ORDER OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD
REPEALING AND RECREATING AND CREATING RULES
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board proposes an order to repeal NR 247.03 (7); amend NR 106.145 (10)(a), (10)(d), (11), NR140.05 (13) note, NR 140.16 (1)(d) note, NR 157.20 (1), (3), NR 200.02 (6) note, NR 200.22 (1) (e) 6. b., NR 219.04 (1), NR 258.03 (15), NR 500.03 (146), NR 507.17 (4), (5), NR 507.26 (3) (b) 1., and NR 700.13 (1m) note; repeal and recreate Chapter NR 149, and NR 263.03 (4) relating to laboratory accreditation and affecting small business. |
SS-22-12
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Natural Resources
1. Statute Interpreted:
2. Statutory Authority:
3. Explanation of Agency Authority:
Section 299.11 (3) Stats. authorizes the department to seek recommendations of the certification standards review council for the general administration of the laboratory certification and registration program. Section 299.11 (4), Stats. defines the applicability of the certification and registration rules to laboratories submitting data for covered programs. Section 299.11 (5) Stats. allows the department to recognize certifications from other agencies, governments, and private organizations. Section 299.11 (7) Stats. authorizes the department to promulgate rules for the certification of laboratories submitting data for covered program. Section 299.11 (8) Stats. authorizes the department to promulgate rules for the registration of laboratories submitting data for covered programs. Section 299.11 (9) Stats. authorizes the department to establish a regulated schedule of fees to cover the costs of administering a laboratory certification and registration program. 4. Related Statutes or Rules:
Chapters NR 101, 102, 106, 110, 123, 131, 132, 140, 150, 153, 155, 157, 182, 200, 204, 205, 206, 210, 211, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218, 219, 230, 233, 243, 254, 260, 261, 263, 273, 274, 290, 347, 500, 507, 518, 528, 538, 662, 664, 665, 700, 712, 716, 720, 738, 747, 809, 810, 811, 812 and 845. 5. Plain Language Analysis:
Chapter NR 149 sets requirements for the certification and registration of laboratories that submit data to the department for covered programs. Since the last major revision of the chapter, laboratory operations have undergone significant advances. Other state and national certification programs have promulgated and revised rules that reflect these advances. This version of ch. NR 149 incorporates many of those changes and, where appropriate, moderates them by incorporating suggestions expressed by our regulated community. The proposed rule introduces efficiencies for administering the laboratory accreditation program, improves the structure used for certification and registration of laboratories, identifies clear steps and procedures for the certification and registration process, establishes a more equitable fee structure, clarifies requirements for proficiency testing of laboratories, stipulates procedures for on-site evaluations of laboratories, and adds specificity and flexibility to quality systems requirements for laboratories.
6. Summary of, and Comparison with, Existing or Proposed Federal Statutes and Regulations:
The US EPA has established a program for the certification of laboratories that analyze drinking water for compliance with the safe drinking water act. The US EPA delegates the authority to certify laboratories to
states that have established equivalent programs. The proposed rule incorporates the latest changes in the regulations and the manual used by EPA to certify drinking water laboratories. Thus, this revision makes the Wisconsin laboratory accreditation program current with the US EPA’s.
The US EPA sponsors a National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) for states that voluntarily seek such recognition. The procedures for accrediting laboratories under NELAP are contained in standards promulgated by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC). The proposed rule contains elements of the NELAC Standards recommended for incorporation by our regulated community. In most cases, the incorporated elements address standard practices commonly performed by laboratories.
7. Comparison with Similar Rules in Adjacent States:
All the adjacent states, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa, have primacy from the US EPA to certify laboratories analyzing drinking water. Their rules must mirror federal requirements to maintain the states’ authority. Our proposed revision makes the drinking water portion of our chapter current with those of the adjacent states.
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois have similar certification, registration, or accreditation programs for laboratories analyzing wastewater, hazardous waste, and solid waste. Michigan requires certification only for those laboratories analyzing drinking water. Illinois and Minnesota are recognized NELAP accrediting authorities and NELAP rules agree or are stricter than those the department proposes for ch. NR 149. In addition, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) accredits wastewater laboratories and its rules are like those proposed for ch. NR 149. Iowa has a certification program that is more limited in scope than ours because the state has few laboratories providing environmental analytical services other than the University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory. To compare fees between the states, we used an average annual proposed fee for the 30 largest commercial laboratories as one category, and used a wastewater laboratory certified for BOD, TSS, Ammonia, and Phosphorous as an indicator of the typical wastewater laboratory fee. Using these two categories, Wisconsin proposed fees are $5,311/$1,114 for commercial/wastewater laboratories. Illinois assesses $8,400/$3,400 annually for these same types of laboratories. Minnesota's fees are $10,900/$1,800. Iowa's fees are lower than WI's for wastewater laboratories, but higher for commercial laboratories ($10,800/$800). Michigan charges $6,729 for certification of drinking water laboratories; no certification for wastewater laboratories is required.
8. Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies Used and How Any Related Findings Support the Regulatory Approach Chosen:
To create this proposed rule, the Department engaged in a structured process to seek input from all stakeholders. The core of this effort consisted in convening a rule revision advisory committee (RAC) composed of all the members of the Certification Standards Review Council, a body authorized by s. 15.107 (1), Stats. The following constituencies were represented in the NR 149 RAC: • Small and Large Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Commercial Laboratories
• Industrial Laboratories
• Municipal Environmental Group (MEG)
• Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
• Laboratory Accreditation Program
The NR 149 RAC envisioned a code that had greater specificity without sacrificing flexibility and alternatives for compliance. Over the course of approximately 30 meetings held from January 2014 to December 2017, the NR 149 RAC offered advice and guidance on every aspect of the Laboratory Accreditation Program. Meetings were facilitated by program staff. The agreements reached were captured in standardized documents reviewed and endorsed by the NR 149 RAC. These documents were used in drafting specific language included in the proposed rule.
The NR 149 RAC reviewed a complete final draft of the proposed chapter in February 2018. The comments received and the input received by the Laboratory Accreditation Program and other Department programs are reflected in this proposed rule.
The following table illustrates the methodologies and data considered in producing this proposed rule:
Methodology | Data Considered |
Advisory Committee | Input from all stakeholders on all aspects of the Laboratory Accreditation Program. |
Decision Making Rule | NR 149 RAC made decisions by reaching substantial agreement and when necessary, registering consensus. |
Topic Prompters | Captured decisions made by NR 149 RAC on program administration, program structure, certification and registration process, proficiency testing, on-site laboratory evaluations and quality control. |
Model Documents | Alternatives for certification and registration structure, fee structure, applications, and quality systems. |
Comparative Analysis | Scope of certification and registration of current laboratories in the program to arrive at equitable fee structure. Analytical technologies were assessed and assigned a fee based on relative workload to evaluate them. Fee structure and assessments of certification programs in other states. |
Feasibility | Certification and covered program staff reviewed changes endorsed by RAC to determine feasibility of implementation. |
9. Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine the Effect on Small Business or in Preparation of an Economic Impact Report:
In order to be equitable and efficient to all laboratories, the new fee schedule attempts to match the time spent by WDNR staff during laboratory inspections to fees paid (RVU’s) by removing the restrictive cap on the fees that larger laboratories are required to pay.
In terms of cost of certification, only 25 of commercial laboratories are expected to see a fee increase. The average fee increase for the commercial laboratories that are projected to see a fee increase, is estimated to be $919 per laboratory per year. Two laboratories which certify for the maximum analytical methods will see their annual fees increase by $1,222. The Department estimates that approximately 316 laboratories will see a decrease in fees by an average of $72.
