Data Quality Objectives and Quality Assurance Project

Transcription

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 Sample custody

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 data collection design for QAPP Guidelines for data collection effort to achieve objectives

6 DQOs: 7-Step Process 1. State problem 2. Identify decision (questions to answer and resulting actions) 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 a. Types and quantity of samples b. Where, when, conditions for sampling c. Variables to measure d. QA/QC procedures to meet DQOs

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 crosschannel 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, Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Central Mine Site Stamp Sand Remediation Project, Version 1; August 8, 2007, Michigan DEQ.

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/ µg/l 250 Plastic HNO 3 6 months copper TOC µg/l 250 Plastic H 2 SO 4 28 days Hardness Calculated 5 mg/l 250 Plastic 4 ºC 6 months Rathbun, Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Central Mine Site Stamp Sand Remediation Project, Version 1; August 8, 2007, Michigan DEQ.

10 Michigan Stamp Sands QAPP Summary of the Stream Morphology Measurements Morphology Measurement Pebble counts Locations (see Figure 2.1) Number of pebbles counted at each location Collection area Specifics Reaches at A, B, D, E, F, & Buffalo Creek 100 Wetted channel only; along 10 transects in each reach, stratified by prominent habitat type (riffle, run, pool) Pertinent metrics D 50 and D 84 Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI) Locations (see Figure 2.1) Pertinent metrics (Rathbun, 2007) At each transect at A, B, D, E, F, & Buffalo Creek Ratio of bank height to bankfull height; root depth; root density; overall surface protection; bank angle

11 IDEM 319 QAPP Manager Betty Ratcliff

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 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, 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 Covers each monitoring or measurement activity associated with a project Clear objectives Data needs

14 Quality Assurance Project Plan Answers questions: Who, What, When, Where, How, & Describe each. Documentation is the most important part of Quality Assurance Project Plan. Template, outline and document sites on NPS website. tml I can provide examples.

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) 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, 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 6. Calibration Procedures and Frequency IDEM, Guidelines for preparing quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) for section 319 projects.

17 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 10. Performance and Systems Audits IDEM, Guidelines for preparing quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) for section 319 projects.

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 precision 14. Quality Assurance Reports IDEM, Guidelines for preparing quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) for section 319 projects.

19 Schedule Submit plan 60 days before sampling. is the fastest way. Send final hard copy with signatures. I will return completed signature sheet plus approval letter to you. Amendment to QAPP is easy. note to me and include: changes, reason, & consequences to sampling objectives.

20 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. Address Out-Of-Control results with decision statements. (RPD, STDEV, Flags) Discuss how are you going to evaluate the results to meet sampling goals. *

21 References IDEM, Guidelines for preparing quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) for section 319 projects. Rathbun, Quality Assurance Project Rathbun, Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Central Mine Site Stamp Sand Remediation Project, Version 1; August 8, 2007, Michigan DEQ.