UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.AGENCT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460'
SEP 30
OFF- ICE Of-
SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Directive No. 9355.9-02
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Superfund Data Quality Objectives: Fact Sheet, Interim
Final Guidance, and Workbook
FROM:
TO:
onse
Henry L. Longest II, Directorj
Office of EmergenCySand
Bruce M. Diamond,
Office of Waste
Director, Waste Management Division
Regions I, IV, V, VII
Director, Emergency and Remedial Response Division
Region II
Director, Hazardous Waste Management Division
Regions III, VI, VIII, IX
Director, Hazardous Waste Division
Region X
Director, Environmental Services Division
Regions I-X
Purpose
The purpose of this directive is to transmit to you pre-
publication copies of the following materials relating to
Superfund Data Quality Objectives (DQOs):
- Data Quality Objectives Process for Superfund; Fact
Sheet (Publication No. 9355.9-01FS)
- Data Quality Objectives Process for Superfund; Interim
Final Guidance (Publication No. 9355.9-01)
- Data Quality Objectives Process for Superfund; Workbook
(Publication No. 9355.OlA)
Effective immediately, the Interim Final Guidance on Data
Quality Objectives Process for Superfund is to be used to
implement new Superfund data collection activities, including
integrated site assessments under the Superfund AccelerattJ
Cleanup Model (SACM). As appropriate, the DQO process should be
integrated into on-going data collection activities.
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Backaround
In 1987, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(OSWER) published guidance on Data Quality Objectives for
Remedial Response Activities. Five years of Regional experiences
with implementing the data quality objectives (DQOs) process
indicated the need to update the guidance.
The updated DQO materials (attached) are a product of the
Superfund Data Quality Objectives Workgroup which was established
in 1992 and chaired by Esperanza Renard of the ORD Risk Reduction
Engineering Laboratory in Edison NJ. The DQO workgroup had
members from all Regions including remedial project managers
(RPMs), on-scene coordinators (OSCs), site assessment managers,
quality assurance managers, and toxicologists, as well as
representatives from OERR, OWPE, and the Office of Research and
Development. A list of the workgroup members, including your
Regional representatives, is attached.
Objective
The objective of this guidance is to provide integration of
Superfund quality assurance efforts in the planning and
collection of environmental data.
Implementation
Regional implementation of the Interim Final Guidance on
Data Quality Objectives Process for Superfund requires
involvement of the Regional Quality Assurance staff from the
early stages of scoping site work through data review and
validation. The Superfund Quality Assurance Standing Committee,
which is comprised of representatives from the OERR Divisions and
OWPE and which is chaired by Duane Geuder, the OERR Quality
Assurance Manager, is responsible for overseeing the
implementation of the DQO guidance. Duane Geuder and members of
the Standing Committee are available to consult with Regional
staff on DQO issues. In addition, the ORD Quality Assurance
Management Staff (QAMS) is available for assistance in
implementing DQOs, particularly for your demonstration sites.
Some contract support is immediately available through QAMS and
we anticipate identifying additional support in FY94 for
training, statistical expertise, and sampling.
The Interim Final Guidance on Data Quality Objectives
Process for Superfund replaces the 1987 DQO Guidance for Remedial
Response Activities. The main elements of the Interim Final
Guidance are chapters on applying the Agency's 7-step DQO process
to Superfund decisions, a technical appendix with more detailed
guidance for Superfund sites, and three case studies of DQO use
at Superfund sites.
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The major changes from the 1987 DQO guidance are (±i that
the qualitative approach has been supplemented with quantitative
aspects, (2) that the guidance is directed toward the entire
Superfuna process, not just the remedial program, (3) that the
five analytical levels in the 1987 guidance (as well as the three
quality assurance objectives in the QA/QC removal guidance and
the three data useability categories (DUCs) in the site
inspection guidance) have been replaced by two data categories.
The major documents impacted by the change to the two data
categories are:
- Data Quality Objectives Guidance for Remedial Response
Activities; Development Process and Case Studies:
EPA/540/G-87/003 and 004, OSWER Directive 9355.0-7B,
March 1987.
