 The laboratory's name is its third during its history, following the Health and Safety Laboratory from 1953 to 1977 and the Environmental Measurements Laboratory from 1977 to 2009.According to reports, the transfer and integration into the Department of Homeland Security was not smooth.A congressional hearing into the transition of the lab was held by the House Committee on Science & Technology, Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight on May 3, 2007 entitled "Transitioning the Environmental Measurements Laboratory at the Department of Homeland Security."