ELAP Laws and Regulations

Health and Safety Code
Health and Safety Code, Environmental Laboratories in Section 100825-100920

California Code of Regulations*

On Friday, August 20, 2021, Judge Arguelles of the Sacramento County Superior Court upheld the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) regulations that the State Water Board adopted on May 5, 2020, which had been challenged by the Coalition of Accredited Laboratories (CAL). Following the hearing, the court affirmed its comprehensive, 33-page tentative decision rejecting all challenges. To view the Case, visit the Civil Tentative Ruling Directory and search for Department 17; August 20, 2021.

*The 2016 TNI Standard - Revision 2.1, Volume 1 is incorporated by reference into the California Code of Regulations. A read-only, unlicensed version of the 2016 TNI Standard is available for the public to view on the TNI website. To access the documents, enter the password: T6E79WS.

At its May 5, 2020, public meeting, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted regulations amending the requirements and standards for accreditation of environmental testing laboratories in California. Consistent with California Health and Safety Code, sections 100829 and 100830, the regulations bolster the effectiveness of the State Water Board’s Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) through modification of existing program operations, elimination of outdated requirements and replacement of state-created accreditation standards with the national consensus-based 2016 TNI Standard, Volume 1: Management and Technical Requirements for Laboratories Performing Environmental Analysis (2016 TNI Standard), with two California-specific exceptions.

On November 19, 2020, the Office of Administrative Law filed the ELAP Regulations with the California Secretary of State for an effective date of January 1, 2021. This completes the final step in the rulemaking process.

Rulemaking Information: SBDDW-19-ELAP Accreditation of Environmental Laboratories

View the Complete Rulemaking Documentation files

Sections Affected

California Code of Regulations: Title 22 Sections: 64802, 64802.05, 64802.10, 64802.15, 64802.20, 64802.25, 64803, 64805, 64806, 64807, 64808, 64808.05, 64808.10, 64808.15, 64809, 64810, 64810.05, 64810.10, 64811, 64812, 64812.05, 64813, 64814, 64814.05, 64814.10, 64815, 64816, 64816.05, 64816.10, 64817, 64819, 64821, 64823, 64825, 64827, 64860.

Rulemaking Proceedings

  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Published: 10/11/2019
  • Close of the 45-Day Public Comment Period: 12/20/2019
  • Date of Scheduled Public Hearings: 12/18/2019
  • Start of the 15-Day Public Comment Period: 02/13/2020
  • Close of the 15-Day Public Comment Period: 02/28/2020
  • State Water Board Meeting to Consider Adoption: 03/17/2020 - CANCELED
  • State Water Board Meeting to Consider Adoption: 05/05/2020
  • Date filed with Office of Administrative Law: 09/25/2020
  • Date Approved by Office of Administrative Law: 11/19/2020
  • Filed with the Secretary of State: 11/19/2020
  • Effective Date: 01/01/2021

Status of Proposal

This Rulemaking is Completed.