. 16

17. Alamosa, Colorado Alamosa, Colorado (Salmonella)
More than 200 residents may have been sickened (at least 68 confirmed sick through laboratory tests, and 12 were hospitalized)
Bottled water and boil water advisories issued by public health department
Water system flushed with concentrated chlorine (system closed for 1 week)
Source of contamination may have been animal waste that found its way into a water storage tank
More than 200 residents may have been sickened (at least 68 confirmed sick through laboratory tests, and 12 were hospitalized).
Bottled water and boil water advisories were issued by the public health department.
The town draws water supply from deep artesian wells, and does not treat water.
The water system was flushed with concentrated chlorine to remove contamination and decontaminate system.
The source may have been animal waste that found its way into a water storage tank. 17

18. Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Cryptosporidium)
1993 incident is probably the largest waterborne disease outbreak documented in U.S.
hundreds of thousands sickened; more than 100 deaths
Clinical manifestations included watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, and vomiting
Cryptosporidium oocysts apparently passed through the filtration system of a water-treatment plant; pathogen source never confirmed
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Cryptosporidium)
The 1993 incident was probably the largest waterborne disease outbreak documented in the U.S.
Hundreds of thousands were sickened with more than 100 deaths.
Clinical manifestations included watery diarrhea (in 93 percent), abdominal cramps (in 84 percent), fever (in 57 percent), and vomiting (in 48 percent).
Cryptosporidium oocysts apparently passed through the filtration system of one of the city's water-treatment plants, but the source was never confirmed.
More than 739 people were found to have Cryptosporidium in stool samples tested by the 14 participating laboratories between March 1 and May 30, 1993.
Things to think about:
-Which networks within the ICLN would be involved? (would obviously involve the WLA, but also the LRN because clinical samples were collected) 18

19. Blackstone, Massachusetts
Blackstone, Massachusetts (Intentional contamination)
Vandals broke into property and accessed water storage tank
Empty 5-gallon container found on top of tank (contents unknown)
Do not use advisory issued; schools closed
System flushed water mains
Contamination determined to not be serious
In March 2006, 3 teenagers cut through a barbed wire fence, cut cables to an alarm, disabled an electric panel, damaged a vent and accessed a 1.3 million gallon water storage tank.
A 5-gallon chemical container was discovered at scene and chemical odors were detected.
After the break-in was discovered, local schools were closed, boil water advisories were issued affecting thousands in Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island. The water system flushed the water mains.
In a subsequent investigation, no dangerous contamination was detected.
Things to think about:
-Do neighboring water utilities know you are available to help them?
-Do you know how many municipalities are supplied by water sources near you? (this could give an indication of the number of samples you might receive in a similar situation) 19

20. Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan
Establishes a national, comprehensive laboratory response approach to drinking water contamination events
Provides laboratories with a structure for a systematic, coordinated response to a drinking water contamination incident
Scalable to address evolution of an incident from initial response to full ICS for a significant event
Now that we’ve see that there is a real need for such a networks, we’ll get into some of the specifics including the WLA Response Plan and some of the supporting water security tools that are useful to both WLA members and non-members.
The Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan (WLA-RP):
Establishes a national, comprehensive laboratory response approach to water contamination events including preparedness, response, remediation, and recovery.
It provides laboratories with a structure for a systematic, coordinated response to a water contamination incident that can be used in conjunction with existing Incident Command System (ICS) structures and procedures.
For example, if a local laboratory cannot provide the services needed by their local drinking water utility, the local laboratory or utility could use the procedures in the WLA-RP to coordinate support from other laboratories.

