The department operates under a Quality Management Plan (QMP) when collecting or overseeing the collection of environmental sampling data. The QMP provides the overall framework for guiding the department’s production and procurement of quality data. It describes the management policies, objectives, principals, organizational authority, responsibilities, accountability and implementation plan for ensuring quality environmental data. This QMP was prepared according to EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans (QA/R-2) and approved by EPA Region 7. The QMP covers all intramural and extramural monitoring and measurement activities. Intramural activities include work performed by the department for its own use. Extramural activities include work performed by contractors, consultants and, in some cases, the regulated community that will be reviewed and used by the department.
The QMP requires that any subgrantees, contractors or the regulated community who produce environmental data, to use the data quality objectives process and document the output in a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). EPA guidance for using the data quality objectives process is provided in Guidance on Systematic Planning Using the Data Quality Objectives Process (QA/G-4). QAPPs describe in comprehensive detail how quality assurance and quality control are applied to an environmental data operation to assure the results obtained are sufficient to support a decision. QAPPs must be developed using the EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans (QA/R-5).
QAPPs are used for data collection across the department, including water and air monitoring and site specific work at Superfund and Brownfields sites. Below is information about QAPPs as related to Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program assessment and cleanup activities.
Brownfields Quality Assurance Project Plan Templates
The department developed two QAPP templates for use by contractors conducting Brownfields Assessments:
- Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan for Brownfields Assessments
- Site-Specific Quality Assurance Project Plan Addendum (SSQA) for Brownfields Assessments
The department also developed two QAPP templates for use by consultants and the regulated community at sites participating in the Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program.
- Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan for Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program Sites
- Site-Specific Quality Assurance Project Plan Addendum (SSQA) for Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program Sites
The contractor or consultant signs the applicable generic QAPP and submits it with the site-specific work plan. The work plan specifies all details regarding site activities and references the generic QAPP. Activities that may be conducted under the generic QAPP, with department oversight, include Phase I or Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, site characterization, remedial action and risk management.
If the contractor or consultant wants or needs to deviate from the generic QAPP, the applicable SSQA form may be submitted. The department will review, and if acceptable, approve and sign the SSQA.