§ 252.6. Accreditation-by-rule.
(a) Purpose. Environmental laboratories performing testing or analysis or reporting results described in this section will be deemed to have accreditation-by-rule if the following general requirements are met:
(1) The environmental laboratory registers with the Department in accordance with 27 Pa.C.S. § 4107(a) (relating to interim requirements).
(2) The environmental laboratory performs the testing or analysis in conformance with applicable State or Federal laws, regulations, promulgated methods, orders and permit conditions.
(3) The environmental laboratory assures that samples for testing or analysis are properly preserved, are in proper containers, do not exceed maximum holding times between collection and analysis, and are handled in accordance with applicable State or Federal laws, regulations, promulgated methods, orders and permit conditions.
(4) The environmental laboratory has the other necessary permits under the applicable environmental protection acts and is operating under the acts and regulations promulgated thereunder and the terms and conditions of permits.
(5) Records pertaining to the testing or analysis of environmental samples are retained onsite and in accordance with § 252.706 (relating to recordkeeping). Records shall be made available to the Department upon request.
(6) The environmental laboratory is reporting only the results of the testing or analysis of environmental samples specified in subsections (c) and (f) in conformance with the applicable State or Federal laws, regulations, orders or permit conditions.
(b) Inappropriate activity. The Department may require an environmental laboratory deemed to have accreditation-by-rule to apply for, and obtain, environmental laboratory accreditation under Subchapter B (relating to application, fees and supporting documents), or take other appropriate action, when the environmental laboratory is not in compliance with the conditions of accreditation-by-rule or is conducting an activity that harms or presents a threat of harm to the health, safety or welfare of the people or the environment of this Commonwealth.
(c) Testing and analysis of samples from public water suppliers. An environmental laboratory using an individual meeting the requirements specified in § 109.704 (relating to operator certification) and in compliance with subsections (a) and (b) will be deemed to be accredited under this chapter to perform only those measurements identified in § 109.304(c) (relating to analytical requirements) as measurements that may be performed by a person meeting the requirements of § 109.704.
(d) Industrial wastewater treatment facility laboratory. An environmental laboratory operated by an industrial wastewater treatment facility in compliance with subsections (a) and (b) will be deemed to be accredited under this chapter to perform testing or analysis not mandated by the Department and those tests identified in subsection (f).
(e) Wastewater facility laboratory. An environmental laboratory operated by a wastewater facility in compliance with subsections (a) and (b) will be deemed to be accredited under this chapter to perform testing or analysis not mandated by the Department and those tests identified in subsection (f).
(f) Other testing and analysis. With the exception of environmental laboratories testing or analyzing environmental samples to comply with the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act (35 P. S. § § 721.1—721.17), an environmental laboratory in compliance with subsections (a) and (b) will be deemed accredited under this chapter for the following tests or analyses:
(1) Alkalinity.
(2) Carbon dioxide (CO2).
(3) Color.
(4) Conductivity.
(5) Dissolved oxygen.
(6) Field radioactivity using hand held survey instruments.
(7) Flash point and total halogen determination on waste oil by a waste oil transporter or waste oil transfer facility as required by § 298.44 (relating to rebuttable presumption for waste oil and flash point screening).
(8) Flow.
(9) Foam.
(10) Hardness.
(11) Odor.
(12) Oxidation reduction potential.
(13) Paint filter test.
(14) pH.
(15) Residual disinfectant concentration.
(16) Settleable solids.
(17) Sheen.
(18) Sludge volume index.
(19) Specific gravity.
(20) Sulfite.
(21) Taste.
(22) Temperature.
(23) Turbidity.
(24) Vapor analysis using hand held survey instruments.
(25) Volatile acids in wastewater and sludge.
(g) Exclusion from requirements. An environmental laboratory deemed to be accredited under this section is not required to meet any other requirements in this chapter.
Authority The provisions of this § 252.6 amended under 27 Pa.C.S. § § 4103(a), 4104 and 4105; and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 252.6 amended April 9, 2010, effective April 10, 2010, 40 Pa.B. 1898; amended July 28, 2017, effective July 29, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 4085. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (348787) to (348789).
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 252.1 (relating to definitions).
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