The Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) within the Wadsworth Center at the New York State Department of Health has regulatory oversight responsibility for laboratories that test environmental samples collected in New York State. These laboratories analyze samples for a wide range of toxins, harmful microorganisms, carcinogens, and other substances that may affect public health and the environment.
ELAP is also certified as an accreditation body for The NELAC Institute (TNI), a national organization that establishes standards for environmental laboratory accreditation. TNI standards have been adopted by 14 states, including New York, and are used to regulate environmental testing nationwide. Laboratories accredited in other TNI states may obtain ELAP approval through a reciprocity process based on compliance with TNI standards – which benefits both laboratories and regulatory programs.
A core function of TNI is convening subject matter experts to develop new standards, discuss regulatory updates, and address emerging challenges in environmental testing. Representing New York State, Elizabeth Lesold and Dr. Amy Steuerwald of ELAP attended the TNI Forum on Environmental Accreditation, held January 12-15, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Forum is TNI’s principal national conference for addressing policy and technical issues affecting environmental laboratory accreditation.
The conference included sessions on mentoring, the TNI on-site inspection process, program updates, training courses, and an examination for certification as a Quality Management Systems Professional.
Dr. Steuerwald delivered a presentation titled “Updates and Accreditations: Why Are States Different?” alongside TNI representatives from Utah and New Jersey. The presentation provided an opportunity for laboratories and assessors to discuss inspection processes and examine differences among states’ requirements, as well as how those requirements are updated in response to evolving scientific practices and federal mandates. Dr. Steuerwald also highlighted New York State’s public health priorities and the challenges laboratories face in navigating varying state and program requirements.
The Forum also featured in-person meetings of TNI committees responsible for developing standards, policies, and guidance for TNI leadership. Committee participation also enables ELAP to help ensure that TNI standards align with New York State’s regulatory needs and to influence environmental testing policy at the national level. Committee participation for NYS by Ms. Lesold and Dr Steuerwald was as follows:
Elizabeth Lesold (Microbiology Expert Committee): Maintain microbiology standards for environmental laboratories based on stakeholder and public input; provide technical assistance, training, and support related to microbiology testing and TNI standards.
Dr. Amy Steuerwald (National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) Accreditation Council): Implement a national program to ensure uniform and consistent accreditation of environmental testing laboratories; holds final authority for implementation of TNI accreditation standards, and Laboratory Accreditation Body Expert Committee: Develop standards for the operation of TNI accreditation bodies (such as ELAP) to improve data quality, consistency, and regulatory reciprocity through a consensus-based standards development process.