

[Federal Register: January 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 15)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3967-3968]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ja08-44]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2005-0044; FRL-8098-9]

 
National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP); Notice of 
Availability of Revisions to the NLLAP; Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the revised EPA 
National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) in the document 
titled ``Laboratory Quality System Requirements (LQSR) Revision 3.0'' 
dated July 5, 2007. Revisions to the LQSR include the expansion of 
NLLAP to cover: (1) Lead laboratory analysis programs that conduct lead 
analysis for the field (Field Sampling and Measurement Organizations), 
and (2) revised training requirements for laboratory personnel. The 
Agency will phase-in LQSR 3.0 over the next 18 months.

DATES: LQSR 3.0 will become effective July 23, 2009. In order to be 
recognized by the NLLAP, laboratories and accreditation organizations 
that currently administer the NLLAP may comply with the requirements of 
the LQSR 2.0 dated August 1, 1996, or LQSR 3.0 dated July 5, 2007. 
After, July 23, 2009 all NLLAP recognized organizations must implement 
and comply with the requirements of LQSR 3.0.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: Colby 
Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division 
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: 
TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.

    For technical information contact: Benjamin Lim, National Program 
Chemicals Division (7404T), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 566-0482; e-mail 
address: Lim.Benjamin@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You might potentially be affected by this action if you are or may 
be required to follow the Agency's regulations regarding testing for 
lead. Specifically, entities potentially affected by these revisions 
are Fixed-Site, Mobile, and Field Sampling and Measurement 
Organizations (FSMOs) that perform lead testing. Analytical testing 
laboratories currently recognized by the NLLAP, and accreditation 
organizations that currently administer the NLLAP (i.e., the American 
Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and the American Association for 
Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)) or other organizations that might seek 
a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Agency to become an 
accreditation organization could be affected by today's revisions. In 
addition, certified inspectors, certified risk assessors, developers, 
manufacturers, distributors of equipment and supplies used by FSMOs 
testing lead might also be affected by these revisions; and EPA-
authorized state and tribal lead-based paint training and certification 
programs may also be affected by these revisions.
    Other entities potentially affected by changes to the NLLAP for 
lead testing are the owners and managers of target housing and child-
occupied facilities, as well as realtors, lessees, and residents, who 
ultimately pay for the testing services and stand to benefit by 
obtaining lead test results quicker.
    Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not 
attempted to describe all of the specific entities that may be affected 
by this notice. If you have any questions regarding the applicability 
of this notice to a particular entity, consult the technical person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. Materials cited in this notice are available in docket 
number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2005-0044. All documents in the docket are listed in 
the regulations.gov index. To access the electronic docket, go to 

[[Page 3968]]

http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Advanced Search,'' then ``Docket 

Search.'' Insert the docket ID number where indicated and select the 
``Submit'' button. Follow the instructions on the regulations.gov 
website to view the docket index or access available documents. 
Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly 
available, e.g., Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other 
material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only 
in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available 
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in 

hard copy, at the OPPT Docket. The OPPT Docket is located in the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC) at Rm. 3334, EPA West Bldg., 1301 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room hours of 
operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
Federal holidays. The telephone number of the EPA/DC Public Reading 
Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is 
(202) 566-0280. Docket visitors are required to show photographic 
identification, pass through a metal detector, and sign the EPA visitor 
log. All visitor bags are processed through an X-ray machine and 
subject to search. Visitors will be provided an EPA/DC badge that must 
be visible at all times in the building and returned upon departure.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. You may also access this 

document at the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Lead Home 
Page at http://www.epa.gov/lead/new.htm.


II. Background

    Under the Congressional mandate stated in section 405(b) of Title 
X, The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, EPA 
has established the NLLAP. The program has been established by EPA in 
order to assure the public that analytical laboratories recognized by 
the EPA NLLAP have demonstrated they are capable of analyzing for lead 
in paint chip, dust, and/or soil samples. A list of EPA recognized lead 
laboratories is updated on a periodic basis and is available from the 
National Lead Information Center Clearinghouse upon request (1-800-424-
LEAD) or at the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Lead Home 
Page at http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nllap.htm.

    The Agency is announcing changes to NLLAP to encourage the 
recognition of all lead testing service providers (e.g., FSMOs) and to 
bring the NLLAP into compliance with current consensus standards (e.g., 
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), American National 
Standards Institute (ANSI), and International Organization for 
Standardization (ISO)). This may, in turn, increase lead testing 
options, reduce costs, and save time for those who purchase analytical 
services related to lead hazard identification and control.

III. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    The Agency made these revisions to the NLLAP to provide a vehicle 
and remove barriers so that all types of lead testing service providers 
could participate in the NLLAP. These changes also provide the tools 
for smaller lead testing organizations to obtain NLLAP recognition. 
Also these revisions are making the NLLAP more efficient and cost-
effective while maintaining the high standard of quality, science and 
technology necessary to ensure public health protection in supporting 
EPA and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) lead 
regulations.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Lead testing accreditation, National Lead 
Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP), Laboratory Quality System 
Requirements (LQSR).


    Dated: January 16, 2008.
James B. Gulliford,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.
[FR Doc. E8-1110 Filed 1-22-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-S
