Independent Peer Review Praises Pennsylvania DEP's Bureau of Laboratories
HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Environmental Protection announced today that an independent peer review of its laboratory found the facility, its staff and its practices to be of high quality and efficiency. The Harrisburg-based lab provides analytical support for the department's various programs.
"DEP continues to make decisions and operate based on facts and sound science," DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. "This peer review is further confirmation of what we already knew: this department and its staff are operating at a world-class level and that the procedures and methodologies of our lab, which supports our staff in making decisions, are of the highest quality."
The peer review was conducted by the Association of Public Health Laboratories, an independent, non-profit organization that reviews public laboratories and makes recommendations to improve organizational structure and scientific practices. DEP requested the independent evaluation to provide a review of the efficiency and best-management practices being used in the agency's laboratory.
The peer review examined DEP's laboratory staff organization, workload structure, sample transportation practices, equipment and instrumentation. The association found the lab to be "well-managed, efficient and highly functional," capable of meeting the varied needs of a statewide regulatory agency.
DEP's laboratory is accredited by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program.
For more information and to obtain a copy of the report, call 717-346-7200 or visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click on "Regional Resources," then "Labs."
Media contact: Kevin Sunday, 717-787-1323
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
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