Last month U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials notified produce industry leaders that there would be a review of the Produce Safety Rule’s water quality requirements to address industry concerns, resulting in a likely delay in compliance.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Today people around the globe are celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievement of women. We at Babcock Labs are proud that our company strives for equal opportunity and gender equity. Women make up more than half of our workforce, including our management team. This is unique for a STEM company and something to be proud of, as women still remain underrepresented in the science and engineering workforce at large in the United States.
Giving a Dam: California's Water Infrastructure Problem
Recent news about the Oroville Dam crisis has highlighted some of California’s more serious infrastructure problems. At 49 years old, the Oroville Dam is at the end of its designated lifespan, along with nearly 4,000 other dams across the country. But it’s not old age alone that’s causing California water problems, it’s also old ideas.
A Sinking Feeling: Over-Pumping CA Groundwater
The immense importance of proper groundwater recharge was recently confirmed by NASA, who released data earlier this month showing that parts of California are quite literally sinking due to the over-pumping of groundwater. Among other effects, over-pumping groundwater aquifers can cause the soil to collapse and compact, causing the land to subside and, in the case of California’s San Joaquin Valley, jeopardizing water infrastructure that serves millions of people.
State Board Notice: Lead Testing in Schools
On January 17th, the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water (DDW) announced its new program which encourages California schools to work with their local water providers to sample for the presence of lead in their drinking water.
EPA UCMR4 Environmental Laboratory Testing
Babcock Laboratories, Inc. is in the process of becoming fully certified for UCMR4! We have been approved by the U.S. EPA to participate in Proficiency Testing (PT) and currently have PTs in house. After successful participation in the EPA’s PT studies for all UCMR4 methods, Babcock Labs will receive approval upon finalization of the rule.