United Slates
                                                                                                     Environmental Protection
                                                                                                     Agency          f
                                                                         9355.9-03
                                                                         PB94-963207
                                                                         FPA 5n-F-P3-
                                                                                                                     November 1993
                                                                                                     Superfund
What are DQOs?

DQOs are qualitative and quantitative state-
ments derived from the outputs of each step
of the DQO Process that:
(1) Clarify the study objective;
(2) Define the most appropriate type of data
   to collect;
(3) Determine the most appropriate condi-
   tions from which to collect the data; and
(4) Specify acceptable levels of decision
   errors that will be used as the basis for
   establishing the quantity and quality of
   data needed to support the decision.
The DQOs are then used to develop a scien-
tific and resource-effective sampling design.
What is the Data Quality Objective
Process?

The DQO Process is a scientific and legally
defensible data collection planning process to
help users decide what type, quality, and
quantity of data  will be sufficient for envi-
ronmental decision making.
How does the DQO Process address
early and time-critical sampling
activities?

The DQO Process should be used to plan all
significant Superfund field investigations,
regardless of the sampling objectives. For
early and time-critical decisions, a less rigor-
ous approach to DQO development is consis-
tent with Superfund policy on accelerated
response activities.
Where can more information about
the Superfund DQO guidance, the
DQO process, and QA training be
found?

For more information on Superfund DQO
guidance contact Duane Geuder, QA Manager
for the Office of Emergency and Remedial
Response (OERR) at 703-603-8891.  EPA
provides quarterly DQO and DQA training
and quality assurance workshops at the EPA
Institute (202-260-3297). The training courses
are a series of presentations and exercises that
engage the audience in actual DQO develop-
ment and DQA activities.
EPA  Data Quality
         Objectives
         Process for
         Superfund
        DQO
            DQO
                DQO
                   DQC
                       DQi
                          DC
How does the DQO Process fit into
integrated site assessment?

By emphasizing the need to place limits on
the probability of taking incorrect actions, the
DQO Process complements the integrated site
assessment objective of evaluating the need
for action. The DQO Process places a worth-
while investment in planning, which results in
timely and efficient cleanups.
Copies of the DQO Fact Sheet and related
Superfund DQO documents can be obtained
from:
      National Technical Information
      Service (NTIS) 703-487-4650
Interim Final Guidance	PB94-963203

Workbook	PB94-963204

Fact Sheet	PB94-963205

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                  1
State the Problem
                   Purpose
                   Summarize the contamination problem that
                   will require new environmental data, and
                   identify the resources available to resolve
                   the problem.


                   •  Identify members of the scoping team.
                   •  Develop/refine the conceptual site
                     model.

                   •  Define the exposure scenarios.

                   •  Specify available resources.

                   •  Write a brief summary of the
                     contamination problem.
£    Identify the Decision
Purpose
Identify the decision that requires new
environmental data to address the contami-
nation problem.
   Identify the key decision for the current
   phase or stage of the project.
   Identify alternative actions that maybe
   taken based on the findings of the field
   investigation.

   Identify relationships between this
   decision and any other current or
   subsequent decisions.
        3        Identify Inputs
        Purpose
        Identify the information needed to support
        the decision, and specify which inputs
        require new environmental measurements.
           Identify the informational inputs needed
           to resolve the decision.
           Identify sources for each informational
           input, and list those inputs that are
           obtained through environmental
           measurements.
           Define the basis for establishing
           contaminant-specific action levels.
           Identify potential sampling approaches
           and appropriate analytical methods.
                                          The Data Quality Objectives
                                                        Process
                                                     1. State the Problem
                                                             *
                                                   2. Identify the Decision
                                               3. Identify Inputs to the Decision
                                                4. Define the Study Boundaries
                                                             *
                                                  5. Develop a Decision Rule
                                                             *
                                              6. Specify Limits on Decision Errors

                                                            **
                                           7. Optimize the Design for Obtaining Data
                                          Sampling and Analysis Plan
                                                    Development
                                                   Implementation
                                            Data Quality Assessment
                            Define Boundaries
               5  Develop a Decision Rule
                Develop a logical "if...then..." statement that
                defines the conditions that would cause the
                decision maker to choose among the
                alternative actions.
                  Specify the parameter of interest (such as
                  mean, median, or proportion).
                  Specify the preliminary action level for
                  the decision.
                  Combine the outputs of the previous
                  DQO steps into an "if...then..." decision
                  rule that includes the parameter of
                  interest, the action level, and the
                  alternative actions.    	
                     Purpose
                     Specify the spatial and temporal aspects of
                     the environmental media that the data must
                     represent to support the decision.


                     •  Define the geographic areas of the field
                        investigation.
                     •  Specify the characteristics that define the
                        population of interest.

                     •  Divide the population into strata having
                        'relatively homogeneous characteristics.

                     •  Define the scale of decision making. •

                     •  Determine the time frame to which the
                        decision applies.

                     •  Determine when to collect samples.
                     •  Identify practical constraints that may
                        hinder sample collection (reconsider
                        previous steps as necessary).
                                                                                 Optimize the Design
Identify the most resource-effective sampling
and analysis design for generating data that
are expected to satisfy the DQOs.
   Review the DQO outputs and existing
   environmental data.             '

   Develop general sampling and analysis
   design alternatives.

   For each design alternative, verify that
   the DQOs are satisfied.

   Select the most resource-effective design
   that satisfies all of the DQOs.

   Document the operational details and
   theoretical assumptions of the selected
   design in the Sampling andAnalysis
   Plan.
        Specify Limits on
         Decision  Errors
Purpose
Specify the decision maker's acceptable
limits on decision errors, which are used to
establish appropriate performance goals for
limiting uncertainty in the data.

Activities
•  Determine the range of contaminant
   levelsthatmaybe encountered a t the
   site.
•  Define both types of decision errors and
   identify the potential consequences of
   each.
•  Specify a range of contaminant levels
   over which the consequences of decision
   errors are relatively minor (the gray
   region).
   Assign acceptable limits on decision
   errors above and below the gray region.
   Check for consistency.

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