Appalachia

We have to stop taking for granted that just because water samples have been lab-tested that our waters are safe. With the fracking boom more and more of these labs are grasping for the testing jobs required by the energy companies. Here's another case from PA from 2013:

http://triblive.com/business/headlines/4771394-74/company-dep-lab#axzz3HRSAuhAu
Ross water-testing company loses accreditation over missteps
By Timothy Puko
Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013

A local commercial laboratory company agreed to pay a $60,000 fine and give up state accreditation of one of its labs because the Department of Environmental Protection found 50 violations during an April inspection, department officials said on Wednesday.

Microbac Laboratories Inc. had poor quality control at its lab in Baltimore, where it mismanaged how long it held samples and how it double-checked the work of low-level staff, the DEP said. The lab served clients across Pennsylvania testing drinking water, non-drinking water, soils and chemicals, department spokeswoman Lisa Kasianowitz said.

Kasianowitz said she did not know whether there was any risk to the public from problems with drinking water tests. She did not know whose drinking water was tested by the lab and said the company was conducting an audit to determine which tests were affected...

In recent years, the company has been trying to generate more business from the shale gas boom, soliciting landowners to get well water tested, Arnowitt said. It was named as a defendant in a major gas drilling lawsuit last year in Washington County....

Read more: http://triblive.com/business/headlines/4771394-74/company-dep-lab#ixzz3HRTXvy00
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