La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § I-4705

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-4705 - Categories of Accreditation

A. At the time of application, each applicant shall clearly identify both the matrix (matrices) and the test categories for which accreditation is sought. A copy of each relevant test method documentation and the requisite equipment for the method shall be available at the laboratory. A current list of approved methods for each parameter/analyte shall be maintained by the Office of Environmental Assessment and shall be included as part of the application package. In cases where a method used by the laboratory is not listed, the laboratory shall submit documentation that verifies that the results obtained from the method in use are equal to or better than those results obtained from the approved method(s). The department shall review the data submitted by the laboratory and shall notify the laboratory in writing within 60 calendar days regarding whether the method is acceptable or unacceptable as an alternate method of analysis.

B. A laboratory may apply for accreditation in any one or more of the four matrices, as defined in LAC 33:I.4503.A, and in one or more of the 11 test categories applicable to the matrix (matrices) selected. The laboratory shall be accredited in those parameters within the test category(ies) for which the laboratory demonstrates acceptable performance on proficiency samples (when available) and meets all other requirements of the department accreditation program. The accreditation test categories are as follows:

1. metals;

2. air pollutants including industrial hygiene and Toxic Organic Compounds (T.O.) methods, stack sampling, and ambient air;

3. nutrients, minerals, ions, demands, classical wet chemistry, and total and fecal coliform;

4. microbiology (including fecal coliform and total coliform);

5. bioassay and biomonitoring;

6. organics (including volatiles, semi-volatiles, pesticides, herbicides, and PCBs);

7. dioxins and furans;

8. radiochemistry and radio assay;

9. asbestos;

10. geo-technical properties of soils including, but not limited to, compaction test, permeability, particle size analysis, soils classification, etc.; and

11. minor conventional parameters-BOD₅, oil and grease, TSS, pH, fecal and total coliform, and residual chlorine.

C. An accredited laboratory may request the addition of a matrix (matrices) and test category (categories) to its scope of accreditation at any time. Such a request shall be submitted on the current application to the Office of Environmental Assessment. Unless the previous on-site inspection can verify the competence of the laboratory to perform the additional tests, another on-site inspection may be required.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § I-4705

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Secretary, LR 24:919 (May 1998), amended by the Office of Environmental Assessment, Environmental Planning Division, LR 26:1435 (July 2000), LR 26:2443 (November 2000), repromulgated LR 27:38 (January 2001), amended by the Office of Environmental Assessment, LR 31:1570 (July 2005), amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs Division, LR 31:2435 (October 2005), LR 33:2081 (October 2007), amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Division, LR 38:2750 (November 2012), Amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Division, Legal Division, LR 43933 (5/1/2017), Amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs and Criminal Investigations Division, LR 432137 (11/1/2017).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2011.