Data Quality Objectives and Quality Assurance Project

(1)

Data Quality Objectives

and

Quality Assurance Project

Plans

(2)

Quality assurance (QA)

•

Integrated system of management

procedures

and activities to verify that

the QC system is operating within

acceptable limits and to evaluate the

quality of data

•

Roles and responsibilities of staff

•

Training

(3)

Quality assurance (QA)

•

Data quality objectives, data validation,

laboratory audits

•

Statistics to determine number of

samples and sites

(4)

Quality control (QC)

•

System of technical procedures and

activities developed and implemented

to produce measurements of requisite

quality

•

Collection and analysis of blank,

duplicate, and spiked samples

•

Standard reference materials

•

Equipment inspection

(5)

Data quality objectives (DQOs)

•

Type, quantity, and quality of data

needed to meet project objectives

•

Hypotheses, experiments, and tests

•

Results include data quality criteria and

•

Results include data quality criteria and

data collection design for QAPP

•

Guidelines for data collection effort to

(6)

DQOs: 7-Step Process

1. State problem

2. Identify decision (questions to answer and resulting actions)

3. Identify inputs to the decision (info 3. Identify inputs to the decision (info needed and measurement methods)

4. Define the study boundaries (temporal and spatial)

5. Develop a decision rule (statistical parameter of interest; If…..then….)

(7)

DQOs: 7-Step Process

6. Specify limits on decision errors

(tolerable limits of making an incorrect decision; hypothesis, probability)

7. Optimize the design 7. Optimize the design

a. Types and quantity of samples

b. Where, when, conditions for sampling c. Variables to measure

(8)

Michigan Stamp Sands QAPP

DQOs for Measurement Accuracy of the Stream Geomorphic Measurements

Measurement Instrument Measurement Tolerance

Data Quality Objective

Elevation Laser level 0.01 ft. Survey closure = ± 0.02 ft.

Length Survey tape 0.1 ft. 0.1 ft. for cross-Length Survey tape 0.1 ft. 0.1 ft. for cross-channel transects Sediment grain

size (pebble count)

Ruler, calipers, and/or sand card

Larger than sand = 1 mm; sand = semi-quantitative

category on sand card

Not applicable

Rathbun, 2007. Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Central Mine Site

(9)

Michigan Stamp Sands QAPP

Details of the Chemical Analyses – Water Samples

Parameter Method Reporting Limit Sample Volume (mL) Bottle Type Preserva -tive Hold Time

Total 220.2/7211 1 µg/L 250 Plastic HNO₃ 6 months Total

copper

220.2/7211 1 µg/L 250 Plastic HNO₃ 6 months TOC 415.1 500 µg/L 250 Plastic H₂SO₄ 28 days Hardness Calculated 5 mg/L 250 Plastic 4 ºC 6 months

Rathbun, 2007. Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Central Mine Site

(10)

Michigan Stamp Sands QAPP

Summary of the Stream Morphology Measurements

Morphology Measurement Specifics

Pebble counts

Locations (see Figure 2.1) Reaches at A, B, D, E, F, & Buffalo Creek Number of pebbles counted at

each location

100 each location

Collection area Wetted channel only; along 10 transects in each reach, stratified by prominent habitat type (riffle, run, pool)

Pertinent metrics D₅₀ and D₈₄ Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI)

Locations (see Figure 2.1) At each transect at A, B, D, E, F, & Buffalo Creek

Pertinent metrics Ratio of bank height to bankfull height; root depth; root density; overall surface protection; bank angle

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IDEM 319 QAPP Manager

Betty Ratcliff [email protected] 317-234-2997 www.epa.gov/quality www.epa.gov/volunteer/qappcovr.htm http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook

(12)

QAPP

• _{A detailed document describing project objectives}

and specific procedures to generate data

• _{Required of projects using Section 319 or other}

federal funds to generate environmental data

• _{Project roadmap}

– _{Provides focus during the planning process} – _{Provides focus during the planning process} – _{Facilitates communication among staff}

– Provides a plan to help to ensure data quality

– Allows early discovery of data quality problems

– Begins preparation of final project report

IDEM, 2001. Guidelines for preparing quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) for section 319 projects.

(13)

QAPP

• Presents policies, organization, and

objectives of the data collection effort and

explains how particular QA and QC activities will be implemented to achieve the DQOs of the project

the project

• Covers each monitoring or measurement

activity associated with a project

• Clear objectives

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Quality Assurance Project Plan

• Answers questions:

• _{Who, What, When, Where, How, & Describe}

each.

• Documentation is the most important part of

Quality Assurance Project Plan. Quality Assurance Project Plan.

• Template, outline and document sites on NPS

website.

• http://www.in.gov/idem/programs/water/wsp/qapp.h tml

(15)

Indiana QAPP Outline

1. Study Description

a. Study goals

b. Sampling design

2. Study Organization and Responsibility 3. Data Quality Objectives

a. Precision (agreement among measurements) a. Precision (agreement among measurements) b. Accuracy (closeness to true value)

c. Completeness (% of planned data collected)

d. Representativeness (data reflect conditions monitored) e. Comparability (ability to compare project & other data)

IDEM, 2001. Guidelines for preparing quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) for section 319 projects.

(16)

Indiana QAPP Outline

4. Sampling Procedures

a. Map with sampling locations b. Sampling equipment

c. Sample types

d. Preservation and handling

5. Custody Procedures 5. Custody Procedures

6. Calibration Procedures and Frequency

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Indiana QAPP Outline

7. Analytical Procedures

a. Field and lab analytical methods

b. Sub-sampling and sample preparation

c. Performance range/detection limits for methods

8. Quality Control Procedures

9. Data Reduction, Review, and Reporting 9. Data Reduction, Review, and Reporting 10. Performance and Systems Audits

(18)

Indiana QAPP Outline

11. Preventative Maintenance 12. Data Quality Assessment

a. Procedures for determining if precision, accuracy, and completeness are met

13. Corrective Action

a. Procedures to correct any problems with accuracy and a. Procedures to correct any problems with accuracy and

precision

14. Quality Assurance Reports

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Schedule

• Submit plan 60 days before sampling.

• _{Email is the fastest way.}

• Send final hard copy with signatures.

• I will return completed signature

sheet plus approval letter to you. sheet plus approval letter to you.

• Amendment to QAPP is easy.

• _{Email note to me and include: changes,}

reason, & consequences to sampling objectives.

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What I Look For Now

• Address all topics listed in QAPP template.

• _{Submit data in ACCESS format.}

• Identify sampling goals and objectives.

• List methods, detection limits, spatial, & temporal parameters.

List methods, detection limits, spatial, & temporal parameters.

• Address Out-Of-Control results with decision

statements . (RPD, STDEV, Flags)

• Discuss how are you going to evaluate the

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References

IDEM, 2001. Guidelines for preparing

quality assurance project plans (QAPPs)

for section 319 projects.

Rathbun, 2007. Quality Assurance Project

Plan for the Central Mine Site Stamp

Sand Remediation Project

, Version 1;

August 8, 2007, Michigan DEQ.