Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-7-13-.03

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 335-7-13-.03 - Definitions

The following words and phrases, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, shall have the following meaning:

(1)Analytical Method - "method" number assigned by EPA that describes the proper process for obtaining accurate and repeatable analyte concentration results.

(2)Certificate - the document issued by the Department showing those drinking water parameters and the EPA-approved Drinking Water method for which a laboratory has received certification, and the type of certification. The certificate remains the property of the Department and must be surrendered at its direction.

(3)Certification - a declaration by the Department that a laboratory has been evaluated under the State Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Program and found acceptable to analyze specified parameters.

(4)Certification Authority (CA) - the agency in a state, or EPA, which certifies drinking water laboratories. In the state of Alabama, the CA for Drinking Water laboratories is the Department.

(5)Certified Laboratory - a laboratory that meets the regulatory performance criteria and any other requirements for the drinking water parameters and methods listed on the certificate.

(6)Corrective Action Plan - report submitted by a laboratory detailing steps it must take to satisfactorily correct deficiencies either found during an audit or that caused an unsatisfactory result on a performance evaluation (PE) sample and prevents their reoccurrence.

(7)Department - the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

(8)EPA - the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

(9)EPA Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water - the latest edition and any addendums, which describes criteria and procedures that EPA uses in evaluating laboratories for certification.

(10)Interim Certification - a laboratory that is granted certification when it is impossible or unnecessary to perform an on-site audit.

(11)Not Certified - a laboratory, which possesses deficiencies, and the Department has determined cannot consistently produce valid data.

(12)On-site Audit - an inspection of a drinking water laboratory that seeks to be certified or plans to continue certified status. This inspection will include an evaluation of their facility, instrumentation, sample analysis processes, quality assurance manual/system, and personnel training and capabilities.

(13)On-site Auditor - a person approved by the CA and/or EPA to conduct an on-site audit.

(14)Parameter - a drinking water analyte for which a laboratory is seeking certification.

(15)Performance Evaluation (PE) Sample - an annual (or more frequent if required by the method) sample received from an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-certified PE vendor that is analyzed by the laboratory. The laboratory results are compared to the known value by the certified PE vendor, and determined to be either acceptable or unacceptable.

(16)Provisionally Certified - a laboratory that has deficiencies but demonstrates its ability to consistently produce valid data within the acceptance limits specified in the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) and within the requirements of their certification authority.

(17)Reciprocity - a type of certification that is issued by the Department to out of state laboratories that hold equivalent certification issued by EPA or EPA-approved state programs.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-7-13-.03

New Rule: Filed November 7, 1997; effective December 12, 1997. Amended: Filed February 6, 2002; effective March 13, 2002. Repealed: Filed October 23, 2012; effective November 27, 2012.

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIX, Issue No. 07, April 30, 2021, eff. 6/14/2021.

Authors: Aubrey H. White III, James M. Arnold

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-23-49.