21. WLA-RP Validated by Exercises
The WLA-RP was developed based on similar elements of 11 regional laboratory response plans (RLRPs)
The RLRPs were tested and refined through 11 Table Top Exercises (TTXs)
The revised RLRPs were further tested through the 11 functional exercises
The WLA-RP was tested through a Full-Scale Exercise (FSE) of laboratory response
The WLA-RP will be the featured topic of the 2010 WLA Security Summit TTX - June 16-17, 2010 in San Francisco
In 2007, the WLA team completed development of region-specific Regional Laboratory Response Plans (RLRPs) in all 10 EPA Regions and Hawaii, and refined these plans based on results of table-top exercises (TTXs).
The WLA-RP was designed to be a comprehensive laboratory response plan that reflects the best practices of all 11 RLRPs and incorporates the lessons learned from the 11 functional exercises conducted in 2008.
The WLA team conducted its first multi-regional full-scale exercise (FSE) to test the newly developed WLA-RP from September 11–18, The exercise involved laboratory response to multiple incidents in EPA Regions 1 and 2.

22. WLA-RP Elements
Laboratory roles and responsibilities, including support to first responders
Laboratory coordination
Communication and logistics
Sample brokerage, tracking, and transport
Sample analyses – field screening, rapid, and confirmatory
QA/QC
Chain of custody
Data review and validation
Data reporting and storage
The following are the major sections included in the WLA-RP:
- Laboratory roles and responsibilities
- Laboratory coordination – for small and large incidents
- Communication and logistics – lines of communication; setting up a command center
- Sample brokerage, tracking, and transport
- Sample analyses – field screening, rapid, and confirmatory
QA/QC – QAPP and minimum method QC
Chain of custody
- Data review and validation
- Data reporting and data storage – required electronic data deliverable (EDD) format
Things to think about:
- Does your laboratory have a plan in place to address any of the WLA-RP elements?

23. WLA Resources and Tools
Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT)
Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants in Drinking Water
Web site of water tools and protocols
ater/ watersecurity/index.cfm
The following are tools and resources available to support laboratories.
Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT)
National Environmental Methods Index – Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Methods (NEMI-CBR)
Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants in Drinking Water
Web site of water tools and protocols -
Has anyone heard of any of these tools?
Good, I am going to briefly touch on each of these and how they are pertinent to laboratories.
Additional information on the tools can be found on EPA’s Website.

24. WCIT Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT)
Password-protected on-line database with information for contaminants of concern that pose a serious threat if introduced into drinking water and/or wastewater
Provides drinking water-specific data compiled in a single location that can be accessed by the water sector to plan for and respond to drinking water contamination incidents
Recently added nine new contaminants
Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT)
WCIT is a password-protected on-line database with information for 102 chemical, biological, and radiochemical contaminants of concern that pose a serious threat if introduced into drinking water and/or wastewater.
It provides drinking water-specific data compiled in a single location that can be accessed by the water sector to plan for and respond to drinking water contamination incidents.
Recently, WCIT was enhanced to allow users to provide direct feedback to EPA with the click of a button; as well as the addition of nine new contaminants; four contaminants typically found in drinking water plants and five contaminants of concern to wastewater facilities to the database.
Those eligible to access WCIT include state environmental and public health laboratories, drinking water and wastewater utilities, state drinking water primacy agencies, drinking water and wastewater associations partnering with EPA, and state and local public health officials.

25. How Can WCIT Be Used? Prevention Before Contamination Events Recovery
“Return-to-Service”
After a
Contamination Event
Detection
Threat Discovery/
Threat Assessment
WCIT contains data designed to assist in the Prevention, Threat Assessment, Response, and Recovery and Return to Service after an event including
- Wastewater Treatment
- Infrastructure Decontamination
- Laboratory methods to confirm that decontamination has been successful
Response During a
Contamination Event

26. Sampling Guidance
Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants in Drinking Water
Integrates sample collection, preservation, and transport procedures
Provides an example of what is required for a comprehensive sampling program
Supplements emergency response plans
Includes helpful resources, including approaches to collaborate with other agencies
Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants in Drinking Water
Is a guidance document that integrates sample collection, preservation, and transport procedures to support multiple analytical approaches for the detection and identification of potential contaminants in drinking water.
It provides utilities with an example of what is required for a comprehensive sampling program, and can be used to enhance laboratory, utility, and emergency responder preparedness by supplementing a utility’s emergency response plan.
Copies available
Things to think about:
-What, if any, guidance is currently in place within your laboratory regarding sampling?
-Are you prepared to provide guidance to utilities and first responders regarding collection of samples your laboratory may analyze?

