"The UHL has planned and conducted the Annual Environmental Laboratory Symposium in some form over the past 39 years," says Lee. "This event brings together a majority of the environmental laboratory testing professionals in Iowa to discuss current laboratory issues, introduce new technology and conduct training in laboratory certification topics.

"The Symposium is the principle training and outreach vehicle our laboratory uses to enhance environmental laboratory testing and assist the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in meeting its monitoring requirements. Laboratory professionals from Iowa municipalities, contract laboratories doing environmental testing in Iowa, scientific equipment vendors and professional consultants are the participants who attend this Symposium. The UHL appreciates this opportunity to reach out to the laboratory community and treasurers the partners that assist us in presenting this annual event."

Presentations featured water testing methods, safety, quality control and regulatory updates. A panel discussion with audience participation highlighted the afternoon session. The panel was manned by UHL's John Kempf, lab certification officer; Don Simmons, environmental program manager; Rick Sable, chemist; and by Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Ann Lynam, environmental specialist; and Russ Royce, environmental specialist. Joe Kelly, quality control officer for Mangold, also participated on the panel. Lee Friell led the panel discussion.

Additional UHL staff members who made presentations include Chris Atchison, interim director; Pam Kostle, industrial hygiene program manager; and Marinea Mehrhoff, supervisor radiochemistry.