LabCert Program

Program Information

Water Testing

Program Contacts

Administrative Rules

Application Process

Proficiency Testing (PT)

Outreach

Science Services

LabCert Program Contacts - Program Organization

The Wisconsin DNR is divided into five regions aligned geographically throught out the state. Each region has a Regional Main Office, and several satellite (area) offices and service centers. The Central Office coordinates the program among the Regional Offices and deals with state-wide issues. All applicatons for certification or registration must be filed with the Central Office.

Laboratory Certification Standards Review Council

This council is a nine member advisory body to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Laboratory Certification and Registration program. Council members represent a diverse group of environmental interests throughout the state including municipal, industrial, and commercial laboratories. The statute authorizes the Council to provide input to the DNR on work planning, fees, budget issues and variance requests. The Council also makes recommendations to the department concerning the specification of test categories, reference samples, standards for certification and other administrative aspects of the program.

Which Auditor is Responsible for Your Laboratory?

Program audit responsibilities are divided between Central Office staff, in Madison WI, and the Regional staff situated in one of the DNR district headquarter offices. Regional staff predominantly evaluate laboratories seeking certification or registration in test categories 1 through 4 (BOD, TSS, phosphorus, ammonia, etc). Regional staff who have completed advanced training, including the EPA´s Safe Drinking Water Certification Officer training course, also evaluate full-scale commercial laboratories. Facilities falling under Regional jurisdiction are typically, small municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial laboratories. If your laboratory fits this description, please contact the appropriate regional certification officer for more information.

The Central Office staff evaluate laboratories predominantly evaluate commercial laboratories, but also evaluate smaller wastewater and industrial facilities located in the central and north central portion of the state.

In addition to performin onsite evaluations, LabCert program staff are responsible for the administrative functions of the program. These include:

  • Revising and updating Ch. NR 149, Wis. Adm. Code to keep abreast of changing federal and state regulations.
  • Advising the Department on changes needed in the Wisconsin Statutes.
  • Entering into and maintaining reciprocity agreements with other states.
  • Implementing recommendations from the Certification Standards Review Council.
  • Providing training and technical support to Regional certification officers.
  • Processing applications for certification, registration and reciprocity.
  • Tracking laboratory results on reference samples.
  • Coordinating the annual billing of certification fees for regulated facilities.
  • Generating initial, renewal and replacement certificates for regulated facilities.
  • Maintaining the computer database of certified and registered laboratories.
  • Maintaining the central files which contain applications, certificates, audit reports and correspondence for all laboratories.
  • Publishing the LabNotes newsletter and other informational items.
  • Assissting laboratories to stay in compliance by publishing guidance documents that interpret Department rules and analytical methods.
  • Providing technical support for laboratory data validation to other agency programs.
  • Providing opportunities for communication between laboratories and the Department through public meetings, training-type seminars and other outreach efforts.
  • Evaluating variance requests and emerging technology proposals.

Who to contact for specific information:

Last Revised: Wednesday May 28 2008