Laboratory Services Division

1
Laboratory Services Division

• Organization
• Administrative Section
• General Chemistry Analytical Program
• Organic Chemistry Analytical Program
• Radiological Analytical Program
• Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
  Program

2
Programs

• General Chemistry Analytical Program
• Organic Chemistry Analytical Program
• Radiological Analytical Program
• Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
  Program

3
The LDEQ Analytical Laboratory Program

• Program Information The LDEQ Environmental
  Laboratory conducts environmental analysis of
  soil, sediment, sludges, liquid and air compounds
  and materials using both organic and inorganic
  methods and procedures. The laboratory uses the
  most modern and state-of-the-art analytical
  equipment. In addition, the Laboratory provides
  technical expertise to regional, local and other
  state agencies regarding environmental analytical
  test methods, analyses and processes.
• How the Program was created? The Water Laboratory
  was originally established as part of the Water
  Pollution Control Division of the LA Dept of
  Wildlife and Fisheries in the 1950s. The
  Division moved to DNR and was renamed the Office
  of Environmental Affairs which became LDEQ circa
  1984.

4
LDEQ Analytical Laboratory Program (cont.)

• Benefit of Program to Louisiana Citizens The
  LDEQ Environmental Laboratory is under the direct
  control of the Secretary. It is supervised by the
  Assistant Secretary - Office Environmental
  Assessment, and managed/directed by the
  Environmental Administrator. This virtually
  eliminates all external cost, reduces
  out-of-agency issues, minimizes all ancillary
  resource requirements, ensures near real time
  testing, and facilitates closer
  customer-to-provider coordination.
• Primary contact Melvin C. Mitchell
• Direct phone line 225-219-9881
• Other staff members involved with program
• Leonard Killmer, Env. Manager Organic
  Chemistry Program
• Donna Haydel, Env. Manager Inorganic/Metals
  Program
• Matt Schlenker, Env. Scientist Staff Radiation
  Monitoring
• Karen Varnado, Env. Scientist Supervisor LELAP
• DEQ Web address http//www.deq.louisiana.gov/lab
  oratory

5
LDEQ Analytical Laboratory Radiological
Analytical Program

• Program Information The LDEQ Environmental
  Laboratorys Radiological Analytical Section of
  the General Chemistry Unit is in charge of
  maintenance of radiological detection equipment
  for sample collection and laboratory
  instrumentation. The mission of the section is
  to provide radiological analysis for the
  Department of Environmental Quality. It also
  monitors three operating nuclear power plants.
  The plants include Waterford-3 Steam Electric
  Station, River Bend Station, and Grand Gulf
  Nuclear Station.
• How was the Program created? Promulgated in
  accordance with R.S. 302101 Citation known as
  the" Louisiana Nuclear Energy and Radiation
  Control Law. Acts 1979, No. 449, -1 effective
  Jan 1, 1980 and 2104 which provides the power and
  duties to conduct environmental radiation
  surveillance and monitoring
• throughout the state near nuclear
• production, utilization facilities, including
• those employing enhanced radioactive
• materials. Acts 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984,
• 1990 No. 245,.1, 1999 No. 303,.1.

6
LDEQ Analytical Laboratory Radiological
Analytical Program (cont.)

• Benefit of program to Louisiana citizens The
  Radiological staff routinely collect and deliver
  samples to the LDEQ lab for analysis. In
  addition, the laboratory staff, when necessary,
  performs special studies of potential
  radiologically contaminated property. One recent
  study, the Coastal Radiation Services site, was
  the largest civilian radiological cleanup in the
  history of Louisiana. This project took three
  years to complete.
• Primary contact Matt Schlenker
• Direct phone line 225-219-9883
• Other staff members involved with program
• Donna Haydel, Environmental Manager
• Ji Young Wiley, Environmental Scientist 3
• DEQ Web address http//www.deq.louisiana.gov/lab
  oratory or email address deqlaboratory_at_LA.GOV

7
Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
Program (LELAP)

• Program Information The LELAP
• Section is responsible for auditing more
• than 300 commercial analytical laboratories
• nationally. This Section evaluates currently
• approved or emerging and performance
• based analytical test methods. Program
• staff reviews laboratory practices and
• procedures from sample receipt through data
  reporting. The LELAP mission is to ensure the
  Department receives analytical data of known and
  documented quality.
• How was the program created House Bill 1726,
  approved June 1988, mandated establishment of a
  LA Lab Accreditation Program. House Bill 1517
  approved June 1995 amended LA DEQ to authorize
  promulgation of rules and regulations in
  accordance with R.S. 302011, thereby
  establishing a requirement for certification of
  commercial laboratories.

8
Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
Program (LELAP)(cont.)

• Benefit of Program to Louisiana citizens
  LELAPs accreditation efforts ensure the
  accuracy, precision, and reliability of data
  generated by commercial laboratories.
  Additionally, these efforts ensure maximum
  quality, validity and usability of resulting
  information. Thereby, protecting public safety,
  health and welfare and improving the environment.
  Assessed fees for individual accreditation of
  in-state Laboratories is one of the most
  inexpensive in the nation. This has proven to be
  an added incentive for many smaller labs to seek
  accreditation.
• Primary contact Karen Varnado
• Direct phone line 225-219-9879
• Other staff members involved with program
• Cindy Gagnon -- Environmental Scientist
  Assessor
• Traci Green Environmental Scientist Assessor
  
• Zach Smith Environmental Scientist Assessor
• Liz Kashefi Environmental Scientist Assessor
  
• Dr. David Boucher Environmental Scientist
  -Assessor
• Melvin Mitchell - Environmental Administrator
• DEQ Web address http//www.deq.louisiana.gov/lab
  oratory
• or email address deqlaboratory_at_LA.GOV