18990_Authority_Feb_2026

municipalauthorities.org │ 59 Government Relations Update continued from page 24. December 1, 2025 Environmental Quality Board P.O. Box 8477 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477 RegComments@pa.gov RE: WUC Comments on Proposed Rulemaking – #7-578 Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Fees (IRRC Number 3462) Dear Chair Shirley: The Pennsylvania-Section, American Water Works Association (PA-AWWA) consists of 1,600 + members representing all classes of water utilities in Pennsylvania, including those PUC regulated, authorities, and municipalities, plus regulators, vendors, contractors, engineers, and others dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of Pennsylvania by providing affordable drinking water of superior quality and sufficient quantity. The Water Utility Council of PA- AWWA (WUC) includes representatives from the National Association of Water Companies, Pennsylvania Chapter; Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association; Pennsylvania Rural Water Association; and Water Works Operators' Association of Pennsylvania. The WUC appreciates the opportunity to submit comments on Proposed Rulemaking – #7-578 Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Fees (IRRC Number 3462) . The environmental laboratory accreditation regulations in 25 Pa. Code Chapter 252 set the requirements that laboratories must meet to be accredited to perform testing for twelve Commonwealth environmental statutes. The Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Act (ELAA), 27 Pa.C.S. §§ 4101—4113, requires accreditation fees that are sufficient to pay the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) costs to administer the Program. However, by fiscal year (FY) 2026-2027, the current accreditation fees will not be sufficient to fund the Program and are estimated to be at least $370,000 less than the estimated costs. The purpose of the rulemaking is to increase the accreditation fees of the Program to ensure continual accreditation of laboratories to perform environmental testing that protects environmental and public health in Pennsylvania. According to DEP, the proposed rulemaking would increase the current Program accreditation fees by 27% (rounded to the nearest $50 increment) for an estimated total revenue increase of $460,000, based on the most recent accreditation applications. This proposed rulemaking would ensure that the increased fees will cover the costs of the Program and address the projected funding shortfall. The increase would also provide a small margin of safety in case laboratory accreditations decrease more than expected. i