NR 149.20 HistoryHistory: CR 17-046: cr. Register February 2021 No. 782, eff. 6-29-21. NR 149.21NR 149.21 Fees. The department shall establish fees for laboratories participating in the laboratory accreditation program. These costs include those associated with laboratory evaluations, discretionary acceptance of data, reciprocity, training, and collection of fees. Fees may not be prorated and, except for overpayment, are not refundable. NR 149.21(1)(a)(a) The laboratory accreditation program’s total fee income shall be designed to generate revenues equal to the costs of administering this chapter. Any amendments to the formulas in this subsection shall be reviewed by the council prior to being proposed as rule amendments. NR 149.21(1)(b)(b) The department may adjust the fee schedule according to the formulas in this subsection and the relative value unit items specified in Tables 1, 2, and 3. Annual fee adjustments shall be reviewed by the council and approved annually by the natural resources board. NR 149.21(1)(c)(c) The following formulas shall be used to generate and adjust the laboratory accreditation program’s fee schedule: NR 149.21(1)(c)1.1. Fee Revenue Required = Projected Laboratory Accreditation Program Expenses - (Application Fees + Travel Reimbursement) NR 149.21(1)(c)1.a.a. Fee Revenue Required is the total amount of revenue which shall be collected via fees to cover all laboratory accreditation program costs. NR 149.21(1)(c)1.b.b. “Laboratory Accreditation Program Expenses” is the sum of all anticipated laboratory accreditation program expenses including salary, fringes, evaluation travel costs, supplies, and services. This includes travel costs for evaluation of out-of-state labs which are required to reimburse the laboratory accreditation program for laboratory evaluation travel costs. Application Fee revenues are excluded from the Fee Revenue required because the application fee revenues are variable and collected independently throughout an accreditation period. NR 149.21 NoteNote: “Laboratory accreditation program expenses” may not exceed the legislature’s approved spending authority for the laboratory accreditation program in a fiscal year. The department of administration approved spending authority is given in s. 20.370 (9) (fj), Stats., and may be revised by the department of administration to recover laboratory accreditation program cost. NR 149.21(1)(c)1.c.c. Application Fees is a three-year moving average of application fees received for the three most recent fiscal years. NR 149.21(1)(c)1.d.d. Travel Reimbursement is a three-year moving average of out-of-state travel reimbursements for the three most recent fiscal years. Laboratory accreditation program costs related to travel for out-of-state audits are negated because the department recovers these costs directly from each lab. NR 149.21 NoteNote: For example, given the following,
NR 149.21 NoteProjected Laboratory Accreditation Program Expenses = $612,121
NR 149.21 NoteApplication Fees (three-year average) = $31,681
NR 149.21 NoteTravel Reimbursement (three-year average) = $17,079
NR 149.21 NoteFee Revenue Required would be $612,121 - ($31,681 + $17,079) = $563,361.
NR 149.21(1)(c)2.a.a. Total # RV Units is the total number of RV units available for the fiscal year. It is the mechanism by which fees are distributed to individual laboratories. NR 149.21(1)(c)2.b.b. “# Laboratories in item” is a count of how many laboratories will be assessed the fee for that item for a fiscal year, based on accreditations currently held. NR 149.21(1)(c)2.c.c. The RV units for each fee item, “RV of item,” are listed in Table 3. The total number of RV units is the sum of all base fee RV, matrix fee RV, and technology or class fee RV. NR 149.21 NoteNote: For example, given the following,
NR 149.21 NoteBase RV: # Labs Registered (5 RV) = 225; # Labs Certified (10 RV) = 141;
NR 149.21 NoteMatrix RV = 341 Aqueous, 71 Solid, and 43 Drinking water.
NR 149.21 NoteTechnology/Class RV= 2612 Aqueous, 943 Solid, and 575 Drinking water.
NR 149.21 NoteBase Fee RV Units = (225 x 5) + (141 x 10) = 2535
NR 149.21 NoteMatrix RV Units = (341+ 71+43) = 455 x 5 RV/Matrix = 2275
NR 149.21 NoteTechnology/Class RV Units = (2612+ 943+575) = 4130 RV
NR 149.21 NoteTotal # RV Units = 2535 + 2275 + 4130 = 8940 RV Units.
