(1) The Washington state environmental laboratory accreditation program (WA ELAP) applies to laboratories which conduct tests for or prepare analytical data for submittal to any entity requiring the use of an accredited laboratory. This includes laboratories that analyze drinking water.
(2) Accreditation in itself does not authorize use of a specific method for any specific program or project. If such authorization is not granted in documentation governing a program or project within which samples are being analyzed, authorization should be obtained from the laboratory's data user.
(3) Accreditation does not guarantee validity of analytical data submitted by the accredited laboratory but rather assures that the laboratory has demonstrated its capability to reliably generate and report the analytical data (WAC
173-50-040, definition of "accreditation").
[Statutory Authority: RCW
43.21A.230,
43.20.050 and 2009 c 564 § 301. WSR 10-17-032 (Order 09-09), § 173-50-020, filed 8/9/10, effective 9/9/10. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.21A.230. WSR 02-20-090 (Order 01-12), § 173-50-020, filed 10/1/02, effective 11/1/02; WSR 89-10-001 and 90-07-017 (Order 89-1 and 89-1A), § 173-50-020, filed 4/20/89 and 3/13/90, effective 4/13/90.]