Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (LELAP)

Paul BergeronLELAP Supervisor

Lod Cook Alumni CenterBaton Rouge LA May 23, 2011

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Who is Required to Be Accredited?

Any laboratory, stack tester, or geotechnical soil tester or facility which is◦A third party, distinguishable from

the permittee or the Department◦Providing chemical analyses,

analytical results, or other test data◦Providing the analyses, results, or

data by contract or agreement and….

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Who is Required to Be Accredited? (cont’d)The data is

◦Submitted on behalf of any facility, as defined in RS 30:2004

◦Required as a part of any permit application

◦Required by order of the Department◦Required to be included on any monitoring

reports submitted to the Department◦Required to be submitted by contract; or◦Otherwise required by Department

regulations

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Who is Required to Be Accredited? (cont’d)Laboratories located on separate

premises, even though operated under the same management, shall be required to maintain distinct accreditation.

Separate accreditation is not required for buildings on the same or adjoining grounds.

Mobile and/or field laboratories are not required to be accredited unless they are operating independently

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Who is Required to Apply for Accreditation? (cont’d)Laboratories seeking “primary”

accreditation—those which will be assessed by LELAP

Laboratories seeking “secondary” accreditation—those which are seeking recognition of accreditation granted by other accreditation bodies

LELAP will issue a certificate bearing the LELAP logos if LELAP is not recognized by the accreditation body

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Who Does Not Have to Be Accredited?

In-house plant laboratoriesMunicipal laboratoriesLaboratories accredited by the

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

Laboratories licensed by the Emergency and Radiological Services Division

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Applying for Accreditation: The Smoke is Clearing….

The electronic application is accessible at LELAP Laboratory Accreditation

In the past fiscal year, thousands of lines of method-analyte combinations have been added

Hundreds of listings have been assigned to qualified laboratories to ensure the detail and accuracy of scopes of accreditation

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LELAP Webpage

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Link to Application

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Application Particulars: the Electronic ApplicationUse the latest version and download

the method-analyte combinationsFollow the instructionsSave all data generated in a file on

an accessible desktopNotify LELAP immediately if

◦the desired method-analyte combination is missing

◦The application cannot be completed or submitted

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Application Particulars: Required SubmittalsThe application fee is $660The application must also be

submitted in hard copy and include◦The quality assurance plan◦The standard operating procedures◦Proficiency test results and/or

analytical data packages if there are no proficiency tests available

◦The signed certificate of complianceLOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 11

Application Particulars: Test Categories• Metals• Microbiology• Biomonitoring• Classical Wet

Chemistry (nutrients, minerals, ions, demands, and coliforms)

• Minor Conventional Parameters

• Organics (semi-volatiles, volatiles, pesticides, herbicides, and PCB’s)

• Dioxins and Furans• Radiochemistry• Asbestos• Geotechnical Soil

Testing• Air Pollutants

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Application Particulars: Minor Conventional Parameters

Limited to--BOD5

Hexane Extractible MaterialTotal Suspended SolidsFecal and Total ColiformsTotal Residual Chlorine

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Accreditation by Recognition

LELAP will recognize the accreditation granted by additional accreditation bodies to instate laboratories, including:

National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program

American Industrial Hygiene Association

National Lead Laboratory Accreditation ProgramLOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF

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Interim Accreditation If an application is deemed complete,

LELAP will grant “interim” accreditation if requested

The “interim” status will enable the facility to submit data to the Department (or be recognized by other states participating in the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program if the application complies with the standard)

The status will not exceed one yearLOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 15

AssessmentsAll instate laboratory assessments

are performed by LELAP staffThe number of assessors depends

on several factors:◦Size of the laboratory◦Purpose of the assessment

Routine Biennial Assessment Scope Amendment

Travel expenses shall be reimbursed by the laboratory

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Pre-Assessment Materials

Includes checklists, standard operating procedures, and data packages

Facilities are requested to complete and return the checklist prior to assessment

Offsite reviews reduce travel time to assessor and visiting time for laboratory

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Assessments (cont’d)

The following shall be available for review at the laboratory:

Quality Assurance PlanStandard Operating ProceduresQuality Assurance DataProficiency Test Data

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Assessments (cont’d)

Laboratory Inspection will follow this outline:

Entry BriefingReview of DocumentationReview of Sample HandlingStaff InterviewsDemonstration of Selected Tests

as necessaryExit Briefing

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Post-Assessment: Deliverables and Deadlines• Assessment Reports--due 60 days

after the state assessment• Corrective Action Plans—due 30 days

after receipt of the assessment report

• Responses to the Corrective Action Plan –expect 30 days after receipt of the Corrective Action Plan

• Correction of Findings Identified During Assessment—6 months after receipt of the assessment report

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Assessment FinalizationAn initial applicant is granted a

certificate and scope if the corrective action plan is approved, attestation is signed, and remaining fee (test category) is paid

An initial applicant is denied a certificate and scope if the corrective action plan is not approved

Accredited facilities owe no further action if the corrective action plan is approved and attestation is signed

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Other DeadlinesRenewal Application—every three yearsProficiency Tests Results/Analytical Data

Packages—every six monthsAssessments—every two yearsInvoices—due within 30 days• Notice to LELAP of change of key

accreditation criteria—due 30 days after change is effective

• Notice to laboratory clients of change of accreditation status—due 10 days from official notice of the action

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LELAP Location within LDEQ

• Office of Environmental Services• Public Participation and Permit

Support Division• Notifications and Accreditations

Section

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LELAP Contact Information602 North Fifth StreetBaton Rouge LA 70802Paul Bergeron, SupervisorPhone 225-219-3247Email Paul.Bergeron@LA.GOVLDEQ.

LabAccreditationProgram@la.gov

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LELAP Organization Chart

Paul BergeronSupervisor

Cindy GagnonAssessor

Dr. Alicia RyanAssessor

Elizabeth WestAssessor

(Shreveport)

Dr. Jacqueline PrudenteAssessor

Charles LeonardCIH

Assessor

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Other ItemsWeb page has accredited facilities

listed by test category; ultimate goal is to have searchable list on the page

New database has been developed totally in-house without the expenditure of unbudgeted dollars

Scopes of Accreditation have new format and identify the revision of the test method, the method code and the analyte code

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Other Items (cont’d)Assessors are verifying compliance

with the new MQL requirements for arsenic, copper, lead and nickel

Bioassay laboratories are not required to seek accreditation for support methods as long as the data is not reported to the Department

Quarterly meetings to be conducted between LELAP and participating laboratories

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Other Items (cont’d)No surprises: assessors will fully

discuss any findings before adding them to an assessment report

The LELAP e-Newsletter will returnIn-state laboratories will be asked

to participate on task force to update the regulations

LELAP assessor interpretations will be posted in the LELAP FAQs

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Reminders….If the laboratory fails a

proficiency test, the laboratory must provide LELAP with a report on the corrective action taken and the results of a corrective action proficiency test result and

Implement the approved corrective action plan!

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Questions?.........

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Laboratory Issues and Challenges

An Open ForumPaul Bergeron, LDEQ

Lod Cook Alumni CenterBaton Rouge LAMay 23, 2011

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