EPA Renews Wastewater Lab Paperwork Again
Published Date: 5/21/2026
Notice
Summary
The EPA wants to keep checking how well wastewater labs do their tests by renewing a paperwork request that helps them gather info. This affects labs that test water and anyone interested can share their thoughts by July 20, 2026. The renewal keeps things running smoothly without extra costs or big changes, just more time to keep the quality high.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory DMR-QA Participation for Permit Holders
If you are a Major National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holder, you must participate in the Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) study program every year. Selected Minor permit holders must participate when chosen by the State or EPA DMR-QA coordinator.
Estimated Time and Money Burden on Labs
EPA estimates 5,500 respondents will spend a total of 36,300 hours per year complying with the DMR-QA ICR, at a total cost of $6,241,180 per year, which includes $3,995,365 in annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs. The ICR renewal keeps the same estimated burden hours but notes the estimated cost has increased because of higher labor and non-labor costs and inflation.
Administrative Duties: PT Samples and Corrective Actions
Permit holders are responsible for ensuring in-house or contract labs analyze proficiency test (PT) samples, submit results to PT providers for grading, and transmit graded results to the appropriate federal or state NPDES permitting authority. Permit holders must also submit corrective action reports to the permitting authority when required.
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