905R91110
              UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                               REGION 5
                          230 SOUTH DEARBORN ST.
                         CHICAGO, ILLINOIS  60604
                                                    REPLY TO ATTENTION OF:
                                                    5WG-TUB-8


August 30, 1991


MEMORANDUM

Subject:   Ground  Water Quality Variability Related  to Sampling
          Frequency  (Journal  Article of EPA Research Project)
   From:  Glenn Wittman
          Senior Hydrogeologist,  Ground Water Protection Branch

     To:  Addressees
I came across the enclosed journal article (EPA 600/J-89/022) while
doing  a  library search for  references dealing with  ground water
monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs). Barcelona, the
primary author,  has  published a number of things on  ground water
monitoring  and sampling  protocol  including the  EPA  publication,
"Practical Guide for Ground Water Sampling" (EPA 600/2-85/104).  I
found  the article noteworthy,  particularly  the conclusion that
background quality sampling frequencies higher than monthly  (or in
some cases even bi-monthly) may not yield significant increases in
"information"  (in a  statistical sense).

Please share this article with your peers.  I have also attached a
"short but sweet" list of current  EPA ground water monitoring and
sampling  publications  which  our  branch provides   in  reply  to
inquiries from the public.

Feel free to give me a call  if you want  to  share some of your own
technical tidbits.  My number is FTS/886-1503.

Enclosures  (2)

Addressees

Doug Heath, Region 1           Pat Costello,  Region 7
Maureen Krudner, Region 2      Mike Wireman,  Region 8
Fred Sturniolo, Region 3       Steve  Ihnen,  Region 9
Stallings Howell, Region  4     Jonathan  Williams,  Region 10
Clay Chesney, Region 6
                                                          Printed on Recycled Paper

-------
V
    I
         bcc:  Jerri Garl

              GWPB staff
         GW#5:SAMPLING.MEM-8/30/91

-------
       EPA GROUND WATER MONITORING & SAMPLING PUBLICATIONS
*  1981, Manual of Ground Water Sampling Procedures,
         National Water Well Association (NWWA), Dublin OH,
         614/761-1711, $15; or National Technical Information
         Service (NTIS), Springfield VA, 800/553-NTIS, PB 82-
         103045, $23.


*  1985, Practical Guide for Ground Water Sampling/
         EPA 600/2-85/104, EPA-ORD publications, Cincinnati OH,
         513/569-7562, free; or NWWA, $22.50.


*  1986, RCRA Ground Water Monitoring: Technical Enforcement
         Guidance Document, OSWER 9950.1, NWWA, $18.75.


*  1987, Ground Water Handbook,
         EPA 625/6-87/016, EPA-ORD publications, Cincinnati OH,
         free.
*  1989, Handbook of Suggested Practices for the Design and
         Installation of Ground Water Monitoring Wells,
         EPA 600/4-89/034, EPA-ORD publications, Cincinnati OH,
         free.


*  1992?,Ground Water Handbook (revised), Volume II: Methodology,
         EPA 625/?-??/016b, EPA-ORD publications, Cincinnati OH,
         free.
5WG-8/91-GRD WTR.M&S

-------