Environmental Industry Updates
The Latest News on Scientific and Regulatory Updates from Merit Laboratories
The U.S. Army is joining forces with the U.S. EPA to target a new enemy: PFAS contamination in drinking water. The joint EPA-Army program announced in July will be focused on the sample collection and laboratory testing of private drinking water wells near nine army installations for PFAS. The program will be focused on identifying the potential impact of PFAS migration from installations to contaminate drinking water wells of nearby residents.
Merit Laboratories is now providing clients with the ERPIMS (ERPToolsX) EDD format as part of its federal services program after completing registration with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC). ERPIMS is the U.S. Air Force’s data system for validation and management for environmental projects at all Air Force bases.
Merit Laboratories is now certified for PFAS through the DoD Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (DoD ELAP). As a result, Merit Laboratories has expanded the list of analytical methods, compounds, and sample matrices for which it is accredited through the DoD ELAP, including the DoD’s PFAS method
Merit Laboratories offers several analytical options for PFAS. Analytical methods performed by Merit Laboratories include EPA 533, EPA 537 Rev. 1.1, EPA 537.1 ASTM D7979-19 with Isotopic Dilution, and ASTM D7968-17. The following summary will help guide you through selecting the most appropriate PFAS method for your project. EPA 537 Rev. 1.1: This is a drinking water method for 14 PFAS compounds using Solid Phase Extraction and Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).
Merit Laboratories has expanded the list of analytical methods, compounds, and sample matrices for which it is accredited through the DoD Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (DoD ELAP). Through this expansion, the DoD officially revised Merit Laboratories' DoD ELAP testing certification to also now include EPA Method TO-15 for the analysis of air samples. Merit is also analyzed for a comprehensive list of analytical methods for aqueous and solid sample matrices.
Merit Laboratories will be attending the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Federal Small Business Conference in Dallas, Texas. SAME’s SBC is scheduled for November 20-22, 2019. The SBC for the A/E/C industry brings together federal agencies and businesses servicing the federal marketplace. More than 3,500 attendees are expected to participate in the event, including 350 exhibitors.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has officially renewed Merit Laboratories' testing certification in support of the DoD Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (DoD ELAP).
Merit Laboratories is designated a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE). Merit’s DoD ELAP accreditation includes aqueous and solid sample matrices for a diverse range of analytical methods for organics, wet chemistry, and metals.
To support its Department of Defense (DoD) program, Merit Laboratories will be attending the 2018 Environmental Monitoring & Data Quality (EMDQ) Workshop. The 2018 EMDQ Workshop is being held in Orlando, Florida from April 9-12 and is organized by the DoD Environmental Data Quality Workgroup. Merit Laboratories’ Quality Assurance Officer, Barbara Ball, will be representing Merit Laboratories at the DoD conference.
The DoD Environmental Data Quality Workgroup recently issued a fact sheet on detection and quantitation to assist project managers and data users of laboratory data for DoD projects. The EDQW guidance sheet is geared to assist project manager or other decision-makers that use environmental laboratory data to accomplish one or more of the following tasks for a DoD project:
