Applicability

Applicability. (1) This chapter specifies requirements for the administration of the laboratory accreditation program by the department. (2) Unless otherwise exempted in this section, this chapter applies to all the following: (a) Laboratories applying for accreditation. (b) Laboratories holding an accreditation. (c) Laboratories submitting data to the department for a covered program. (d) Laboratories generating data that is necessary for the department to determine compliance with a covered program. (3) Laboratories performing analyses for the safe drinking water program under ch. NR 809 or for the well construction and pump installation testing program under ch. NR 812 shall be certified; registration is not available for these analyses. Additional requirements for laboratories performing compliance analysis under ch. NR 809 are specified in s. NR 149.19 . (4) Laboratories performing analysis for whole effluent toxicity testing shall meet the requirements specified in s. NR 149.20 . (5) This chapter applies to laboratories analyzing industrial pre-treatment samples when the department is the control authority of a pre-treatment ordinance or when another control authority requires it. (6) Laboratories performing asbestos or radiological testing for a covered program shall be certified or approved by the EPA or the department. (7) (ag) This chapter establishes compliance requirements that shall be incorporated into the quality systems of all laboratories accredited by the department. (ar) Laboratories shall meet any requirements pertaining to analyses and analytical operations contained in the methods, regulations, or covered programs when those requirements are more stringent than the ones specified in this chapter, unless this chapter grants explicit, alternative allowances. (b) When it is not apparent to the laboratory whether the minimum requirements of this chapter or those specified in the methods, regulations, or covered programs are more stringent, the department shall communicate which requirements are more stringent to the laboratories and the laboratories shall meet those requirements. (c) When a laboratory incorporates a procedure that is neither expressly permitted nor prohibited by the method, the department will assess the scientific validity of the procedure to determine if the procedure is within the scope of the method. The underlying chemistry of the method shall remain unchanged. The department may seek the advice of the council in making determinations under this paragraph.