- Quality Assurance/Quality Control Guidance for Removal
Activities: Sampling QA/OC Plan and Data Validation
Procedures. EPA /540/G-90/004, OSWER Directive 9360.4-
01 April 1990.
- Guidance for Performing Site Inspections under CERCLA.
OSWER Directive 9345.1-05, August 1992
The Interim Final Guidance on Data Quality Objectives
Process for Buperfund supersedes the 1987 guidance in total,
including the five analytical levels. The Interim Final Guidance
also replaces the sections of QA/QC removal guidance which relate
to the three quality assurance objectives and the sections in the
site inspection guidance which relate to the three data
useability categories.
An integral part of the Superfund DQO Interim Final Guidance
is the initiation of demonstration sites in the Fall of 1993.
The attached DQO Workbook is designed to be used by site managers
and, in particular, with the demonstrations sites to record DQO
decisions. A member of the Superfund Quality Assurance Standing
Committee will be contacting each Region about the initiation of
DQO demonstration sites. The initial results of the
demonstrations will be evaluated over the next six months and
used to revise the Interim Final Guidance. Issuance of DQO Final
Guidance will be based upon the results of the demonstration
sites and Regional experience.
The ORD Quality Assurance Management Staff is developing
additional implementation tools for DQOs, such as interactive
software for evaluating the required number of samples and Data
Quality Assessment guidance. As these tools become available, we
anticipate integrating them into the Superfund DQO process
through subsequent communication with you.
I appreciate your participation in this effort, including
the efforts of your Regional workgroup representatives and your
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recent comments on the review draft, which are reflected in the
Interim Final uuldance. Please rufer any questions on
implementation of this guidance to Duane Geuder, chair of the
Superfund Quality Assurance Standing Committee, at 703/603-8991
(voice) or 703/603-8710 (facsimile).
Attachments
cc: Regional Environmental Services Branch Chiefs
Regional Waste Management Branch Chiefs
Regional Removal Managers
Regional Quality Assurance Managers
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Superfund Data Quality Objectives Guidance Workgroup
Esperanza Renard
Carolyn Offutt
Michael Jasinski
Jane Anderson
Bob Runyan
Kevin Kubik
Gloria Sosa
Dawn lovan
B.Konna
Elmer Akin
Beth Brown
Shane Hitchcock
Jin Vanderkloot
Cindy Kaleri
Bob Sullivan
Bill Fairless
Jodi Hudson
Lisa Reed
Marlon Mesguita
Debbie Flood
Bruce Wood
Duane Geuder
Bill Coakley
Jim Barren
Steve Chang
Ruth Bleyler
Randy Breeden
Hans Waetjen
John Warren
2
3
3
RCB/RREL
HQ/OERR
Reg 1
Reg 1
Reg 2
Reg 2
Reg
Peg
Reg
Reg 4
Reg 4
Reg 4
Reg 5
Reg 6
Reg 6
Reg 7
Reg 7
Reg 8
Reg 9
Reg 10
Reg 10
HQ/OERR
HQ/OERR
HQ/OERR
HQ/OERR
HQ/OERR
HQ/OERR
HQ/OWPE
HQ/ORD
RCB/RREL 908-321-
HSED/SLCB 703-603'
WMD 617-573'
WMD 617-573'
ESD 908-321
BSD 908-321'
ERRD 212-264
HWMD 215-597
HWMD 215-597
WMD 404-347
WMD 404-347
WMD 404-347
WMD 312-353
HWMD 214-655
ERB 214-655
ESD 913-551
ESD 913-551
HWMD 214-655
HWMD 415-744
HWD 206-553
HWD 206-553
OPM/PCAS 703-603
ERD/ERT 908-906
HSED/AOB 703-603
HSED/SAB 703-603
HSED/TIB 617-573
HSCD/ROGB 703-603
CED/GEB 703-603
OMMS/QAMS 202-260'
•4355 Wkgp. Chair
•8797 Prg. Contact
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•9698
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-6702
•2110
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-1586
-7791
-3931
-9309
-6735
-2223
-5176
-5064
-6735
-2393
-2722
-1193
-8891
-6921
-9029
-8758
-5792 (now Reg.l)
-8753
-8945
-9464
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