Vermont Business Magazine A Williston drinking water-testing laboratory is contesting allegations made by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that its methodology did not meet requirements and will be filing an appeal with the DEP. The DEP on Monday suspended the accreditation of Analytical Services, Inc. The notice was made public March 29. DEP accredited the laboratory in March 2015 to provide analysis of drinking water supplies for cryptosporidium, giardia, and E. coli. Over the past year, 15 Pennsylvania public water systems in Pennsylvania used Analytical Services to conduct raw source water sampling as part of a routine assessment for only those contaminants. ASI does microbiological testing, consulting and research.
As a result of the suspension, the DEP notice said Analytical Services will no longer be allowed to conduct tests to demonstrate compliance with water quality regulations for public drinking water suppliers in Pennsylvania. The suspension is the result of an investigation by DEP.
"We do not tolerate any violations, especially when it comes to safeguarding public health," said DEP Secretary John Quigley said in a statement. "Our staff investigation revealed major violations of the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Act, and therefore, Analytical Services may not continue to perform testing or analysis on environmental samples for Pennsylvania facilities."
In addition to the suspension of accreditation, DEP issued a Notice of Violation to Analytical Services for violating multiple requirements of the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Act. During the data audit and evaluation, DEP found that:
- Analytical Services' laboratory supervisor and laboratory management failed to ensure the accuracy of the analytical data generated and reported; and
- Analytical Services' laboratory analysts failed to meet the test method requirements for the testing and analysis of microbiology drinking water samples.
ASI President Brad Eldred on Wednesday sent a statement to Vermont Business Magazine saying: "On 3/28/16, Analytical Services, Inc (ASI) unexpectedly received notification from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) of suspension of ASI’s accreditation for providing analysis of drinking water supplies for Giardia, Cryptosporidium and E. coli. The suspension was based on PA DEP's submission of unknown check samples to ASI and a data audit.
"ASI has reviewed PA-DEP's allegations regarding deficiencies identified in its data audit and believes that the alleged violations are without merit. ASI has requested further information from PA-DEP that would provide the factual/scientific basis for the alleged violations related to the check samples including identification of the samples involved, PA DEP's spiking protocols and the associated Quality Assurance/Quality Control program information, the Certificate of Analysis for the spike dose, copies of the PA DEP laboratory reports, Chain of Custodies, etc, however ASI was informed by the PA DEP Laboratory Accreditation Program Chief that they “did not have the authority to release that information.” ASI is confident that upon receipt of the information, it will be able to defend its results.
"ASI respectfully disagrees with and is appealing PA-DEP’s decision. ASI will work diligently with PA-DEP to resolve any issues. In the interim, ASI has scheduled the New Hampshire ELAP to conduct an audit of its laboratory this week and ASI welcomes an audit from any client or any regulatory agency to alleviate any concerns.
"Please note: This action by PA-DEP affects utilities located in the state of Pennsylvania only; ASI’s Primary NELAP accreditation from NH-ELAP, Secondary NELAP Accreditation or Approval in other states, and registry on the USEPA Approved Lab List remain unchanged."
Pennsylvania regulations require that the lab provide written notification of its suspension to its Pennsylvaniaclients within three days. The suspension notice also requires the lab to supply a list of its Pennsylvania clients to DEP within the next five days. DEP said it is already taking the extra step of notifying those clients that it is aware of.
The DEP said all of these systems are currently in compliance with existing treatment technique requirements for filtration and disinfection. The raw source water cryptosporidium monitoring data that is being collected will be used to make future decisions about the need for additional levels of treatment.
Six other accredited commercial laboratories, all outside of Pennsylvania, provide testing for cryptosporidium. DEP's Laboratory Accreditation Program evaluates and accredits environmental laboratories in accordance with state and federal regulations to protect the environment and ensure public health, safety and welfare. Labs performing testing on environmental samples for compliance with a statute administered by DEP must be registered with or accredited by DEP.
ASI:
Analytical Services, Inc (ASI, located in Williston, VT) is nationally recognized as an expert laboratory for protozoa analysis. Accordingly, we have been involved in numerous USEPA-sponsored protozoa research projects, including the USEPA’s multi-laboratory validations of EPA Method 1623.1 (2012), Method 1623 (1999) and Method 1622 (1998). ASI has analyzed more than 30,000 samples for the detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia using EPA approved methods over the last 20 years. ASI has maintained approved status since the inception of the USEPA’s Laboratory Approval Program and is accredited under the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP/TNI), with Primary Accreditation through the New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) and the State of Florida Department of Health. We have been granted Secondary NELAP Accreditation or Approval to perform Cryptosporidium analysis in more than 25 states.
Source: HARRISBURG, Pa., March 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. ASI, 3.30.2016