SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5590

BYSenators Kreidler, Talmadge, Rinehart, Bluechel and Lee; by request of Puget Sound Water Quality Authority

Authorizing the department of ecology to certify testing laboratories for department submittals.

Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 16, 1987

Senate Staff:Rick Anderson (786-7717)

AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Many federal, state, and local laws require laboratory tests to enable monitoring and ensure compliance.  The Clean Water Act, for example, requires routine testing of wastewater discharges from municipal and industrial sources.  Several programs proposed by the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority will also require laboratory testing.

Procedures for the collection and analysis of laboratory samples are not currently standardized.  Lack of procedural uniformity makes test results from different laboratories difficult to compare.  As a result, the usefulness of laboratory tests are impaired.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Ecology will develop a program to certify laboratories which conduct tests or prepare data for the Department.

Fiscal Note:      requested