IDNR Certification

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) certifies environmental laboratories throughout the United States for the drinking water, nonpotable water, solid waste and contaminated sites and underground storage tank environmental programs. The SHL provides technical support as the laboratory appraisal authority.

Certification in Iowa is a two-year fee-based system based upon the major analytical groups within each environmental program. When certified, the laboratory is certified for a specific method and for a specific analyte or analyte group. The program also provides the opportunity to become certified for a specific analyte group across multiple environmental programs. For example, a lab may acquire certification for IOCs within the wastewater, drinking water and contaminated sites programs at a reduced fee.

Maintaining Certification

To retain full certification, the laboratory must:

Report data to the department in the manner and frequency defined by the environmental program area: See Reporting Results To IDNR

Report only environmental data for the method and the analyte for which they are certified. Annually submit acceptable performance testing results on blind performance testing samples for all analytes.

Notify DNR of changes in essential personnel within 15 days. Notify DNR of major changes in equipment and facilities, or other changes that might alter analytical capability within 15 days.

Certification Renewal

Laboratory Certification is for a two-year period from the date of certification. One hundred-twenty days prior to that expiration date, the DNR will issue a an application package, based upon prior certification parameters. Sent by the Hygienic Lab, the application package and fees must be submitted to the DNR no later than 60 days prior to expiration of the certificate.

The applicant/laboratory is encouraged to contact the DNR Laboratory Certification Authority for all issues relating to the certification. The laboratory may contact the State Hygienic Laboratory appraisal officer and staff for technical questions. All applications forms, fees and documentation must be submitted to the DNR. The DNR forwards all pertinent information to SHL.

Applying for Certification

Laboratories wishing to become certified should contact the the DNR Laboratory Certification Authority directly. A complete application form s is sent to the laboratory. A complete application must include copies of all Proficiency Testing for each method analyte to be certified.

Once a completed application is received, it takes approximately 90 to 120 days to process and issue a certificate. Labs cannot begin reporting results to IDNR until the certificate has been issued. Any samples analyzed and/or reported before the date of certification will be rejected by the DNR and place the client at risk of receiving a monitoring violation.

Reciprocity

Reciprocal certification may be granted to non-resident laboratories for environmental analysis provided they meet the same criteria as resident laboratories.

Locating A Lab

For assistance in locating a lab, please contact Kathy Lee.