National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP)
National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) is a non-profit organization that develops national consensus standards for environmental laboratory accreditation. States approve the standards for use in their jurisdiction and are responsible for their implementation.
NELAP enhances the quality of environmental laboratories in a cost-effective manner by applying appropriate standards. It was established in 1995 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address the need to eradicate hazardous environmental and water waste. The process induced technological innovation and led to a business revolution. NELAP process covers various sectors and is governed by the Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB) that is a federal advisory committee.
Standards have been devised to provide guidance for environmental laboratories as they produce and test samples. To ensure safety and better product quality, the NELAP Institute (TNI) has developed a number of standards that abide by global requirements and are aligned with the EPA guidelines.
Standards for testing all media, such as hazardous waste, wastewater, drinking water, air, soil, etc., are available under the EPA regulatory programs, such as the Clean Air Act (CAA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
These standards are practiced in various laboratories to ensure efficient and safe testing. They help focus on the minute details and choose effective ways to promote environmental safety.
