Science
loRESULTS
SCIENCE lies at the heart of the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Agency must rely on cutting edge research, accurate
measurements and effective technology to implement its programs to protect the environment and human health. Without sound science and credible data,
EPA can not wisely set enwronmento/ and health standards, dean up contaminated sites, measure ambient air and water quality conditions, or identify the new
technologies or practices that will reduce releases to the environment. These fact sheets snare with you some of our EPA New England's laboratory capabilities
and exemplify some of the very best science we do to meet our agency mission.
i
GOAL:
Moving the laboratory to the field, rather than samples to the laboratory, saves time when EPA undertakes
major cleanups of hazardous materials. Saved time translates into savings in remediation costs by allowing more
efficient utilization of expensive construction equipment and contractors. The region's mobile laboratory offers
high throughput, fast turn around, quantitative field screening analyses to assist site managers in cleanup decisions.
This capability provides EPA's site managers with real-time information about the presence of contaminants in
groundwater, soil and soil vapor. Real-time results can often save months if not years in reaching cleanup standards
by avoiding iterative cycles of sample collection, off-site analysis and further remediation to address hot spots.
KEY CONTACTS:
SCOTT CLIFFORD
Chemist
(617) 918-8631
clifford.scott@epa.gov
ERNEST WATERMAN
Chief, Environmental
Investigations & Analysis
(617) 918-8632
waterman.ernest@epa.gov
MICHAEL KENYON
Director, EPA New England
Regional Laboratory
(617)918-8317
kenyon.michael@epa.gov
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
REGIONAL LABORATORY
11 Technology Dr.
North Chelmsford. MA 01863
(617) 918-8300
www.epa.gov/ne/lab
TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-800-EPA-7341
SCIENCE:
To enhance EPA's ability to provide orvsite field analytical
services to facilitate cleanup and restoration of contami-
nated properties and facilities, the regional laboratory op-
erates a flexible self-contained mo-
bile laboratory that can be outfitted
with the scientific instrumentation
necessary to test for contaminants
of concern in groundwater, soil and
soil vapor. The mobile laboratory
vehicle can operate for extended
periods independent of normal
utilities and is relatively compact to
allow access to unimproved sites
and facilities where a larger vehicle
might have difficulties. The com-
pact size of the laboratory and the
wide range of contaminant testing
needed at sites across the region
requires reconfiguration of the analytical instrumentation
package and restocking of the laboratory between deploy-
ments. The flexible nature of the mobile laboratory and
access to the breadth of testing equipment at the regional
laboratory allows the mobile laboratory chemist to rapidly
set up and calibrate a custom instrument package to ad-
dress the analytical needs of each job. Depending on the
nature of the contaminants, the laboratory may be con-
figured with a variety of instruments, such as a gas chro-
matograph, x-ray fluorescence spectrometer, or polarized
light microscope to test for synthetic organic chemicals,
toxic metals or asbestos, respectively. With its built-in
generator, the mobile laboratory can power onboard
instrumentation en route in
order to allow environmental
testing to begin immediately
upon arrival at the site or fa-
cility. Once at the site, the on-
board chemist can offer the
site manager a very powerful
tool to rapidly assess the ex-
tent of the contamination and
adjust the sampling program
to best meet the needs of the
deanup or remediation.
EPA New England's
Mobile Laboratory
BENEFITS:
The mobile laboratory, in
combination with handheld instrumentation and the
region's fixed-location laboratory, allows EPA to utilize
the most effective tool or combination of tools to pro-
vide accurate and reliable detection of environmental con-
taminants. The region's mobile laboratory provides high
throughput fast turnaround, quantitative field screening
analyses suitable for real-time decision-making. This capa-
bility enables EPA's site managers to make the decisions
necessary to protect human health and restore the envi-
ronment rapidly with efficient use of resources.
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA-901-F-09-019
April 2009
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