27. Contamination Scenario
Back to Paradise…
As you can see from the picture on the screen, we have an orchard with an adjacent subdivision on the lower right-hand corner. The residents enjoy the agricultural stock provided by their neighbors unsuspecting of the potentially hazardous chemicals used in such close proximity. The encroaching suburb has recently brought water service to the vicinity of the orchard.
In normal practice, the orchard uses a boom sprayer to apply pesticide to their orchard.
In this scenario, an orchard employee has decided to take advantage of a nearby hydrant to fill his truck with the appropriate amount of water to dilute the pesticide so spraying can begin.
While connecting to the water tank, the water pressure unexpectedly drops and the employee unintentionally siphons concentrated Lannate SP into the drinking water supply.
Shortly afterwards, the water department, 911, and local hospitals begin to receive reports of health effects and customer complaints.
What is important to take away from this description is the Lannate SP that is introduced into the drinking water supply.

28. Contamination Scenario
Utility, 911, and hospitals receive calls, complaints
Water smells of sulfur or “rotten eggs”
Reported symptoms:
Blurred vision
Headaches
Breathing difficulties
Vomiting/diarrhea
Convulsions
Cognitive impairment
Utility, 911, and hospitals receive calls, complaints that the local drinking water smells of sulfur or “rotten eggs.”
The symptoms being report include:
Blurred vision
Headaches
Breathing difficulties
Vomiting/diarrhea
Convulsions
Cognitive impairment
Things to think about:
-As a laboratory, what initial steps would you take if an incident of this type occurred? 28

29. Information needed for this Scenario
Medical
Availability
Contaminant Profile
Fate and Transport Information
Toxicity/Medical Information
Analytical and Screening Methods
Treatment Method
Infrastructure Decontamination Procedures
Risk Communication
Risk Calculation
This slide lists some of the information needed to effectively respond to a contamination event. The information of most importance to laboratories is the analytical and screening methods. 29

30. Contamination Response
In this hypothetical contamination scenario WCIT will provide information to the following entities:
Emergency Responders – Field Methods
Medical and Public Health Officials – Toxicity Information
Laboratories – Analysis information
Water Utilities – Treatment and Decontamination
In this hypothetical contamination scenario WCIT will provide information to the following entities:
Emergency Responders – Field Methods
Medical and Public Health officials – Toxicity Information
Laboratories – Analysis information
Water Utilities – Treatment and Decontamination 30

31. Search for the Contaminant
The Search feature is one of WCIT’s most powerful and fundamental capabilities. You can access it from the main WCIT splash page by selecting SEARCH.
On the SEARCH page the user can enter the Chemical Abstract Service Registry numbers, select contaminants from a pick list, enter a product name, trade name or synonym.
From our scenario, we would enter the Trade Name in the Synonym field. In an incident where the chemical name is known, that can be selected from the list.
We enter “Lannate SP” as it is identified on the container when it arrived. Then click SEARCH.
Lannate SP

32. Search Results
Searching for the trade name Lannate SP brings up one entry in WCIT: Methomyl
Select Methomyl to get to the WCIT contaminant profile.
In certain situations, a trade name may bring up several contaminants. In WCIT, it is possible to have a few. By checking these boxes, you can compare up to four contaminants side-by-side to select the correct substance. 32

