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Illinois Environmental Laboratory Accreditation ProgramFrequently Asked Accreditation QuestionsBelow are the most frequently asked questions of the IL ELAP. If your question does not appear below, please send us your questions regarding laboratory accreditation.
Only those laboratories submitting community water supply water compliance data to the Illinois EPA Bureau of Water, Compliance Assurance Section must be accredited. Participation in the IL ELAP for any other fields of testing is voluntary. Refer to the following particular Program Office for the most current information on any accreditation requirements: Bureau of Land: (217) 782-6760 or (217) 782-6761 Bureau of Water: (217) 782-9720 To obtain primary NELAP accreditation from the IL ELAP, a laboratory must submit a completed application package, invoice and appropriate fees as according to Part 185: "Environmental Laboratory Certification Fee Rules" and Part 186: "Accreditation of Laboratories For Drinking Water, Wastewater and Hazardous Waste Analyses:". After approval of the application package the laboratory will undergo an on-site evaluation. The laboratory must correct any deficiencies noted during on-site evaluation. Once the application package and on-site evaluation are completed, and the laboratory has demonstrated compliance with Part 186, the laboratory will be granted accreditation for the requested fields of testing, methods and analytes. The application and invoice may be obtained by contacting a memeber of the IL ELAP staff. The application and invoice are also available on our Application Package web page. The laboratory may also download a copy of Part 185: "Environmental Laboratory Certification Fee Rules" and Part 186: "Accreditation of Laboratories For Drinking Water, Wastewater and Hazardous Waste Analyses:" from our Rules and Regulations web page. To obtain secondary NELAP accreditation from the IL ELAP, please contact a member of the IL ELAP staff for more information. The IL ELAP offers accreditation for the following fields of testing:
How Much Does It Cost To Be Accredited? Effective July 1, 2002 the cost of laboratory accreditation is based upon the following fee schedule:
The laboratory can figure the cost for accreditation by adding the cost of each field of testing for which the laboratory will seek accreditation plus the administrative fee. For example, if your laboratory wanted to pursue accreditation for Inorganic Wastewater, Organic Wastewater and Inorganic Hazardous Waste your annual accreditation fees would be as follows:
NOTE: If the laboratory is applying for the first time, the initial application fee of $1,500.00 must be added to this total. How Often Do I Have To Pay A Fee? Accreditation fees are paid on an annual basis. Each laboratory's anniversary date will be the same date on which the laboratory's initial accreditation is granted. The laboratory's accreditation fees are due annually on the anniversary date of initial accreditation. No. Pursuant to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 185, Section185.203, any assessment remitted to the Agency under this Part can not be refunded. Can I Be Accredited If I am Located Outside Illinois? Yes. Any laboratory located in the United States or its' territories can apply for accreditation. How Can I Find Out More About NELAC/NELAP? To find out more about NELAC/NELAP you can contact a member of the IL ELAP staff or visit the NELAC web site. Which States Are Recognized NELAP Accrediting Authorities? To find out which states are recognized NELAP accrediting authorities (AA) you can visit the NELAC web site. The NELAC web site lists each NELAP recognized AA and the contact information for each AA. What Rules and Regulations am I Required to Follow? All laboratories seeking and maintaining accreditation with the IL ELAP must comply with all aspects of :
How Do I Obtain Copies of The Analytical Methods? The method manuals may be ordered from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at the address or telephone numbers below:
The cost for the method manuals varies from manual to manual. How Do I Get A Copy of The Illinois Register? You can view the Table of Contents for the Illinois Register at the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Index web site. For subscription information you can contact:
How Do I Get A Copy of The Federal Register? There are various ways to obtain copies of the Federal Register. Below are a few links to Federal Register sites.
Who Are The Approved PT Providers? The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is responsible for approving Proficiency Testing (PT) providers. NIST maintains of list of approved PT providers on their web site. You can view the list of approved PT providers. Laboratories accredited by the IL ELAP or seeking accreditation by the IL ELAP must purchase PT samples from one of the providers on this list. Can I Add To My Scope of Accreditation At Anytime? Yes. According to Section 186.130 (5), a laboratory may make a written request to add fields of testing, approved test methods or analytes to its scope of accreditation. For more information on adding to your scope of accreditation contact your designated accreditation officer. How Can I Keep Up To Date With Changes In The IL ELAP The IL ELAP will put any new updates to the program on the Updates page. The best thing to do is monitor the Illinois Register for any pending changes in our Part 185 or Part 186 and regularly check the Updates page. How Do I Find Out Which Laboratories Are Accredited By The IL ELAP? The IL ELAP publishes a list of accredited laboratories for use by anyone interested in locating an accredited laboratory. Anyone can obtain a copy of the list of laboratories by:
Problems viewing Acrobat PDF files? What Is The Mail Address, Phone Number and Fax Number For The IL ELAP?
How Do I Become Accredited For Microbiological or Radiological Analytes? The IL ELAP accredits laboratories only for chemical analyses. The Illinois Department of Public Health accredits laboratories for microbiological analyses and the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety accredits laboratories for radiological analyses. For more information contact:
How Do I Become Accredited For Air Pollution Analyses? Currently, laboratory accreditation for air pollution analyses is not offered by the Illinois EPA. If you would like to request that the IL ELAP add an air pollution field of testing to the IL ELAP please contact the LAU Manager at (217) 782-6455. ELAP Home | Information | Staff | Labs | Updates | Regulations | Links | FAQ |
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