(a) (1) (A) (i) All consulting laboratories performing analyses for which results are to be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality shall obtain a laboratory accreditation under this subchapter.

(ii) An analyte, method, or matrix for which the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program does not provide accreditation shall be evaluated by the department for acceptance.

(B) The department, in its sole discretion, may refuse to accept results of analyses performed by a consulting laboratory that does not hold a laboratory accreditation under the program for the reason that the laboratory is not accredited.

(2) Accreditation for laboratories other than consulting laboratories shall not be mandatory.

(b) Applications for accreditation shall be made in the form and manner established by the department.

(c) Upon receipt of an application for accreditation, the department shall evaluate and act upon the application in accordance with the following procedures and criteria:

(1)

(A) The laboratory must successfully complete an evaluation.

(B) The department shall establish evaluation criteria on proper analytical techniques, quality assurance, recordkeeping, and reporting methods and procedures and facilities, equipment, and personnel requirements; and

(2) The laboratory must submit to the department acceptable results from its analysis of proficiency test samples for the specific analytes, methods, and matrices selected for accreditation.

(d) Upon completion of the laboratory evaluation and the review of the proficiency test sample results, the department shall notify the laboratory of its determination to award or deny accreditation.

(e)

(1) If the adequacy of the laboratory's capability and its recordkeeping have been sufficiently established to the satisfaction of the department, a certificate will be issued to the laboratory for the evaluated categories of analytes, methods, and matrices.

(2) If accreditation is denied, the department shall set forth, in writing, the reasons for denial.