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This rule implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures to be used by DoD personnel for the operation and management of the DoD ELAP. DoD ELAP provides a unified DoD program through which commercial environmental laboratories can voluntarily demonstrate competency and document conformance to the international quality systems standards implemented by DoD. DoD uses third party Accreditation Bodies to evaluate conformance to the quality system standards for environmental laboratories. The major provisions of this regulatory action include a general overview of DoD ELAP and establishment of standard operating procedures. There are procedures to maintain and improve the DoD Quality Systems Manual for environmental laboratories (QSM) to ensure it remains current in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025. Additional procedures address how to evaluate and recognize 3rd party accreditation bodies; perform and document government oversight of the DoD ELAP and process to ensure ongoing compliance with program requirements and to identify opportunities for continual improvement; conduct project-specific laboratory approvals for specific tests not addressed in the DoD ELAP; and handle specific complaints concerning the processes established by the DoD ELAP or the QSM.