3745-89-04 Renewal of laboratory certification.

 

 

 

BEFORE THE

OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 

January 5, 2015

Public Notice:  Proposed Rulemaking Governing Laboratory Certification

 

 

Notice is hereby given that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters (DDAGW) drafted revisions to Rule 3745-81-27 and the laboratory certification rules found in Chapter 3745-89 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). The proposed amendments are a result of the five year rule requirements set forth in Section 106.03 of the Revised Code.

 

Revisions to these rules include the include the addition, removal and clarification of the definitions; addition of exceptions to lab certification requirements; incorporation of Ohio EPA lab manuals (microbiological and chemical) as rules by reference; addition of detailed renewal fee information; addition of requirements for annual review of quality assurance plan; inclusion of MMO-MUG (SM 9223) tests and interim authorization for this testing; addition of situations when the director may deny, suspend or revoke a laboratory certification; addition of requirements for out of state laboratories; addition of requirements for documentation; and, simplification of proficiency testing requirements. Proposed revisions to  Rule  3745-81-27 include the addition of specifics for approved analytical methods for microbiological analyses to provide emphasis as well as prepare for the upcoming revised total coliform rule changes. Rule 3745-89-11 is being rescinded and replaced as new due to the amount of changes in information for certified laboratories that do testing for the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule.

 

A public hearing pursuant to §106.03 of the Ohio Revised Code will be conducted on February 11, 2015, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Conference Room B at the Ohio EPA, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Columbus, Ohio. All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and give their written or oral comments on this proposed rulemaking.  A presiding officer will be present until all interested persons have been heard.

 

To facilitate scheduling of oral presentations, persons intending to give testimony at the hearing should ensure that Ohio EPA receives notice of such intent by February 10, 2015, 5:00 p.m. Persons who provide Ohio EPA with prior notice will be heard ahead of persons who register at the hearing. All visitors to Ohio EPA must register at the Security desk in the lobby upon arrival. Please bring photo identification (such as a valid driver's license). For security reasons, visitors are required to wear their badge at all times while in the building. Please arrive early to complete these procedures. To provide notice of intent to give oral comments at the public hearing, contact Julie Spangler by mail at Ohio EPA, DDAGW, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Suite 700, Columbus, Ohio 43215, or by phone at [phone].

 

In order to ensure that written comments are considered as part of the official record of this hearing, written comments must be received by Ohio EPA by the close of business February 11, 2015. Written comments on the proposed rules may be given to the presiding officer during the hearing, sent by mail to Julie Spangler at the address above, or sent by email to the following address [e-mail].

 

 

 

 

 

To obtain a copy of the proposed rules, contact Julie Spangler at Ohio EPA at [phone] or email at [e-mail]. Please request the "proposed revisions to laboratory certification rules" and be sure to include your name, telephone number, and complete mailing address. There is no charge for proposed rules. The proposed rules will be available on the Agency web page until their adoption or withdrawal. They can be found at  http://epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/rules.aspx on the "Proposed Rules" tab.

Comments can be submitted in hard copy to the following address: "Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, P.O. Box 1049, Lazarus Government Center, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049, Attn: Julie Spangler" or by email to  [e-mail]. Comments should be received at the above address by close of business, February 11, 2015.