Environmental Industry Updates
The Latest News on Scientific and Regulatory Updates from Merit Laboratories
In this episode of sh(e)=mc2 we meet Abigail Hendershott of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Abigail leads the team tasked with cleaning-up Michigan’s largest PFAS site as Executive Director of MPART. Abigail shares her experience in leadership and the power of knowing your strengths and the importance of creating a team of who is not only skilled, but also happy.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Plan 15) to protect the nation’s waterways. According to the EPA Plan 15 will follow the science and the Clean Water Act to develop technology-based pollution limits and studies on wastewater discharges from industrial sources.
In this episode of sh(e)=mc2 we meet Cheryl Murphy, an ecotoxicologist who has traveled the world studying the effects of chemicals on wildlife. Cheryl’s career journey has opened many new doors as she pursues her passion for science. She shares the interesting path of her scientific career and offers her unique perspectives, including reducing barriers for diversity in science.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched interactive PFAS Analytic Tools to integrate data about PFAS reporting, testing, and occurrences in communities, making it easier to evaluate the collective PFAS information from nearly a dozen different databases that include relevant information.
We're excited to announce the launch of our new podcast, sh(e)=mc2, which celebrates the energy, light, and power created by women leaders in science. The podcast is now available for listening on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart, and other platforms. We share inspiring stories in our first season of sh(e) = mc2. We are connecting with amazing women
3M announced that it will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. In the official announcement from 3M, the company said that it plans to. Exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025: 3M will discontinue manufacturing all fluoropolymers, fluorinated fluids, and PFAS-based additive products.
The Department of Energy (DOE) will be hosting the 2022 Analytical Services Program (ASP) Annual Training Workshop in Las Vegas, Nevada. The ASP Workshop will be held from December 6th through December 8th at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel. Merit Laboratories will be participating in the workshop, which focuses on providing DOE stakeholders with annual training related to key topics in laboratory testing.
The U.S. EPA officially approved Merit Laboratories to perform analytical laboratory testing for PFAS compounds as part of the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UMCR5). As part of UCMR5, Merit Laboratories is approved for analytical methods EPA 533 and EPA 537.1. UCMR 5 includes all 29 PFAS compounds that are within the scope of EPA Methods 533 and 537.1.
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) continues to track PFAS contamination progress at over 700 military installations throughout the country. In the DoD’s latest update, the list of sites includes bases and facilities in all 50 states and several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
