37.12.345    CRITICAL ELEMENTS FOR CHEMISTRY LABORATORY LICENSURE

(1) In order to be licensed to perform chemical analyses, a laboratory must meet the standards contained in this rule.

(2) Analysts in training must be supervised by an experienced analyst who meets all of the requirements of this rule.

(3) Supervising analysts must verify all results of testing performed by analysts in training and cosign those results.

(4) The laboratory's analysts must:

(a) meet all of the qualifications and conditions set forth in chapter IV of the EPA laboratory certification manual, and if responsible for the operation of analytical instrumentation, complete specialized training offered by the manufacturer or another qualified training facility approved by the department, or served a period of apprenticeship under an experienced analyst. The duration of this apprenticeship should be proportional to the sophistication of the instrument; and

(b) provide certification and/or training and experience documentation to the department for review and approval as part of the laboratory licensure and inspection process.

(5) The department adopts and incorporates by reference chapter IV of the EPA laboratory certification manual (EPA 815-R-05-004, "Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water," January 2005), which establishes qualifications for staff training and experience and conditions for approval of laboratories conducting chemical analyses of public drinking water. A copy of chapter IV may be obtained from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Laboratory Services Bureau, 1400 Broadway, Cogswell Building, P.O. Box 4369, Helena, MT 59604-4369, telephone (406) 444-3444, or may be downloaded at the EPA web site:  https://www.epa.gov/dwlabcert/laboratory-certification-manual-drinking-water.

 

History: 50-1-202, MCA; IMP, 50-1-202, 75-6-106, MCA; NEW, 1999 MAR p. 291, Eff. 2/12/99; AMD, 2003 MAR p. 2442, Eff. 10/31/03; AMD, 2011 MAR p. 2286, Eff. 10/28/11; AMD, 2023 MAR p. 305, Eff. 3/25/23.