ok-392: Department of Environmental Quality — Laboratory Accreditation

Summary

This Chapter contains rules about the accreditation of privately-owned and publicly-owned laboratories by the Department. The proposed rule changes intend to clarify program definitions, correct incorrect references, standardize language between OK DEQ Lab Accreditation Program (LAP) rules where feasible, simplify the renewal and application processes, fee calculations, and reset the yearly accreditation period to run from January through December. Additional proposed changes will serve to update incorporations by reference for EPA methodologies, and to make other amendments for conformity with past, present, and future method requirements under the following national programs: EPA Primary Drinking Water Regulations, National Standards for Solid Waste Test Methods, and EPA Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants. One significant result of these proposed changes is that they will give additional flexibility to labs in the program to select from methods that are both historically and most recently approved for use in the programs mentioned above and allow LAP to offer accreditation for these methods. The Department is proposing to modify the title of Chapter 301 to be more descriptive of the accreditation program and to improve clarity and understanding of differences among the three accreditation program chapters. Specifically, the Department is proposing to create a new section 252:301-1-8, to establish a new accreditation period that runs from January through December. This change to a calendar year will allow program labs to better manage their finances and renewal applications. This change will also allow for more fluid and timely processing of applications and invoices by LAP staff. The Department is proposing to amend 252:301-1-9, "Fees," to accommodate the new section above. This amendment will simplify the calculation of accreditation application and renewal fees and eliminate a fee for late applications. There are no new fee increases or new fees. This change will make it easier for the program labs to determine the fee for participation in the program. This change will also make the rule language more consistent with other LAP rules. The Department is proposing the clarification and specification of certain requirements in 252:301-1-5, 252:301-3-3, 252:301-5-4, and 252:301-7 for laboratories applying and maintaining accreditation regarding accreditation type, performance of proficiency tests (PTs), and assessments. Further, the Department is proposing to amend 252:301-3-4, "Renewals," to establish a new September 15 deadline for submitting renewal documentation and PT provider reports along with a December 15 deadline to pay renewal invoices to allow for continued participation in the program. Additional information has been added to better define the renewal process and make it more consistent with other LAP rules.

The agency’s own summary, as published.