LAC 43:XV.3713. Qualified Laboratories

A. General 1. As used in this Section, qualified laboratory means a designated public agency, private consulting firm, institution, or analytical laboratory which can provide the required determination or statement under this program. 2. The Office of Surface Mining shall establish and periodically publish in the Federal Register a list of qualified laboratories which may be used by regulatory authorities under the procedures of this Section. The office may designate qualified laboratories under procedures included in the program. 3. Persons who desire to be included in the list of qualified laboratories established by the Office of Surface Mining shall apply to the Office of Surface Mining and provide such information as is necessary to establish the qualifications required by §3713.B. B. Basic Qualifications 1. To qualify for designation, the laboratory shall demonstrate that it: a. is staffed with experienced, professional personnel in the fields of hydrology, mining engineering, aquatic biology, geology or chemistry applicable to the work to be performed; b. is capable of collecting necessary field data and samples; c. has adequate space for material preparation, cleaning and sterilizing necessary equipment, storage and space to accommodate periods of peak work loads; d. meets the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or the equivalent state safety and health program; e. has the financial capability and business organization necessary to perform the work required; f. has analytical, monitoring and measuring equipment capable of meeting the applicable standards; and g. has the capability of making hydrologic field measurements and analytical laboratory determinations by acceptable hydrologic engineering or analytical methods, or by those appropriate methods or guidelines for data acquisition recommended by the Office of Surface Mining or other federal or state agencies. 2. The qualified laboratory shall be capable of performing either the determination or statement under §3711.B.1 or 2. Subcontractors may be used to provide the services required provided their use is defined in the application for designation and approved by the Office of Surface Mining.