TNI Semiannual Meeting: Forum on Laboratory Accreditation
The NELAC Institute (TNI) hosts two regularly scheduled meetings per year, typically in January and August. Both are a week long and involve open meetings of the TNI committees as well as training courses and other special sessions. The summer meeting is held in combination with the National Environmental Monitoring Conference.
Forum on Laboratory Accreditation
August 9-13, 2010
Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
Washington, DC
Future Meetings
February 7-10, 2011, Savannah, GA
July 18-22, 2011, Seattle, WA
With over 250 attendees, the Forum on Laboratory Accreditation is the only conference that brings laboratories, regulatory agencies, data users, sampling firms, and many other organizations to discuss cutting-edge changes in environmental laboratory accreditation and future directions in policy that will have a national impact. In addition to the committee meetings and general sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to attend technical training courses, see the latest products and services in the industry and be able to network with peers.
Who should attend?
- State and federal officials concerned about data quality
- Data users
- Laboratories (e.g., commercial, industrial, municipal, state and federal)
- Field Sampling and Measurement Organizations
- Quality managers
Why should you attend?
The Forum offers attendees an opportunity to exchange ideas, findings, and recommendations in a professional setting. The strong and diverse program will address a number of timely issues that affect data quality. Training sessions will be offered in conjunction with the meeting. A vendor exhibition will bring the latest in technology and services to the attendees.
Open All Close All
We are pleased to invite you to the Forum on Laboratory Accreditation, the principal conference for addressing policy and technical issues affecting the accreditation of environmental laboratories. The August 2010 Forum will focus on implementation of the new TNI consensus standards that will replace the 2003 NELAC standard in 2011.
The Forum will feature open public meetings of all TNI committees to allow quality professionals, chemists, analysts, microbiologists, engineers, and managers from federal and state agencies; commercial, municipal, state and federal laboratories; and many others who are actively involved and interested in laboratory accreditation issues to review what has been done and participate in the efforts to establish a national program for environmental laboratories. The August 2010 Forum will include:
- An assessment forum
- A mentoring session
- Meetings of all TNI committees
- A meeting of EPA’s Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB)
- A workshop on the new TNI standards
Note:the technical breakout sessions of the National Environmental Monitoring Conference can be found at www.nemc.us.
| MONDAY 8/9 |
| 8:00 – 9:00 |
Keynote Address |
| 9:00 – 12:00 |
Concurrent Sessions |
ELAB |
Mentoring Session |
New Quality Manual Template |
|
| 1:30 – 5:00 |
Concurrent Sessions |
NEMC Breakouts |
Policy Committee |
EPA Methods Panel |
|
| 5:30 – 7:00 |
Reception & Exhibit |
| |
| TUESDAY 8/10 |
| 8:00 – 9:00 |
Keynote Address |
| 8:30 – 12:00 |
Concurrent Sessions |
NEMC Breakouts |
IT Committee |
Assessment Forum |
NEFAP |
|
| 12:00 – 1:30 |
Buffet Lunch |
| 12:00 – 1:30 |
Working Lunch: Technical Assistance Committee |
| 12:00 – 1:30 |
Working Lunch: Consensus Standards Development Board |
| 1:30 – 5:00 |
Concurrent Sessions |
NEMC Breakouts |
Assessment Forum |
NEFAP |
|
|
| WEDNESDAY 8/11 |
| 8:15 – 12:00 |
General Session |
| 12:00 – 1:30 |
Buffet Lunch |
| 12:00 – 1:30 |
Working Lunch: Laboratory Accreditation Body Committee |
| 12:00 – 1:30 |
Working Lunch: Advocacy Committee |
| 1:30 – 5:00 |
Concurrent Sessions |
NEMC Breakouts |
Laboratory On-Site Assessment Committee |
PT Board and Laboratory Accreditation System Committee |
|
| 5:30 – 7:00 |
Reception |
| |
| THURSDAY 8/12 |
| 8:00 – 9:00 |
Keynote Address |
| 8:30 – 12:00 |
Concurrent Sessions |
NEMC Breakouts |
PT Committee |
SSAS Committee |
NELAP Board |
|
| 12:00 – 1:30 |
Buffet Lunch |
| 1:30 – 5:00 |
Concurrent Sessions |
NEMC Breakouts |
Quality Systems Committee
|
|
| |
| FRIDAY 8/13 |
| 8:30 – 12:00 |
TNI Board and Committee Chairs |
| 8:30 – 3:00 |
Workshop on Accreditation Standards |
|
The table below summarizes registration fees:
Symposium Registration (1) |
Full Conference |
Daily |
| Attendee Registration |
$450 |
$195 |
| Participant (2) |
$335 |
$155 |
| EPA Employee |
$285 |
$125 |
| Student |
$150 |
$65 |
Notes:
1. Symposium registration includes participation in all meetings, and all printed materials. The registration includes a continental breakfast and lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and receptions on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
2. A Participant is a NEMC Session Chair, a speaker at NEMC, or a member of a TNI Committee or Board.
Registration will open in May.
Training Courses:
Training courses will be announced in May.
Workshop:
The New TNI Laboratory Accreditation Standards
The National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program has adopted for use within the program four new accreditation standards:
- Management and Technical Requirements for Laboratories Performing Environmental Analysis
- General Requirements for Accreditation Bodies Accrediting Environmental Laboratories
- General Requirements for Environmental Proficiency Test Providers
- General Requirements for an Accreditor of Environmental Proficiency Test Providers
The new standards will replace the 2003 NELAC standard and will be implemented in 2011. All NELAP-accredited laboratories will need to comply with the new requirements by July 1, 2011. This workshop will review in detail the standard applicable to laboratories, briefly review the other three standards, and present the plan for implementation.
Instructors: TNI’s Technical Assistance Committee and TNI Committee Chairs
Fee: Free to those registered for the conference; $95 (TNI member) and $120 (non-member) for workshop attendees only.
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C., USA 20001
Tel: +1 202 737 1234
washingtonregency.hyatt.com
Special advance registration rates of $170 per night (Single or Double) can be obtained before July 10, 2010 (details to be posted here soon).
Discover our historic city from the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Enjoy easy access to all the attractions of our nation's capital from our ideal location in the heart of this popular downtown neighborhood. Walk to the Smithsonian and the National Mall, tour government centers, visit monuments and museums - all just minutes from our Capitol Hill hotel. Within in our inviting accommodations, you'll find gracious service, deluxe amenities, extensive business facilities – among the largest in the city - plush Grand Beds and tempting dining. For business travel or vacations, treat yourself to the premier luxury hotel in downtown Washington DC.
Transportation
DIRECTIONS:
From/To Ronald Reagan National Airport:
Taxi: Taxis are available outside the baggage claim area. Fare is approximately $14 - $18 (10-20 min).
Metro Subway: Take the Yellow/Blue line from the airport to the Gallery Place/Chinatown stop. Transfer to the Red line to Union Station (2nd stop). The Union Station Metro stop is located three blocks from the hotel. Fare is approximately $1.35-$1.75 (20-25 min).
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