NJ DEPARTMENT of ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

Notice of Rule Proposal
Regulations Governing the Certification of Laboratories and Environmental Measurements, N.J.A.C. 7:18

Public Notice
Take notice that the NJ Department of Environmental Protection is proposing to readopt without amendments the Regulations Governing the Certification of Laboratories and Environmental Measurements at N.J.A.C. 7:18.  A statement of the substance of the proposal follows:

N.J.A.C. 7:18 governs the certification of and the procedures used by laboratories that conduct analytical testing for many of the Department’s Programs.  The certification program is an essential part of the Department’s mission.  Much of the Department’s permit, site remediation, enforcement, research, and technical programs depend on obtaining reliable, accurate, precise, high quality data regarding samples of drinking water, groundwater, wastewater, air, soils, solid waste, hazardous waste, and sludge.  The laboratories providing this data therefore must be depended upon to meet quality assurance and quality control requirements.  The purpose of the laboratory certification program is to ensure that dependability.  New Jersey businesses, residents and the Department all benefit as a result. Under the laboratory certification program, results of testing and analysis can be accepted to establish compliance with the Department’s rules only if the testing or analysis is performed by an environmental laboratory certified by the Department.  To obtain and maintain its certification, a laboratory must meet the standards set forth in these rules. The standards govern laboratory facilities, personnel, equipment and instrument calibration and maintenance, quality assurance / quality control, laboratory records, data reporting and maintenance, and other laboratory practices.

The proposal is scheduled to be published in the New Jersey Register dated July 17, 2006.  A copy of the proposal is available from Debra Waller, Rule Manager, DEP Office of Quality Assurance, 609-292-3950 and from the DEP web site(PDF).

Written comments may be submitted by September 15, 2006 to:

NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Oneida Cuevas, Esq.
ATTN: DEP Docket No. 06-06-06/598
Office of Legal Affairs
PO Box 402
Trenton, New Jersey 08625