NR 149.21(1)(c)3.3. Cost per RV = Fee Revenue Required / Total # RV Units. The Cost per RV is the dollar value assigned to one RV unit and is used to establish all fees for items in Table 3 of this section. The cost per RV is rounded to the nearest $0.50 to simplify fee statements. NR 149.21 NoteNote: For example, given the following,
NR 149.21 NoteFee Revenue Required = $563,361
NR 149.21 NoteTotal # RV Units = 8940 RVU
NR 149.21 NoteCost per RV ($/RV) = $563,361 / 8940 RVU = $63.01/RV Units; rounded to the nearest $0.50 = $63.00/RV Units.
NR 149.21(1)(c)4.4. Laboratory fees = (# RV units for a given laboratory) x (Cost per RV). The sum of base, matrix, technology, and class fees for a given laboratory is multiplied by the cost per RV to determine the fee for each laboratory. Any outstanding administrative fees may also be added. NR 149.21 NoteNote: For example, given the following for Pinestump Wastewater Treatment Plant Laboratory,
NR 149.21 NoteBase RV: 5 (registered)
NR 149.21 NoteMatrix RV =5 (aqueous matrix only)
NR 149.21 NoteTechnology/Class RV= 4 (Oxygen Demand Assays = 3 RV; Gravimetric Assays - Residue = 1 RVU).
NR 149.21 NoteTotal # RV Units = 5 + 5 + 4 = 14 RV Units
NR 149.21 NoteLaboratory fee = 14 RV Units x $63.00/RV Units = $882.00.
NR 149.21(2)(2) Administrative fees. The department shall assess fees to recover the cost of specified administrative functions specified in this section, Table 1. Any outstanding administrative fees may be included as part of the annual fee. Table 1 - Administrative Fees
1 Out-of-state laboratories may be required to reimburse the laboratory accreditation program for travel costs incurred by the cancellation or postponement of an evaluation, including airfare, hotel, and rental car expenses.
2 Assessed 30 days after payment due date.
NR 149.21(3)(a)(a) The department shall assess fees for all applications specified in this section, Table 2. NR 149.21(3)(b)(b) The fee for an application also includes matrix and technology or class fees when a laboratory applies for a new matrix, technology, or class. The matrix fee is not required if a laboratory is applying for additional technologies or analytes within a matrix for which the lab already holds accreditation. Technology fees are not required if a laboratory already holds accreditation for that matrix and technology or matrix and class, for drinking water combination. NR 149.21 NoteNote: Example – The application fee for a laboratory applying to add ammonia by colorimetry under the aqueous matrix is based on only the number of RV units for a revised application since the lab has already paid for the aqueous matrix and colorimetry technology as part of its renewal fees.
NR 149.21(3)(c)(c) Application fees are not refundable in either whole or part. NR 149.21(3)(d)(d) If an application is not completed within a single fiscal year, the department may adjust the fees on the application to recover the difference in fees between the year the application was submitted and the year the application was completed. The laboratory shall pay this difference prior to receiving accreditations. Table 2 - Application Fees
NR 149.21(4)(4) Annual fees. The department shall assess an annual fee to each laboratory holding accreditations under this chapter either directly or through agreements. A laboratory’s annual fee shall be the sum of all the following: NR 149.21(4)(a)(a) The base fees for accreditation. The department shall assess a base fee to all laboratories holding accreditations under this chapter. The number of RV units assigned to each type of base fee is specified in Table 3 of this subchapter. NR 149.21(4)(b)(b) The matrix fees. The department shall assess a fee per matrix type to all accredited laboratories. The number of RV units assigned to each type of matrix fee is specified in this section, Table 3. NR 149.21(4)(c)1.1. Analytical technology fees. The department shall assess a fee for each analytical technology, per matrix, to all accredited laboratories, in fields involving the aqueous and non-aqueous matrices. The assessed fee shall be based on the RV units specified in this section, Table 3. NR 149.21(4)(c)2.2. Analytical class fees. The department shall assess a fee, per analytical class, to all certified laboratories in fields involving the drinking water matrix. The assessed fee shall be based on the RV units specified in this section, Table 3. 1 Actual cost will be determined by the department considering the complexity of the technology.
