Minimum Set Of Data Elements For Ground Water


Classificotion No.: 2150.1
Approval Dare:
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS FOR GROUND WATER
1.	PURPOSE. This policy statement establishes the minimum data
elements to be collected and managed by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) ground-water data collection
activities. The underlying purpose is to more efficiently
manage and share data within the ground-water community
including States, local governments, the regulated community,
EPA, and other Federal Agencies.
2.	SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY. This policy applies to all
ground-water data collection activities directly carried out by
EPA staff or EPA contractors, including research and
development, and enforcement.
The collection of ground-water data by EPA's delegated state
programs and grantees, States, localities, the regulated
community, and other Federal Agencies is not within the scope
of this policy. However, to encourage the efficient sharing of
data within the ground-water community, these entities are
encouraged to adopt this minimum data set where appropriate.
In the future, some of these entities may be required by EPA to
comply with this policy where the Agency determines it is
necessary to accomplishing its statutory mandates.
3.	BACKGROUND. In 1986 EPA completed its Ground-Water Monitoring
Strategy and in 1987 it completed a Ground-Water Requirements
Analysis. Both of these reports provide a clear message to EPA
Program and Regional Offices, and the States on the importance
of and need for ground-water data standards. The establishment
of a minimum set of data elements for EPA ground-water data
collection activities is a first major step in this process.

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EPA ORDER
2150.1
The Agency has defined the minimum set of data elewents as
those basic elements necessary for it to use data from wells
and springs across ground-water related programs. The set is
characterized by elements that:
o are needed to communicate ground-water data across
programs;
o facilitate accessing data from automated information
systems other than one's own;
o provide to the users a road map for finding other
related data; and
o provide a link between water quality and veil
location information.
4. POLICY. It is EPA policy to create and maintain a consistent
collection of ground-water data based on a minimum set of data
elements. This policy will be incorporated into all program
decisions relating to ground-water protection, taking into
account statutory and other significant policy, administrative,
or technical constraints. Where alternative data collection
schemes are employed, regulatory or other program documentation
will show how the alternative data collection scher.o relates to
the minimum set of data elements and provide the rationale for
the differences. The existing review process associated with
the Red Border Steering.Committee or the Office oi Information
Resources Management (OIRM) will be used in evaluating requests
for waivers to this policy.
This policy does not require modifications to existing
regulations to bring them into accord with the policy; however,
the policy should be considered during the reauthorization
process for regulations.
a. The minimum set shall consist of the following:
Latitude
Longitude
Method of Measure for Latitude/Longitude
Source Agency for Latitude/Longitude
State FIPS Code
^Federal Information Procedures System (FIPS)
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EPA ORDER
2150.1
County FIPS Code
Altitude
Unique Well/Spring and Facility
Identification
Use of Well
Depth of Well at Completion
Depth to Top of Open Interval
Depth to Bottom of Open Interval
Location of Log
Type of Log
Source Agency for Sample Data
Sample Date
Parameter Measured
Concentration/Value (in standard units)
Confidence Factor (Field and Lab quality
assurance)
Sample Identification
Depth to Water
Measurement Quantification
b. A dictionary defining elements in the minimum data set will
be developed by the Office of Ground-Water Protection
(OGWP). Data standards and formats will also be developed,
where appropriate, by OIRM.
5. RESPONSIBILITIES.
a.	The Office of Ground-Water Protection (OGWP), in cooperation
with EPA Program Offices, shall provide guidance with
technical assistance in implementing the requirements of
this policy. OGWP shall develop a dictionary of definitions
for the minimum set of data elements through the Agency's
workgroup process.
b.	Assistant Administrators and Associate Administrators shall
ensure that information systems and data management
practices of programs and activities under their direction
are in compliance with this policy. EPA Program Offices can
add additional elements to the minimum data to meet their
special program needs.
c.	Regional Administrators shall assure that the Regional
Offices have an effective program to foster and support the
minimum set of data elements for reporting ground-water
data.
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EPA ORDER
2150.1
d.	The Office of Information Resources Management (OIRM) shall
provide effective leadership in developing, implementing and
enforcing this policy. OIRM shall grant waivers to the
implementation of this policy, as appropriate. OIRM shall
develop data standards for individual elements of the
minimum data-set, where appropriate.
e.	The Procurement and Contracts Management Division shall
establish procedures to ensure that EPA contracts are in
compliance with the requirements of this policy.
6. DEFINITIONS. OGWP will develop a dictionary of definitions for
the minimum set of data elements through the Agency workgroup
process.
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