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 January 2010 Forum will focus on implementation of the new TNI consensus standards that will replace the 2003 NELAC standard in 2010.

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 January 2010 Forum will include:

• An Assessment Forum
• A Mentoring Session on detection and quantitation
• Meetings of all TNI committees
• A meeting of EPA’s Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB)
• A general session with updates about TNI and ELAB activities, and
• A workshop on the new TNI standards

In addition, the Board of Directors of the Illinois Association of Environmental Testing Laboratories will have an open meeting in conjunction with the Forum.

Note: a PDF version of this program is available by clicking here (474KB).

MONDAY 1/25 9:00 – 12:00 General Session 9:00 Welcome to Chicago 9:15 Keynote Address 10:30 Update on TNI 11:30 Activities of EPA's Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB) 12:00 Lunch on Your Own 1:30 – 5:00 Concurrent Sessions ELAB Meeting Policy Committee Accreditation Body Committee 5:30 – 7:00 Reception   TUESDAY 1/26 7:30 Continental Breakfast 8:30 – 12:00 Concurrent Sessions Assessment Forum Proficiency Testing (PT) Committee 12:00 Lunch 1:30 – 5:00 Concurrent Sessions Assessment Forum PT Board Stationary Source Audit Sample Committee WEDNESDAY 1/27 7:30 Continental Breakfast 8:30 – 12:00 Concurrent Sessions National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) Board Quality Systems Committee Information Technology Committee 12:00 Lunch 1:30 – 5:00 Concurrent Sessions Laboratory Accreditation Systems Committee Technical Assistance Committee On-Site Assessment Committee 5:30 – 7:00 Exhibit and Reception   THURSDAY 1/28 7:30 Continental Breakfast 8:30 – 12:00 Concurrent Sessions Mentor Session Field Activities Committee and National Environmental Field Activities Program (NEFAP) Board Advocacy Committee 12:00 Lunch on Your Own 1:30 – 5:00 Concurrent Sessions TNI Board and Chairs Open Meeting Illinois Association of Environmental Testing Laboratories Open Meeting   FRIDAY 1/29 7:30 Continental Breakfast 8:30 – 3:00 Concurrent Sessions Workshop on the New TNI Laboratory Accreditation Standards ICP and ICPMS Training Course

The table below summarizes registration fees:

Registration Category	TNI Member	Non-Member*
Full Conference	$395	$450
One Day	$145	$170
Training Course	$235	$270
Workshop**	$95	$120

* You can join TNI and pay the TNI member rate
** Free to those registered for the conference

The registration includes a continental breakfast Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, a buffet lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday and receptions on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

You may register on-line at our secure site, or complete the registration form and mail or fax it to TNI at 817-598-1177.

Click here to register online

Training Course:
Inductively Coupled Plasma and Mass Spectrometer Analysis and Data Review
The objective of the 7-hour course is to review the analytical process for obtaining data of known and documented quality for Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma (ICP) and Inductively Argon Plasma/Mass Spectrometer (ICP/MS). The application of collision cell is also part of this training. The course includes practical examples of (1) performing testing using ICP and ICP/MS (2) preparation techniques for metals analysis (3) identify and implement corrective actions and (4) perform the necessary laboratory data review. The course is designed to help laboratory personnel improve their understanding of the science and the regulated methods. Test methods include EPA 200 series, 3000 and 6000 series, and Contract Laboratory Program (ILM series) for analysis of water and solids. The latest versions of these methods will be presented and discussed.

Instructors: Marlene Moore and Mitzi Miller
Fee: $235 for TNI members; $270 for others.  Limited to 50 students

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 Chicago

151 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois, USA 60601
Tel: +1 312 565 1234
www.chicagoregency.hyatt.com

Special advance registration rates of $139 per night (Single or Double) can be obtained before January 5, 2010, by using our on-line hotel registration system or by calling
888-421-1442 and asking for the NELAC rate.

Connected to Illinois Center, this Four Diamond downtown Chicago hotel is ideally situated within the Magnificent Mile, considered one of the greatest avenues in the world. Immerse yourself in a “city within a city,” as with Blues, Jazz, irresistible cuisine, Grant and Millennium Parks, Lake Michigan beaches, Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue all nearby.

Transportation

DIRECTIONS:
From O'Hare International Airport:
Take Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) East to Ohio St exit. Proceed on Ohio to State St and turn right. Turn left at Wacker Drive. Hotel will be down approx. 2 blocks on the right.

From Midway Airport:
Take Cicero Ave North to Stevenson Expressway (I-55) North. Exit at Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) West. Exit at Washington St and proceed East to Michigan Ave. Turn left. Proceed North to Wacker Drive. Turn right. Hotel is one block on right.

As in previous years, we are providing opportunities to exhibit at this meeting and/or sponsor an activity.  We are, however, making changes to the program this year to enhance the exhibit/sponsor program based on the feedback we have received from exhibitors in the past.

• The conference will run from Monday through Friday with the exhibit program beginning at the break on Wednesday morning and concluding after the break on Thursday. 
• As in past years, the exhibit program will include a reception on Wednesday evening in the exhibit area.
• We are planning a special reception on Monday, which you could choose to sponsor that would give you publicity and allow you to network with the attendees without having to be in or bring your booth.
• We are adding a lounge area to our meeting space and are looking for a sponsor for this area to have free internet access for the attendees.
• The continental breakfast on Thursday and refreshment breaks both Wednesday and Thursday will be in the exhibit area.  There are also opportunities for you to sponsor any of the breaks or the lunch on Monday and Tuesday.

You can register online at: https://www.regonline.com/chicagoexhibit

For more information about the Exhibit program, click here (PDF).