NR 149.21 HistoryHistory: CR 17-046: cr. Register February 2021 No. 782, eff. 6-29-21; correction in (4) (c) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2021 No. 782. NR 149.22NR 149.22 Required proficiency testing samples and frequency of analysis. NR 149.22(1)(a)(a) A laboratory shall participate in at least one PT sample study per accreditation period as specified in sub. (2), subject to all the following: NR 149.22(1)(a)1.1. For aqueous and non-aqueous matrices, a laboratory shall analyze aqueous matrix PT samples for each combination of technology and analyte or analyte group in its fields of accreditation. NR 149.22(1)(a)2.2. For the drinking water matrix, a laboratory shall analyze PT samples for each combination of method and analyte or analyte group in its fields of certification. Acceptance criteria for these samples are set in s. NR 149.27. NR 149.22(1)(b)(b) PT samples may be those offered by approved PT sample providers at regular intervals, as “rapid response” PT samples, or as custom formulations approved by the department. NR 149.22(1)(c)(c) A laboratory shall report a proper method code, which matches the technology and analyte or analyte group for which accreditation is held, with results for PT samples. NR 149.22 NoteNote: A link to the universal list of method codes for methods and technologies is available from the NELAC Institute (TNI) which can be found on the Wisconsin department of natural resources laboratory accreditation program website.
NR 149.22(2)(2) Lists of required PT samples and approved PT sample providers. NR 149.22(2)(a)(a) The department shall seek the advice of the council prior to identifying required PT samples and approved PT sample providers. NR 149.22(2)(b)(b) The list shall identify matrix-specific PT samples required for submittal for renewal of accreditation or with initial or revised applications and the specific PT sample providers approved for supplying each required PT sample. NR 149.22 NoteNote: Lists of required PT samples and approved PT sample providers can be found on the Wisconsin department of natural resources laboratory accreditation program website.
NR 149.22 HistoryHistory: CR 17-046: cr. Register February 2021 No. 782, eff. 6-29-21. NR 149.23NR 149.23 Approval of proficiency testing sample providers. NR 149.23(1)(1) Criteria for approval. When evaluating a PT sample provider for approval, the department shall consider criteria including all the following: NR 149.23(1)(a)(a) The PT sample provider accreditation status by national accreditation programs. NR 149.23(1)(b)(b) The PT sample provider use of techniques for calculating acceptance limits as specified in s. NR 149.27. NR 149.23(2)(2) Proficiency testing sample provider requirements. Approved PT sample providers shall submit all PT sample results to the department electronically in a format specified by the department. NR 149.23 HistoryHistory: CR 17-046: cr. Register February 2021 No. 782, eff. 6-29-21; renumbering in (1) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register February 2021 No. 782. NR 149.24NR 149.24 Proficiency testing samples for applications and accreditation renewal. NR 149.24(1)(1) PT sample acceptance criteria. The department may not grant or renew an accreditation unless the associated PT sample results meet the criteria specified in s. NR 149.27. NR 149.24(2)(2) PT sample study close date. Acceptable PT samples shall have a PT sample study close date no more than six months prior to the date of application. NR 149.24(3)(3) PT sample due date for renewal. For renewal of accreditations, which begin on September 1 of each calendar year, acceptable PT sample results shall have been reported electronically to the department by an approved PT sample provider no sooner than January 1 or later than August 31 of the same calendar year. Preliminary reports from approved PT sample providers may not be used for renewal of accreditation. NR 149.24 NoteNote: For example, to renew accreditation for any analyte effective for the period from September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010, a laboratory shall have successfully analyzed a PT sample for that analyte reported between January 1 and August 31, 2009.
NR 149.24(4)(4) PT samples for applications. A laboratory submitting initial or revised applications for accreditation shall analyze PT samples from an approved PT sample provider and submit acceptable results for any of the following: NR 149.24(4)(a)(a) For aqueous and non-aqueous matrices, acceptable PT sample results are required for each combination of technology and analyte or analyte group for which the department has identified that PT samples are required. NR 149.24(4)(b)(b) For the drinking water matrix, acceptable PT sample results, from a water supply study, are required for each combination of method and analyte or analyte group.
