Babcock Laboratories is Closed on Memorial Day

Babcock’s Riverside and El Centro Laboratories will be closed on Monday, May 30th, in observance of Memorial Day. All locations will reopen for regular business on Tuesday, May 31st.

To ensure continued quality service when transporting and delivering temperature sensitive samples with short holding time methods, we ask you to please keep this holiday closure in mind. Samples should be submitted to the Riverside location no later than 5:00 PM Friday, May 27th. For the El Centro laboratory, all samples should be submitted by 2:00 PM, Wednesday, May 25th….

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PFAS Continues to Dominate Regulatory Response

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Across the nation, state and federal agencies are renewing their efforts to end the toxic legacy of per– and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 2021 saw a flurry of PFAS-related legislation and proposals from both California and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that is carrying over into 2022. To help breakdown the state and federal government’s response to widespread PFAS contamination, here is a snapshot of the latest news in the PFAS pipeline:

Governor Newsom Signs New PFAS Bills and OEHHA Lists PFOS under Prop 65

Governor Newsom signed two major PFAS bills this fall on October 5th: AB 1200 and AB 652. Under AB 1200, or the California Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act of 2021, no plant-based food packages with “intentionally added” PFAS may be sold or distributed after January 1, 2023. The law also requires cookware manufacturers to disclose if certain chemicals, including PFAS, are present in their products. A list of disclosed chemicals must be available online by January 1, 2023 and on the physical product by January 1, 2024. The law further prohibits manufacturers from claiming their products are free of a specific chemical, like PFOA, unless the product is also…

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Looking Beyond the Pandemic: Climate Change and Drought In 2021

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Over the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic pulled state resources and public attention away from the looming specter of global climate change. But while our attention was fixed on vaccine rollouts and mask mandates, climate change didn’t stop impacting California’s water. 2021 heralded some unprecedented water challenges for districts across the state. Now more than ever, we need to talk about climate change and the role it plays in California’s droughts.

It is well established that California’s droughts are becoming more common and more severe. The past year was one of the driest in a century; crucial reservoirs like Lake Mead have dropped to record lows; and many communities continue to over-draft groundwater aquifers to keep up with demand. In October, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency and asked Californians to “redouble our efforts to save water in every way possible.” For many, the sight of depleted reservoirs and bone-dry wells looks eerily similar to the height of California’s last major drought––which only officially ended 2 years ago.

So what is happening to California’s droughts?…

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A Quick Year in Review: 2021

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2022 is here and we are all excited to see what this year will bring. But before we dive into new discussions, developments, and events, we would like to reflect on some important industry news that broke last year. Looking back at the unique challenges and topics of 2021 may help predict how our industry will change as we progress through the new year…

Babcock Laboratories is Closed for Christmas & New Years

As the holidays are approaching, the staff at Babcock Labs would like to inform you that we will be closed on Friday, December 24th, in observance of Christmas. We will also be closed Friday, December 31st, in observance of New Year's Day. When transporting and delivering temperature sensitive samples with short holding time methods, we ask that you keep this holiday closure in mind to ensure continued quality service. In addition, please place bottle orders and requests for sampling supplies well in advance to avoid delays and expedite your sample delivery experience.

Please forward this to your staff members who provide sample transportation and delivery to Babcock Labs.

The entire Babcock Team thanks you for your continued business and support. Please contact your Project Manager if you have any questions or concerns.

We wish you a fun, relaxing, and safe holiday!