Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 100-199 - Environmental Protection General
Chapter NR 149 - Laboratory Accreditation
Subchapter II - Program Administration
Section NR 149.10 - Enforcement

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 149.10

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. A laboratory's accreditation is valid until it expires, is suspended, or is revoked. If, after opportunity for a contested case hearing, the department finds that an accredited laboratory materially and consistently failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the department may suspend or revoke a laboratory's accreditation in whole or in part by matrix, analytical technology, method, analyte, or analyte group. Contested case hearings for out-of-state laboratories regulated under this chapter shall be held in Madison, Wisconsin.

(2) SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF CERTIFIED LABORATORIES.

(a) Causes for suspension of certification include any of the following:
1. Material and consistent failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

2. Reporting data to the department after a laboratory is deemed temporarily incapable of performing analysis in any matrix, analytical technology, method, analyte, or analyte group.

3. Suspension of certification, accreditation, license, or approval by another state or agency of the federal government for which the laboratory holds certification if the grounds for suspension are substantially equivalent to any of those listed in this paragraph.

(b) Causes for revocation of certification include any of the following:
1. Material and consistent failure to maintain records as required in this chapter.

2. Failure to allow the department to perform on-site evaluations as specified in subch. VI.

3. Material and consistent failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

4. Material and consistent failure to submit requested records to the department.

5. Material and consistent failure to follow specified procedural or quality control requirements prescribed in methods.

6. Falsification of analytical results, testing dates, or any other information submitted to the department by the laboratory. Falsification includes alteration or modification of a certificate.

7. Failure of two consecutive PT samples for any method and analyte or analyte group combination for laboratories holding certification in the drinking water matrix.

8. Revocation of certification, registration, accreditation, license, or approval by another state or agency of the federal government for which the laboratory holds certification if the grounds for revocation are substantially equivalent to any of those listed in this paragraph.

(3) REVOCATION OF REGISTERED LABORATORIES. Causes for revocation of registration include any of the following:

(a) Material and consistent failure to maintain records as required in this chapter.

(b) Failure to allow the department to perform on-site evaluations as specified in subch. VI.

(c) Material and consistent failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(d) Material and consistent failure to submit requested records to the department.

(e) Material and consistent failure to follow specified procedural or quality control requirements prescribed in approved methods.

(f) Falsification of analytical results, testing dates, or any other information submitted to the department by the laboratory. Falsification includes alteration or modification of a certificate.

(4) PROCEDURE FOR SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF ACCREDITATION.

(a) An order suspending or revoking accreditation shall be mailed to the laboratory and shall state the reasons for suspension or revocation. The order shall include the conditions under which reapplication will be accepted. For orders suspending accreditation, the order may include a timetable for correcting the deficiencies that led to the suspension. For orders revoking accreditation, the department may set a time for the revocation.

(b) An order suspending or revoking an accreditation shall take effect on the 30th day after the order is mailed unless the owner of an accredited laboratory submits a petition for a hearing. Petitions for a hearing shall be submitted to the department within 30 days of receiving the order. The petition for hearing shall specify the findings or conclusions, or both, that the laboratory disputes and conform to the requirements of s. NR 2.05(5).

(c) If a request for a hearing is submitted and meets the requirements of s. 227.42, Stats., the suspension or revocation shall be stayed, and the department shall conduct a contested case hearing on the matter. At least ten days prior to the date of the hearing, the department shall send a written notice to the laboratory indicating the date, time, and location of the hearing. The final determination of the department, including the basis for the decision, shall be provided by written order to the laboratory after the hearing.

Note: Refer to ch. NR 2 for additional information on the contested hearing process.

(d) The final determination of the department is subject to review under ch. 227, Stats.

(5) REAPPLICATION FOLLOWING SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION.

(a) A laboratory that has had its accreditation suspended may reapply for accreditation if all the following are met:
1. The deficiencies that led to the suspension have been corrected in accordance with the timetable contained in the order.

2. Any conditions for reapplication specified in the order have been met.

(b) A laboratory that has had its accreditation revoked may reapply for accreditation if all of the following have been met:
1. The deficiencies that led to the revocation have been corrected.

2. Conditions contained in the order have been satisfied.

3. The time for which the revocation is in effect has expired.

(c) Laboratories reapplying for accreditation following suspension or revocation shall submit an initial application as identified in s. NR 149.14(1) and (2).

(6) REFERRAL.

(a) Any violation of this chapter may be referred to the attorney general's office for enforcement under ss. 299.95 and 299.97, Stats.

(b) Any laboratory operating without proper accreditation for which analysis results are submitted to the department for compliance monitoring or for analyses that require certification or registration under any covered program may be referred by the department to the attorney general's office for enforcement.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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