(1) Fees in this chapter are in U.S. dollars and are established to cover costs of administering the WA ELAP. The department shall assess fees for each parameter or method within each matrix, except as noted in subsection (3) of this section. Laboratories are charged using the fee structure of the fiscal year covering the effective date the department issues a determination on a laboratory's accreditation application, renewal of its accreditation, or a revision of a laboratory's scope of accreditation. The fee schedule per parameter or method for each category are identified in:
(a) Table 1 - Fee schedule through June 30, 2024.
(b) Table 2 - Fee schedule from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
(c) Table 3 - Fee schedule from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
(2) Examples of parameters or methods for each category are published in the procedural manual. Accreditation may be requested for parameters in addition to those listed in the procedural manual.
(3) When a fee is assessed for a specific drinking water parameter or method, the laboratory may be accredited for the same parameter or method in nonpotable water without paying an additional fee.
Table 1 - Fee Schedule through June 30, 2024
Category | Fee Per Parameter | Fee Per Method | Max Fee Per Category |
General Chemistry | $80 | - | $1,600 |
Trace Metals | - | $400 | - |
Organics I | - | $200 | - |
Organics II | - | $500 | - |
Microbiology | $200 | - | - |
Radiochemistry | $250 | - | - |
Bioassay | $300 | - | $3,000 |
Immunoassay | $80 | - | - |
Physical | $80 | - | - |
Table 2 - Fee Schedule from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025
Category | Fee Per Parameter | Per Parameter Addition Fee | Fee Per Method |
General Chemistry | $150 | - | - |
Trace Metals | - | $30 | $745 |
Organics I | - | $15 | $375 |
Organics II | - | $35 | $930 |
Microbiology | $375 | - | - |
Radiochemistry | $555 | - | - |
Bioassay | - | $15 | $375 |
Immunoassay | $150 | - | - |
Physical | $150 | - | - |
Table 3 - Fee Schedule from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026
Category | Fee Per Parameter | Per Parameter Addition Fee | Fee Per Method |
General Chemistry | $220 | - | - |
Trace Metals | - | $55 | $1,085 |
Organics I | - | $30 | $545 |
Organics II | - | $70 | $1,355 |
Microbiology | $545 | - | - |
Radiochemistry | $680 | - | - |
Bioassay | - | $25 | $445 |
Immunoassay | $220 | - | - |
Physical | $220 | - | - |
(4) Starting July 1, 2026, Equation 1 below will be used to calculate the fees:
Equation 1
Where: | | |
Fee1 | = | The current fiscal year fees for each category. |
Fee2 | = | The fee for each category for the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which Fee1 was in effect, rounded up to the nearest whole $5 increment. The updated fee table is then posted on the department's website. |
FGF | = | An annual fiscal growth factor expressed as a percentage, as determined under chapter 43.135 RCW. |
(a) Fiscal year begins July 1st and ends June 30th of the following calendar year. For example, fiscal year 2027 is July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
(b) Ecology will provide annual notice of the next fiscal year's fees by March 31st.
(5) The minimum fee for accreditation, either direct or through recognition of a third-party accreditation, is $500.
(6) In addition to paying the fee indicated in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or as updated by Equation 1: Out-of-state laboratories must pay the department for the actual cost of travel associated with on-site audits. The department invoices the laboratory for such costs after completion of the on-site audit.
(7) For laboratories that have not been accredited for any parameter by the department in the previous 12 months, the laboratory must pay a processing fee of $300 before:
(a) Its quality assurance manual and applicable SOPs are reviewed by the department;
(b) The audit is conducted if applicable; and
(c) Interim, provisional, or full accreditation is granted.
The application fee is not refundable.
(8) Once accreditation is granted the laboratory will be invoiced annually by the department for the requested parameters.
(9) When a laboratory applies for renewal of their accreditation, an application fee is not required. The applicable accreditation fees per Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or as updated by Equation 1 do not need to be payed prior to processing of the application.
(10) The fee for recognition of a third-party accreditation (WAC
173-50-170) is three-fourths (75 percent) of the fee indicated in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or as updated by Equation 1.
(11) If a laboratory requests to add or reinstate a parameter to an existing method on their scope of accreditation outside of their initial application or renewal process, the laboratory will be invoiced a fee based on the type and number of requested parameters according to the "Per Parameter Addition Fee" column of Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or as updated by Equation 1.
(12) If a laboratory withdraws from the accreditation process after the audit has been completed, the department may retain the entire fee including reimbursement of travel costs if applicable.
(13) Accreditation fees are waived for laboratories operated by the Washington state departments of ecology and health. Accreditation fees are also waived for drinking water parameters certified by EPA Region 10 at designated principal laboratories.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
43.21A.230. WSR 23-18-059 (Order 22-07), § 173-50-190, filed 9/1/23, effective 10/2/23. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.21A.230,
43.20.050 and 2009 c 564 § 301. WSR 10-17-032 (Order 09-09), § 173-50-190, filed 8/9/10, effective 9/9/10. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.21A.230. WSR 02-20-090 (Order 01-12), § 173-50-190, filed 10/1/02, effective 11/1/02; WSR 93-20-011 (Order 92-53), § 173-50-190, filed 9/22/93, effective 10/23/93; WSR 90-21-090 (Order 90-21), § 173-50-190, filed 10/19/90, effective 11/19/90; WSR 89-10-001 and 90-07-017 (Order 89-1 and 89-1A), § 173-50-190, filed 4/20/89 and 3/13/90, effective 4/13/90.]