33. Contaminant Profile
Once the user selects the contaminant, WCIT will display the contaminant profile.
The contaminant profile includes general information about the contaminant followed by a summary.
As you scroll down the page you will see a summary of each of the tables in WCIT. This is the place to start. Find the area you are interested in and review the summary.
Once you identify the table you are interested in, go to the left side and select the appropriate checkbox. Once you have selected this option press on update display to obtain the information.
Once you consider this important information, you may find further areas in which you are interested and may review the summary.
*NOTE: WCIT also has advanced capabilities where you can search for known medical conditions or diseases. While this may help in confirming suspected contaminants, it is not advised as part of the original search because of the limited number of contaminants in WCIT. For example in the case of this scenario, the symptoms would indicate cholinesterase inhibition, which can be caused by a number of Nerve Agents and Pesticides. Many more than are listed in WCIT.

34. Obtain Laboratory Methods
You can also consult WCIT to provide information on field and laboratory method(s) to detect methomyl in water (check Field and Laboratory Methods box and update display)
Multiple methods are identified in WCIT, if available.
Information is provided on each of the methods.
You can follow the link to a web site for further information in the field tests. (Note: In this case the link takes you out of the WCIT site and to the NEMI site.) 34

35. Obtain Laboratory Methods: NEMI-CBR
At the NEMI-CBR site, we enter the contaminant name and obtain the method we found in WCIT.
We don’t take you directly to the method (rather to the search page) because we don’t control the outside Web sites and some of them change the links. 35

36. Obtain Laboratory Methods: NEMI-CBR
From here you can download a PDF file containing the method. 36

37. Laboratory Compendium
The Laboratory Compendium can be used to identify laboratories that can provide analytical support to our response.
You can search for a laboratory by name, laboratory type, or location. 37

38. Laboratory Compendium
The user can select the analytical capabilities they need. In this case it is the ability to analyze for carbamates/urea pesticides.
The user can also enter information about specific support services they may need, such as data review and assessment, and can also select special sample handling requirements such as the ability to handle samples containing an unknown contaminant. 38

39. Laboratory Compendium
After the search criteria are entered, the Lab Compendium will display all the laboratories that meet that criteria. 39

40. Laboratory Compendium
Once a laboratory is selected, the Lab Compendium displays detailed contact and capability information for that laboratory. 40

41. Why should labs become members?
Improved preparedness for analytical support to respond to any emergency situation
Opportunity to participate in emergency response preparedness exercises
Partnership with neighboring laboratories to support surge capacity needs
Improved communications with peer laboratories
Knowledge of neighboring laboratory analytical capability and available personnel
Priority access to EPA water security-related training opportunities
The WLA provides the following benefits to the laboratory community:
Improved preparedness for analytical support to respond to any emergency situation
Improved communications with peer laboratories to help address emerging analytical capability and capacity, laboratory security, or laboratory operation challenges. Help addressing analyses not performed by your laboratory (e.g., select agent pathogens, chemical warfare agents).
Partnership with neighboring laboratories to support surge capacity needs; Analytical support to address analyses not performed by your laboratory (e.g., select agent pathogens, chemical warfare agents)
Knowledge of neighboring laboratory analytical capability and available personnel 41 41 41

42. Criteria to participate in ERLN/WLA
Quality Management System
National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025
Drinking Water Certification
Agreement to use ERLN methods
Use reporting requirements
Have data and information security
Participate in proficiency testing program
Submit to audits as appropriate
Meet laboratory specific health and safety requirements
Participate in Laboratory Compendium

43. June 25, 2010
Information on application for ERLN/WLA membership is provided at

44. When applying for membership, please be sure to check the “I also accept the responsibilities of the WLA Laboratory Membership” box at the end of the application packet.

45. Contact Information
WLA
For comments and questions on the WLA, please contact: Pamela Bernard, US EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Phone: For comments and questions on the ERLN, please contact: Schatzi Fitz-James, US EPA Office of Emergency Management Phone:
ERLN 45 45 45

46. Regional Contact Information
Ernest Waterman, USEPA
New England Regional Laboratory
Phone: