e
v
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA-930-R-09-001
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Regional Laboratory System
EPA Regional Laboratories...
Advancing the Agency's Science Agenda
I
FY 2008 Annual Report
-------
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2008 Annual Report
Table of Contents
Preface: List of US EPA Regional Laboratories ii
Executive Summary iv
Section I - Overview 2
Mission Statement 3
Section II - Support for EPA's Strategic Goals 5
Introduction 6
Clean Air 8
Clean and Safe Water 10
Land Preservation and Restoration 13
Healthy Communities and Ecosystems 17
Compliance and Environmental Stewardship 19
Cross-Goal Strategies 20
Partnerships(state, local, tribal, etc.) 20
Expanding Scientific Knowledge and Developing
New Analytical Capabilities 20
Homeland Security 23
Section III - Progress and Looking to the Future 27
Quality Systems 28
Sustainability 28
Identifying and Maximizing Efficiencies 29
Environmental Management 29
Health and Safety 30
Facilities Management 30
Future Challenges 30
Meeting the Challenge 31
Appendix A- Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities A-1
Appendix B-Abbreviations A-7
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
U.S. EPA Regional Laboratories
2008 Annual Repor
Region 1:
Region2:
Region 3:
Region 4:
Region 5:
New England Regional Laboratory
Ernest Waterman, Director
waterman.ernest@epa.gov
11 Technology Drive
N. Chelmsford, MA 01863-2431
Phone:671-918-8632
FAX: 617-918-8540
Division of Environmental Science and
Assessment Laboratory Branch
John Bourbon, Acting Director
bourbon.john@epa.gov
2890 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08837
Phone: 732-321-4469
Fax: 732-321-6165
Environmental Science Center Laboratory
Branch
Cynthia Caporale, Director
caporale.cynthia@epa.gov
701 Mapes Road
Ft. Meade, MD 20755 5350
Phone: 410-305-2732
Fax: 410-305-3095
Analytical Support Branch
Gary Bennett, Director
bennett.gary@epa.gov
980 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30605-2720
Phone: 706-355-8551
Fax: 706-355-8803
USEPA Region 5 Lab, Central Regional Lab
Dennis Wesolowski, Director
wesolowski.dennis@epa.gov
536 S. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-353-9084
Fax: 312-886-2591
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
U.S. EPA Regional Laboratories (cont.)
Region 6:
Region 7:
Region 8:
Region 9:
Region 10:
Environmental Services Branch
Houston Laboratory
David Neleigh, Director
neleigh.david@epa.gov
10625Fallstone Rd.
Houston, TX 77099
Phone:281-983-2100
Fax:281-983-2124
Regional Science & Technology Center
Michael Davis, Director,
Regional Laboratory
davis.michael@epa.gov
300 Minnesota Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551 5042
Fax: 913-551-8752
USEPA Region 8 Lab
Mark Burkhardt, Director
burkhardt.mark@epa.gov
16194 West 45th Dr.
Golden, CO 80403
Phone: 303-312-7799
Fax: 303-312-7800
USEPA Region 9 Lab
Brenda Bettencourt, Director
bettencourt.brenda@epa.gov
1337S. 46th Street, Bldg. 201
Richmond, CA 94804-4698
Phone: 510-412-2300
Fax: 510-412-2302
Manchester Environmental Laboratory
Barry Pepich, Director
pepich.barry@epa.gov
7411 Beach Drive East
Port Orchard, WA 98366
Phone: 360-871-8701
Fax: 360-871-8747
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2008 Annual Report
Executive Summary
The Regional Laboratory System is an inter-dependent
network of the ten regional laboratories of the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These
laboratories provide the analytical, technical and pro-
grammatic support that is critical to accomplishing the
Agency's mission of protecting human health and the
environment. The regional laboratories ensure that ana-
lytical and technical expertise are available at the re-
gional level and are well positioned to rapidly address
the ever changing needs of a variety of environmental
programs.
In FY 2008, the regional laboratories continued to pro-
vide a full range of routine and specialized chemical and
biological testing of air, water, soil, sediment, tissue and
hazardous waste for ambient and compliance monitor-
ing as well as criminal and civil enforcement activities.
The regional laboratories performed over 128,311 analy-
ses in FY 2008, a 27 percent increase over the number
of analyses performed in FY 2007.
In addition to increased analytical output, the regional
laboratories continued to play an increasing role with re-
gard to EPA's Strategic Plan for Homeland Security. In
FY 2008, the Regional Laboratory System expended
significant effort to enhance regional response capability
in order to respond to emergencies. With support from
the Water Security Division, the ten regional laboratories
continued the national effort to improve drinking water
laboratory preparedness. The regional laboratories pro-
vided significant support for a number of other Home-
land Security related efforts including pilot development
of fixed laboratory capability for chemical warfare agents
(CWA); development of an All Hazards Receipt Facility;
and validation of methods contained in EPA's "Standard-
ized Analytical Methods for Use during Homeland Secu-
rity Events."
The regional laboratories also provided a variety of field
analytical support ranging from analyses performed on-
site in mobile laboratories to screening techniques per-
formed directly in the field. These services provided
real time data to improve the efficiency of field opera-
tions and speed environmental decision making. In FY
2008, the regional laboratories performed nearly 11,000
field analyses in support of a variety of regional pro-
grams.
This annual report is divided into
three sections.
Section I, Overview: provides general in-
formation about the regional laboratories
and outlines the mission statement of the
Regional Laboratory System.
Section II, Support for EPA's Strategic
Goals: summarizes the analyses pro-
vided for EPA's programs. This section
also provides examples of support pro-
vided for each of the Agency's strategic
goals including Clean Air; Clean and Safe
Water; Land Preservation and Restora-
tion; Healthy Communities and Ecosys-
tems; Compliance and Environmental
Stewardship; and various Cross Goal
Strategies including Homeland Security.
Section III, Progress and Looking to
the Future: describes accomplishments
associated with various aspects that are
fundamental to the operation of the re-
gional laboratories. These include quality
systems, environmental management,
health and safety, and facilities manage-
ment. Section III concludes with the iden-
tification of future challenges facing the
regional laboratories and a discussion of
how the regional laboratories will meet
them.
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Overview
The regional laboratories were primarily
established to provide analytical serv-
ices and technical support to EPA's re-
gional offices. EPA's regional offices
are responsible within their states for
the execution of the Agency's programs
and require ready access to analytical
services and technical support for vari-
ous media program activities and man-
agement priorities. Analytical services
provided by the regional laboratories in-
clude a full spectrum of routine and spe-
cial chemical and biological testing in
support of regional and national pro-
grams including air, water, pesticides,
toxics, hazardous waste, ambient moni-
toring, compliance monitoring, criminal
and civil enforcement, and, special proj-
ects.
FY 2008 Annual Report
Trust Territories
American Samoa
Northern Mariana
Islands
The regional laboratories also per-
form a long list of other core func-
tions, including:
- technical advice and assistance to state
and local agencies concerning analytical
techniques, methodology and quality control;
- field sampling support;
- expert witness testimony;
- training of program staff and other organiza-
tions;
- on-site evaluation of drinking water labora-
tories;
- audits of states' drinking water certification
programs;
- promotion of inter-laboratory communica-
tion and emergency preparedness;
- technical support to federal, state and local
laboratories;
- technical support to internal and external or-
ganizations;
- applied research for regional initiatives;
- support national laboratory program initia-
tives;
- ensure the quality of laboratory data gener-
ated in support of Agency programs;
- provide benchmarks for environmental labo
ratories in areas such as analysis, pollution
prevention and environmental compliance.
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Mission Statement
The regional laboratories focus on the applica-
tion of science policies and methods to support
regulatory and monitoring programs and spe-
cial projects. This is done through direct im-
plementation and through partnerships with a
variety of groups including state, local and
tribal governments, private industry, the aca-
demic community, EPA's program offices,
EPA's Office of Research and Development
(ORD) and the public. The regional laborato-
ries are crucial to advancing the Agency's sci-
ence agenda and have embraced the following
commitments to achieve this goal:
To integrate laboratory activities with those of field and quality assur-
ance partners into a comprehensive, holistic, multi-media approach to
solving ecosystem-based environmental problems.
To provide scientific data of known quality to support Agency decisions
through partnerships with regional and national program offices, state,
local and tribal governments, academia, the private sector and the pub-
lic.
To maintain a fully equipped laboratory to produce physical, chemical
and biological data of known quality to be used for environmental deci-
sion-making at all levels of government.
To maintain and enhance a technically and scientifically skilled, dedi-
cated and diverse staff through the excellence of our recruitment, ca-
reer development, training, management and leadership.
To advance the Agency's science agenda at the point where crucial de-
cisions are made.
-------
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
&ERA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Introduction
'2008 Annual Repor
One of the primary functions of the regional
laboratories is to supply quality analytical data
to the Agency's programs in support of re-
gional initiatives that range from routine moni-
toring to criminal enforcement. The following
charts represent the analyses performed for
various EPA programs in FY 2008.
Over 125,000 analyses were performed in
support of EPA programs in FY 2008. How-
ever, counting analyses does not completely
capture the level of effort necessary to provide
the wide range of analytical capability repre-
sented by the regional laboratories. While
some analyses may take only a few minutes;
others may take several hours or days to com-
plete. Also, the charts do not include analyses
performed for quality assurance, which com-
prise an additional 30% of the laboratories' an-
alytical effort.
FY 2008 US EPA Regional Laboratories Analyses by Program
128,311 Total Analyses
15 50000
"3 40000
•g 30000
Z 20000
10000
nl
3442 2906 2344 1916 1706 924 225
^o. -^
X A X>
•%> %fc ^
•* %.
\
Demand for analytical support from EPA's re-
gional laboratories continued to increase in FY
2008 with a 27% increase in analyses per-
formed compared to FY 2007. Over the past
five years, the number of analyses performed
by the regional laboratories has increased by
52%. As represented in the chart below, this
increase is largely due to increased analytical
support for the Superfund program.
Total Analyses Performed by EPA Regional Laboratories
FY 2004 - FY 2008
FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY 2007 FY 2008
n Superfund • Water IRCRA I I Air
Analytical Support to EPA Program - FY 2008
Brownfields
L
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Introduction - (cont.)
The regional laboratories are also increasingly
engaged in the Emergency Response Pro-
gram. In FY 2008, the regional laboratories
provided nearly 8,000 time-critical analyses
associated with response to environmental dis-
asters, hazardous materials releases, priority
contaminant removals, and inland oil spills that
threatened human health and/or the environ-
ment.
FY 2008 Annual Report
In addition to fixed laboratory analytical sup-
port, the regional laboratories provide signifi-
cant field sampling and field analytical support.
In FY 2008, over 8% (10,851 field analyses) of
the total number of analyses performed were
field analyses. There are many benefits to pro-
viding analyses in the field including quicker
turnaround time for sample processing, real-
time interaction between the analyst and the
field staff for data interpretation, and accelera-
tion of environmental decisions at the site.
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 1: Clean Air
Protect and improve the air so it is healthy to breathe and
risks to human health and the environment are reduced.
Reduce greenhouse gas intensity by enhancing partner-
ships with businesses and other sectors.
The regional laboratories actively support the objectives
of the Agency's air goals through a variety of activities.
These activities include technical support and training,
support for air monitoring and air monitoring quality as-
surance, laboratory support for various air toxics as-
sessments, laboratory support for numerous other local
projects that address specific community risks, and
method development.
Support for Ambient Air Monitoring Quality
Assurance
EPA has a number of programs in place to ensure that
ambient air monitoring data are of a quality that meets
the requirements for informed decision making. The re-
gional labs support the following air monitoring quality
assurance programs by providing management and
technical oversight of contractors, lab space for equip-
ment storage and calibration, field and laboratory work
and audits, and logistical support.
PM 2.5 Performance Evaluation Program (PEP):
The goal of the PEP is to evaluate total measurement
system bias of the PM 2.5 monitoring network. The lab-
oratory component of the program includes particulate
matter (PM) filter handling, inspection, equilibration, and
weighing; data entry, validation, management and distri-
bution to client Regions; as well as filter archival and
data submittal to the Air Quality System (AQS). The PM
filter weighing lab is located at the regional lab in Region
4. In FY 2008, the laboratory processed and weighed
986 filters from around the country and validated 931 in-
dividual PM2.5 PEP audits for submittal to the national
ambient air database. The other regional laboratories
also provided support for PEP through performance
evaluation audits, quality assurance collocations and
PEP audits. In FY 2008, the regional laboratories sup-
ported the completion of over 300 PM2.5 PEP audits.
Regional laboratory staff also served as trainers at the
national training class for the PM2.5 PEP program.
Through-the-Probe Audit System:
The through-the-probe audit system provides perform-
ance audits at state and local ambient air monitoring
stations. In FY2008, the regional laboratories supported
the completion of over 200 through-the-probe audits.
These performance audits ensure the validity of the am-
bient air quality monitoring data. In addition, as part of
an international agreement to provide technical support
to Mexico as they build their national air monitoring pro-
gram, performance audits were completed in various
cities in Mexico near the U.S. border.
Standard Reference Photometer (SRP) Program:
Standard reference photometers (SRPs) are used to en-
sure that the national network of ozone ambient moni-
tors is accurately measuring ozone concentrations.
Eight regional laboratories maintain SRPs and provide
verification or certification of primary and transfer ozone
standards from state, local and tribal organizations.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
GoaM: Clean Air (cont.)
2008 Annual Repor
Other Air Projects
Mercury Emissions from a Cement Plant:
At the request of a local air quality management district
and one of EPA's regional Air Divisions, the regional lab-
oratory deployed its mercury air monitoring trailer adja-
cent to an elementary school to monitor levels of
airborne mercury. The school is located downwind of a
cement plant. The trailer has equipment to collect ele-
mental, reactive and particulate mercury data, as well as
concurrent ozone, SC>2, and NOX and meteorological
data. The dataset ultimately includes over 8,000 mer-
cury analyses collected at five minute intervals. The
data was used to determine whether airborne mercury
levels were approaching the state's safety threshold.
Support to Inter-Tribal Council:
At the request of the regional Air Division, support was
provided for an Inter-Tribal Council's air monitoring pro-
gram. Support included metals analysis on particulate
(PM2.5 and PM10) filters, and volatile air toxic samples
collected in stainless steel air canisters.
Development of NCore Multi-pollutant Monitoring
Network:
A regional laboratory worked with EPA's Office of Air
Quality Planning & Standards to assist with a National
Performance Audit Program (NPAP) pilot program for
"through-the-probe" audits of new trace level monitors
that are required at NCore monitoring sites. NCore is a
multi-pollutant network that integrates several advanced
measurement systems for particles, pollutant gases and
meteorology. The NCore Network will address several
objectives, including support for long-term health as-
sessments that contribute to ongoing reviews of the Na-
tional Ambient Air Quality Standards and support to
scientific studies ranging across technological, health,
and atmospheric process disciplines.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water
Ensure drinking water is safe. Restore and maintain
oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to pro-
tect human health, support economic and recreational ac-
tivities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and
wildlife.
nities and on-site audits of states' drinking water certifi-
cation program.
Water Quality Assessment and Total Maxi-
mum Daily Load (TMDL) Program Support
Water quality monitoring and assessment provides infor-
mation that is crucial for management of our water re-
sources. Water quality data are used to characterize
waters, identify trends over time, identify emerging prob-
lems, determine whether pollution control programs are
working, and to help direct pollution control efforts to
where they are most needed.
EPA's goals for water comprise a variety of strategic tar-
gets that include increasing compliance with drinking
water standards, reducing pollution in waters with fish
advisories, restoring polluted waters to allow for safe
swimming, improving the quality of rivers, lakes, and
streams on a watershed basis, improving coastal and
ocean water quality and strengthening water quality
monitoring and assessment.
The regional laboratories play an important part in pro-
tecting and restoring the nation's water resources by
providing key data so that the regions and their partners
have the information they need to target actions to pro-
tect human health and aquatic ecosystems more effi-
ciently. The regional laboratories support the Agency's
water goals by providing technical support and regula-
tory support to drinking water laboratories, by providing
training and support for water quality monitoring efforts,
and by providing analytical support for various projects
across the country. Some of the areas where the re-
gional laboratories provide support for the Agency's
water goals are described below.
Drinking Water Laboratory Certification
Laboratories that analyze drinking water samples are re-
quired by EPA to be certified by an approved certifying
authority. EPA regional laboratory personnel who are
trained as laboratory certification officers conduct on-
site evaluations of drinking water laboratories operated
by states and tribal communities. The regional labora-
tory certification officers also perform audits of states'
certification programs to ensure that all laboratories an-
alyzing drinking water samples are following approved
methods as mandated by EPA's National Primary Drink-
ing Water Regulations. Ultimately the effort of the labo-
ratory certification officers ensures that public drinking
water is free from harmful contaminants. In FY 2008, the
regional laboratories performed 41 evaluations and au-
dits related to drinking water laboratory certification.
These included both on-site evaluations of drinking
water laboratories operated by state and tribal commu-
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water (cont.)
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a tool for imple-
menting water quality standards and is based on the re-
lationship between pollution sources and in-stream
water quality conditions. Water quality standards are set
by States, Territories, and Tribes. They identify the uses
for each body of water, for example, drinking water sup-
ply, contact recreation (swimming), and aquatic life sup-
port (fishing), and the scientific criteria to support that
use. The TMDL establishes the allowable loadings or
other quantifiable parameters for a body of water and
thereby provides the basis to establish water quality-
based controls.
Regional laboratories provide substantial analytical sup-
port for water quality assessments of and TMDL devel-
opment for water bodies throughout the country.
Yazoo River Basin Study- Phase 3:
The Yazoo River Basin Study was designed to provide
water quality chemistry and other data needed for the
development of TMDLs on ten priority water bodies im-
pacted by nutrients from a variety of sources including
agriculture, point source discharge, and catfish farming.
In FY2008, the regional laboratory continued to provide
support to this multi-year project with over 400 analyses
of water column samples for long-term biological oxygen
demand (BOD) and with numerous nutrient analyses in-
cluding total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia, nitrate/nitrite,
total/dissolved phosphorus, and total/dissolved organic
carbon.
Support for National Water Quality Assessments:
Bacterial analyses of nearly 1,500 samples using Poly-
merase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods were performed
as part of the Office of Water's National Lakes Assess-
ment (NLA). Similarly, analyses using PCR methods
were performed on 950 samples for the two year Office
of Water's National Rivers and Streams Assessment
(NRSA). These assessments will provide statistically
valid regional and national estimates of the condition of
the nation's water resources. The assessments will
also help build state and tribal capacity for monitoring
and assessment and promote collaboration across juris-
dictional boundaries in the assessment of water quality.
In addition to analytical support, another regional labo-
ratory provided training and auditor support for the
NRSA. Laboratory staff received training on NRSA pro-
tocols and then subsequently provided training to sam-
plers affiliated with tribal, federal, and other agencies.
Laboratory staff also audited field teams that performed
the NRSA protocols.
Special Water Projects in FY 2008
Examples of some activities and projects supporting a
variety of water related strategic goals in FY 2008 are
listed here.
Urban Stormwater Monitoring:
An urban stormwater monitoring project was conducted
to support EPA's water enforcement program. Samples
were primarily collected from rivers flowing through a
major metropolitan area and analyzed for indicators of
sewage contamination. Primary indicators included E.
coli, ammonia, surfactants, and optical brighteners. Se-
lected sites were also monitored for BOD, total sus-
pended solids, chlorine, total phosphorus, and
Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCP).
Field test kits were used to evaluate their efficiency at
measuring selected pollutants. Sample results were
used to track down illegal sewage discharges using a
weight of evidence approach, and enforcement actions
were taken when warranted. In the course of 14 weeks,
EPA collected 700 samples from over 150 locations.
This project involved staff from the EPA lab and water
enforcement office. In addition to EPA's sample collec-
tion, over 500 samples were collected by area urban
watershed associations under EPA approved Quality As-
surance Project Plans (QAPP).
Cryptosporidium and Giardia Monitoring:
Both the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the
Clean Water Act (CWA) address microbial contamina-
tion of the Nation's water. The SDWA authorizes EPA to
regulate contamination in drinking water and allows for
protection of source waters. In accordance with this au-
thority, the EPA released a Filtration Avoidance Determi-
nation (FAD) to New York City for the water supplies that
form a significant component of the New York City Wa-
tershed. The Region conducts an oversight monitoring
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water (cont.)
program for a variety of contaminants including proto-
zoan pathogens Cryptosporidium and Giardia in the wa-
tershed. The monitoring includes the reservoir system
and the streams and tributaries which flow into the
reservoir. The regional laboratory provides the special-
ized analytical support to the monitoring effort of the wa-
tershed and the contributing streams.
Southeastern Periphyton Nutrient Response Proj-
ect:
A regional laboratory provided nutrient analyses for the
Southeastern Periphyton Nutrient Response Project.
This study is designed to investigate the relationship of
biological response signals to aquatic nutrient concen-
trations along a stream network. The project will evalu-
ate the ability of selected field methods, data analyses
and monitoring techniques to characterize biological re-
sponses to nutrient conditions. Information gained from
this effort will assist EPA and state agencies in estab-
lishing protective water quality standards for flowing wa-
ters.
Water Quality and Stormwater Run-off Management
Practices:
Analytical assistance was provided to EPA's Office of
Research and Development for an evaluation of
stormwater run-off management practices within a mid-
western watershed. The regional laboratory provided
monthly analysis of creek samples for nitrogen, phos-
phorus and metals. The water quality data supplied by
the laboratory provides important information about the
effectiveness of the various stormwater management
practices that were under evaluation.
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment
Rule (LT2):
In collaboration with its Drinking Water Program, the re-
gional laboratory provided support for the LT2 rule by
assisting with oversight and evaluation of monitoring re-
sults from approximately 50 public water systems and
laboratories. The purpose of the LT2 rule is to reduce
disease incidence associated with Cryptosporidium and
other disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water.
The rule will supplement existing regulations by target-
ing additional Cryptosporidium treatment requirements
to higher risk systems. The rule contains provisions to
reduce risks from uncovered finished water storage fa-
cilities and to ensure that systems maintain microbial
protection as they take steps to reduce the formation of
disinfection byproducts. The rule will apply to all sys-
tems that use surface water or ground water under the
direct influence of surface water. The Schedule 4 por-
tion of the rule involves the monitoring of E. coli data in
smaller water systems.
Colorado Lakes Project:
Over 900 field analyses and over 350 laboratory analy-
ses were provided for the Colorado Lakes Project. The
data provided by the laboratory will provide assistance
for the development of nutrient criteria for lakes in the
eastern part of the state.
Application of Microbial Source Tracking:
Microbial source tracking, which was developed by
EPA's Office of Research and Development and mobi-
lized by the laboratory two years ago, is now provided
as a routine service to regional clients. The technique
uses PCR technology to differentiate between human,
ruminant and other types of fecal contamination. During
the year it was applied to five watershed projects in the
analysis of over 200 samples to help investigators fin-
gerprint the origin of fecal contaminants that were ex-
ceeding regulatory standards.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration
Preserve and restore the land by using innovative waste
management practices and cleaning up contaminated prop-
erties to reduce risks posed by releases of harmful sub-
stances.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Com-
pensation, and Liability Act (CERCLAor Superfund) and
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
provide the legal basis for EPA's efforts to preserve and
restore land using the most effective waste manage-
ment and cleanup methods available.
In FY 2008, over 60 percent of the analyses performed
by the regional laboratories supported the cleanup of
uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites asso-
ciated with the Superfund program. While EPA's Con-
tract Laboratory Program performs many of the routine
analyses associated with the Superfund program, the
regional laboratories focus on more specialized analy-
ses and provide a variety of field support and mobile lab
support to the program.
The regional laboratories provided nearly 3,000 analy-
ses to address hazardous and non-hazardous waste is-
sues associated with the RCRA program and over 1,900
analyses to address risks associated with leaking under-
ground storage tanks.
Applied Research and Method Develop-
ment
The regional laboratories are in a unique position to
meet the ever changing analytical needs of the Super-
fund and RCRA programs. Oftentimes, the regional lab-
oratories are called upon to develop or refine methods
to meet project specific data quality objectives. Meth-
ods are often refined or enhanced to include new pollu-
tants of concern. Analytical procedures are often
revised to achieve lower detection limits or to accommo-
date different and challenging matrices. An example is
described below:
Tissue Analyses for Metals at Trace Levels:
At the request of their Superfund Division, the regional
laboratory took on several challenging matrices from
two Superfund sites. One Superfund project required
sample preparation and digestion for metals analysis of
geoduck clam samples in the vicinity. Breakdown of the
stringy tissue matrix was particularly challenging, requir-
ing extreme pulverization, followed by freeze-drying,
then microwave digestion in mixed acids.
Another Superfund project involved refinement of
ICP/MS method 200.8 to analyze for lead in songbird
blood. The project was particularly challenging due to
the low volumes of blood samples that were available,
and the extreme levels of cleanliness needed to analyze
for lead at part per trillion (ppt) levels in the blood. After
satisfactory results were obtained on reference sam-
ples, songbird blood samples from the site were suc-
cessfully analyzed for lead as part of the five year
sampling cycle. Another project at the same site in-
volved analysis of large mammal and waterfowl fecal
samples. The samples have characteristics of both tis-
sue and soil samples. The samples needed to be pul-
verized, freeze-dried, and microwave digested.
Because of potential coliform contamination, extra pre-
cautions needed to be taken to avoid dust from the fecal
samples.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration (cont.)
Superfund and RCRA Projects
Examples of some activities and projects supporting a
variety of Superfund and RCRA projects in FY 2008 are
listed here.
Supporting Site Decisions:
With the combined effort of its field sampling team, its
mobile lab, and its fixed lab, a regional laboratory pro-
vided time critical assistance to an EPA Remedial Proj-
ect Manager and to the state that ultimately led to a
more cost effective site remediation strategy. Soil gas
sampling followed by Geoprobe® soil borings supported
by immediate field analyses lead to the discovery and
characterization of a shallow leach field source of chlori-
nated solvent contamination. Ultimately this portion of
the site was remediated by excavation as opposed to
soil vapor extraction. Groundwater contamination at the
same site is being treated by sodium permanganate in-
jection. The lab's Quality Assurance Unit furnished ex-
tensive technical support for designing a monitoring
system before the injection of the permanganate and
after injection to determine how the in-situ treatment
system was working. The lab's field sampling team had
a limited amount of time between injection well comple-
tion and permanganate injections for collection of sam-
ples. Rapid analysis by the fixed laboratory allowed the
sodium permanganate injection plan to be modified to
place oxidant in locations that had the highest concen-
trations of contamination. The data generated by the re-
gional lab resulted in decisions to reduce injection
volumes at several points and increase injection vol-
umes at the high contaminant locations 70 feet below
ground surface. The cost of the sodium permanganate
was over $250,000 and thus the better placement of the
oxidant meant more cost effective and efficient remedia-
tion of the site.
Field Methods and Mobile Laboratory Support:
One region's field screening methods performed by their
mobile laboratory have become so important to decision
making at removal sites that several times during the
year the mobile lab has been stationed at one site while
receiving samples from another relatively nearby site.
The mobile lab support shortened sample transport
times and sped up turnaround times on analytical re-
sults allowing real-time guidance on the limits of investi-
gations and excavations. In addition to confirmatory
analyses in support of the mobile lab field methods, the
same region's fixed laboratory now performs the mobile
lab field screening methods in-house to support one day
turn around analyses and near real time decision mak-
ing for sites that the mobile laboratory cannot support.
Monitoring Acid Mine Drainage:
Three water quality monitors (or sondes) have been de-
ployed and are being maintained by the regional labora-
tory at a Superfund site associated with an abandoned
open-pit sulfur mine. The mine is located in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains at an elevation of approximately
7,000 feet. Acid drainage from the mine has had nega-
tive impacts on valuable nearby water sources.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration (cont.)
The sondes are placed in creeks emanating from the
site and they monitor pH, temperature, oxidation-reduc-
tion potential, specific conductance, and depth on an
hourly basis. The sondes transmit data hourly via satel-
lite modem to a database accessible to EPA staff and
the public. This information is used to investigate how
and where mine drainage is generated and ultimately to
provide information on options for controlling and treat-
ing the problem.
Characterization of Mine Drainage:
At the request of the regional Superfund Federal Facili-
ties Program, the regional laboratory completed two
mine dump sampling events and a mine tracer study
near an abandoned base and precious metals mine.
The project provided information to further characterize
how drainage from the mine site impacts water quality in
nearby water bodies. Ultimately, the data will be used to
determine whether or not to list the abandoned mine as
a Superfund site.
Indoor Air and Soil Vapor Intrusion Investigations:
Vapor intrusion is the migration of vapors containing
volatile chemicals from buried waste and/or contami-
nated groundwater through the subsurface soils and
into indoor air spaces of overlying buildings. The vapors
may accumulate in dwellings or occupied buildings and
pose an unacceptable risk of chronic or acute health ef-
fects. To address this concern, a regional laboratory's
Air Monitoring Team and Chemistry Lab provided sup-
port to the Superfund Removal and Remedial Program
by performing indoor air and soil vapor intrusion investi-
gations at six sites during FY 2008. The number of
buildings/homes selected for a given project was deter-
mined based on the contaminated source potential to
impact the occupied buildings' indoor air quality. At
each building, indoor air samples were collected over a
24-hour period in the basement area and then analyzed
by the chemistry lab using a GC/MS. In addition, sub-
slab soil gas grab samples were collected and analyzed
immediately on-site by the regional mobile laboratory
using GC/ECD/PID instrumentation. The combination of
field sampling and on- and off-site analysis provided risk
assessors with quality-assured data in a timely fashion
thus enabling them to effectively evaluate the risk to
building occupants and take quick action to remediate
risk.
Migration of Groundwater Contaminants to Soil and
Air:
Analyses were performed to measure volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) in air samples collected at a site
contaminated with 1,1-dichloroethene (DCE.) The proj-
ect was implemented to determine if VOCs in contami-
nated groundwater were migrating through the soil and
posing a health threat to residents living above the
contaminated groundwater plume. In addition, the
County Health Department and the State Department of
Public Health conducted an investigation to evaluate po-
tential petroleum contamination of the drinking water fol-
lowing complaints from residents of gasoline-like odors
emanating from their faucets. Initial analytical results in-
dicated high levels of petroleum and solvent contamina-
tion. Subsequently, EPA received an emergency
request from the State Department of Natural Re-
sources to provide bottled water to 14 residential prop-
erties located near the site. Based on concentrations of
contaminants in their water supply, residents were im-
mediately notified not to cook with their well water and
to limit bathing times.
Scrap Metal Superfund Site:
At the request of the Emergency and Remedial Re-
sponse Division, Removal Action Branch, analytical
services were provided to a Superfund site associated
with an inactive car and scrap metal junk yard. Over
200 soil samples were analyzed for the determination of
eight toxicity characteristic metals using the Toxicity
Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). The data
provided by the lab was used to delineate soil contami-
nation at the site and to assess the volume of contami-
nated soil for removal and disposal. The analytical
support provided by the regional laboratory represented
a significant saving to the site's budget. The potential
cost for analytical services for this project from a sub-
contract laboratory would have been over $200,000.
Abandoned Pesticide Manufacturing Facility:
Over 300 routine and non-routine organic and metals
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration (cont.)
analyses were performed at a 15-acre abandoned pesti-
cide manufacturing facility. The bulk of the contami-
nants of concern are pesticide-related compounds
(DDT, chlorobenzilate, and their partial-breakdown com-
pounds.) Contaminants identified in the soil and
groundwater originated from production activities at the
site.
The contamination has primarily impacted the shallow
groundwater aquifer on-site. A relict sinkhole has al-
lowed some impact to the deeper aquifer. The site is lo-
cated in an area of mixed agricultural, residential and
commercial/industrial uses. Areas surrounding the site
are experiencing significant development pressure.
This site is being addressed through both federal and
state actions.
Superfund Site Well Installation and Sampling:
The regional laboratory Environmental Services Assis-
tance Team mobilized the EPA owned 6600 Geoprobe®
and a pressure washer/decontamination trailer to a Su-
perfund site to collect core samples and install monitor-
ing wells. During the eight week project a total of 333
soil samples were collected for laboratory analyses. Ad-
ditionally, 33 "stick-up" and 24 "flush mount" monitoring
wells were installed. The project assisted with the eval-
uation of potential and follow-up remediation actions.
Emergency Response
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plays a lead-
ership role in the national system to respond to environ-
mental disasters, hazardous materials releases,
time-critical removals, and inland oil spills that threaten
human health and/or the environment. The regional lab-
oratories have provided valuable analytical support to a
variety of emergency response projects including:
Coal Spill:
Analytical and technical support was provided in associ-
ation with the 2007 incident in which six CSX railcars,
containing an estimated 600 tons of coal, fell into the
Anacostia River. DDOE participated in split sampling
events with CSX and sent 3 rounds of samples to the
regional laboratory for analysis. Because of the unusual
circumstances, the samples arrived with minimal notifi-
cation. The first round consisted of two deliveries of
sediment samples, and rounds two and three were
water samples. The regional laboratory provided numer-
ous analyses of these samples including: volatile and
semi-volatile organic compounds, metals, mercury,
cyanide, sulfate, pH, pesticides and PCBs, total organic
carbon, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids
and hardness. Having independent analytical data to
refer to greatly benefited DDOE in their negotiations
with CSX.
Mississippi Oil Spill:
Quick turnaround analysis of water associated with the
Mississippi Oil Spill was provided in 2008. The spill in-
volved more than 400,000 gallons of fuel oil and re-
quired the temporary closure of 98 miles of the
Mississippi River. The laboratory provided analytical re-
sults within 24 hours after sample receipt which aided
responders with the evaluation of the extent of the oil
spill.
Hurricane Response:
Despite the fact that they had already lost power and
water as a result of Hurricane Ike, a regional laboratory
was able to deploy their mobile laboratory to Louisiana
to provide analytical assistance in the wake of Hurricane
Gustav which hit shortly before Hurricane Ike. The mo-
bile lab provided microbiological analyses of well water
samples. The data was used to determine whether to
reduce or eliminate the need for a boil-water notice.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems
Protect, sustain, or restore the health of people, communi-
ties and ecosystems using integrated and comprehensive
aooroaches and oartnershios.
To protect, sustain, and restore communities and
ecosystems, EPA focuses on the management of envi-
ronmental risks. Environmental risks include those pre-
sented by pesticides and chemicals, threats to the
nation's watersheds, and hazards posed by pollutants
entering homes, schools, workplaces and neighbor-
hoods.
Key components of this goal include:
Directing risk management effort towards the
greatest threats to communities and the most sen-
sitive populations, including children, the elderly,
Native Americans, and residents of areas that may
be disproportionately exposed to environmental
hazards;
Protecting critical ecosystems such as wetlands
and estuaries;
Collaborating with states and others on efforts to
protect resources such as the Great Lakes,
Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Communities
EPA estimates that there are more than 450,000 Brown-
fields in the United States. Brownfields include aban-
doned industrial and commercial properties, former
mining sites and sites contaminated with a hazardous
substance or pollutant of concern. EPA's Brownfields
Program is designed to empower states, communities,
and other stakeholders to inventory, assess, clean up,
and redevelop potentially contaminated lands in order to
recreate these lands into vital, functioning parts of their
communities. In FY 2008, the regional laboratories per-
formed over 900 analyses in support of the EPA's
Brownfields Program.
The regional laboratories also support Agency efforts to
address community-based environmental and public
health issues including:
Critical Support at High Profile Site:
The Fort Reno Park Site received significant attention
from the District of Columbia government, the National-
Park Service, and the US Geological Survey, as well as
the local DC media and citizenry. EPA played a critical
part in determining that there was not a threat due to ar-
senic in the park. The quick processing and turnaround
of the laboratory requests, analysis and data validation
for the samples from Fort Reno Park and the two adja-
cent schools was a major factor in our being able to
quickly resolve this situation and assure the public, the
DC government, and the National Park Service that
there was not a threat to public health due to arsenic in
the park.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems (cont.)
Ecosystems
EPA's strategies to protect, sustain, and restore the
health of natural habitats and ecosystems include identi-
fying and evaluating problem areas and developing
tools to address these problems. Examples of ecosys-
tem related projects supported by the regional laborato-
ries include:
Elizabeth River Project:
The goal of the Elizabeth River Project is to restore the
environmental quality of the Elizabeth River, a tributary
of the Chesapeake Bay. The EPA regional laboratory
provided support for this project by providing analysis of
river sediments for grain size and total organic carbon.
This analytical work supports the third edition of the Eliz-
abeth River Watershed Action Plan. The ultimate goal
of the plan, which was prepared by numerous stake-
holders including EPA, is to make the river safe for
swimming, fishing and shellfishing by 2020.
PCB Congener Monitoring of the Lake Ontario Wa-
tershed:
Analytical support for regular monitoring of tributaries of
the Lake Ontario Watershed was provided. The purpose
of this program is to develop reliable estimates of load-
ings of critical pollutants to the Lake in order to provide
accurate information for updates of the Lake-wide Man-
agement Plan. Data from the program are also shared
with modelers for use with the Lake Ontario Mass Bal-
ance Model, and with the State, who can use it to sup-
plement their ambient data for 303(d) reporting. The
regional laboratory provides analysis of all 209 PCB
Congeners at the part per quadrillion (ppq) level. The
laboratory uses a modified version of EPA Method
1668A, published by the Office of Water in December,
1999. This method uses a High Resolution Gas Chro-
matograph/Mass Spectrometer and identifies pollutants
at the trace levels required by the Lake Ontario Water-
shed monitoring program.
Delaware Estuary Benthic Survey Initiated:
In FY2008, the most comprehensive benthic survey
ever performed on the Delaware estuary was launched.
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is the lead or-
ganization on this project which involves sampling up to
250 stations at the mouth of the estuary (brackish to
fresh waters.) The study involves probabilistic sampling
across strata defined by salinity and sediment-type.
The regional laboratory provided analysis of 200+ sedi-
ment samples for metals, total organic carbon, and grain
size.
Anticipated outcomes of the project include:
1) a comprehensive inventory of benthic species, knowl-
edge essential for resource protection and restoration;
2) an assessment of the health of the estuary's benthic
communities, providing a baseline for future monitoring
and assessment;
3) spatial integration of biological information with bathy-
metric and sediment distribution mapping.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Goal 5: Compliance and Environmental Stewardship
Improve environmental performance through compliance
with environmental requirements, preventing pollution, and
promoting environmental stewardship. Protect human
health and the environment by encouraging innovation and
providing incentives for governments, businesses, and the
public that promote environmental stewardship.
Compliance with and enforcement of environmental
laws are key elements of EPA's goal to improve environ-
mental performance. The regional laboratories provide
significant technical and analytical support to both re-
gional and national civil enforcement cases including the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit program. In 2008, the regional labora-
tories provided analyses of over 900 samples to support
a variety of criminal enforcement actions. Some of the
highlights of regional laboratory support for compliance
assistance, civil enforcement and criminal enforcement
are listed below.
Investigation of Potential RCRA Violations:
Analytical support was provided for a criminal investiga-
tion of a manufacturer suspected of illegally disposing of
spent solvents used in its painting operation. The spent
solvents were allegedly mixed with sawdust and dis-
posed of as solid rather than hazardous waste. The lab-
oratory provided analysis of samples for volatile organic
compounds, metals, Toxicity Characteristic Leaching
Procedure (TCLP), and flashpoint. Results from the
analyses were used by investigators to determine if the
facility had violated RCRA regulations for hazardous
waste disposal.
RCRA Enforcement:
In association with a RCRA enforcement investigation at
a major steel manufacturing facility, the regional labora-
tory completed TCLP extractions for metals, mercury,
volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds on two
dozen waste determination samples.
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA) Enforcement:
The regional laboratory provided analytical support for
the investigation of a new commercial pesticide/bacteri-
cide with improper labeling of chlorine components. A
chlorine concentration study was conducted to deter-
mine if a human health hazard existed that needed to
be added to a lawsuit against the manufacturers of the
product. The chlorine comparison study encompassed
more than 130 analyses.
Regional Laboratory Criminal Support Program:
After receiving National Environmental Laboratory Ac-
creditation Conference (NELAC) accreditation and re-
ceiving the approval of the local Criminal Investigations
Division (CID) and the EPA's National Enforcement In-
vestigations Center (NEIC), a regional laboratory re-es-
tablished its criminal investigation support program.
The lab established an SOP for criminal samples and
began accepting samples, supporting two CID investiga-
tions in FY2008.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Cross Goal Strategies
2008 Annual Repor
Many of EPA's efforts contribute to the progress toward
all five of the aforementioned goals. These efforts in-
clude strengthening partnerships with states and tribes;
expanding scientific knowledge and supporting home-
land security activities. Some examples of how the re-
gional laboratories have contributed to these
cross-agency and cross-media efforts are discussed
below.
Partnerships (state, local, tribal, etc.)
EPA is committed to strengthening its partnerships with
state, tribal, and local governments in order to make
progress towards the agency's five strategic goals.
Some examples of regional laboratory efforts in this re-
gard include:
Microbial Water Quality Test Using Quantitative
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR):
In a collaborative partnership with the local New Jersey
county health departments and the state of New Jersey,
the regional laboratory conducted the first large-scale
study using the rapid qPCR method to assess Entero-
coccus data from marine recreational waters over a
wide geographic range. The study involved sampling 20
bathing beaches and bays along the New Jersey coast.
The study design allowed for assessment of spatial,
temporal, and chemical variability associated with the
sampling locations. The purpose of this study was to
evaluate the use of qPCR technology as a more rapid
recreational water test method for Enterococcus meas-
urements, and to perform a method comparison with ex-
isting microbial methods, e.g. Membrane Filtration and
Enterolert. It is likely that the results of this study will be
used as the basis for initiating routine use of the rapid,
real-time qPCR method to monitor Enterococcus in New
Jersey marine recreational waters within the next two
years. The study results have national application in
EPA's establishment of rapid test methods for real-time
bacterial water quality assessment of recreational wa-
ters, including development of qPCR- based water qual-
ity criteria.
2008 Laboratory Technical Information Group (LTIG)
Conference:
The Region 8 laboratory hosted the 2008 Laboratory
Technical Information Group (LTIG) Conference. There
were over 50 attendees, including laboratory scientists
from the Regions, Program Offices and the Office of Re-
search and Development. The LTIG was formed in
1998 to create and sustain working relationships among
USEPA regional laboratories and other USEPA entities
(ORD, NERL, NEIC) to promote a free exchange of
technical knowledge and ideas. The LTIG goal is to cre-
ate a forum for technical discussion where chemists and
biologists from all ten regional laboratories and other
EPA labs and offices can easily communicate and ex-
change ideas on analytical methods, instrumentation
and common problems. The group has subgroups for a
variety of analytical disciplines including organic chem-
istry, inorganic chemistry, metals and microbiology.
Agenda items at the 2008 conference included Applica-
tion of Lab Data to Mining Remediation, Reducing Sol-
vent Use during Sample Extraction, Criminal
Investigations, Validation Study of CWA Analysis by
ICP, Food Emergency Response Network, World Trade
Center Dust, RCRA Methods, and Pesticide Screening
Methods among others.
Expanding Scientific Knowledge and Devel-
oping New Analytical Capabilities
Scientific knowledge and technical information are criti-
cal elements in the process of understanding and ad-
dressing complex environmental problems.
Furthermore, better analytical capabilities are funda-
mental to meeting the agency's goals. Better scientific
knowledge and analytical capabilities mean improved
assessment, better identification of data and research
needs, greater ability to track implementation of specific
solutions and more meaningful evaluation of implemen-
tation results. Regional laboratories play a unique and
critical role in enhancing EPA's ability to respond to var-
ied and technical challenges such as those presented
by emerging pollutants, complex environmental matri-
ces, and the demands for lower detection. Some exam-
ples of these efforts are described below.
Evaluation of Immunoassay Techniques:
A Regional Methods Initiative project to evaluate im-
munoassay test kits for the quantitative determination of
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
2008 Annual Repor
endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) continued in
FY 2008. The project is a collaborative effort between
EPA Regions III and V, ORD (NRMRL and NERL),
USGS and Abraxis, LLC. The primary objective of the
project is to determine whether commercially available
immunoassays (tests that employ antibodies as analyti-
cal agents) are able to accurately and reliably analyze
common water samples for selected EDCs. Currently,
high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), or liquid
chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) are the
primary methods used to detect EDCs; however, im-
munoassay techniques, particularly enzyme-linked im-
munosorbent assay (ELISA), are becoming increasingly
popular due to their sensitivity, short analysis time, and
cost-effectiveness. Over four weeks, four different types
of water samples (Dl water, surface water, WWTP influ-
ent and effluent) spiked with EDC's were analyzed using
both immunoassay (ELISA) test kits and GC-MS, and
the results compared. If verified, the immunoassay test
kits could be used by EPA, state and local programs as
a screening tool, since they are much faster and more
cost effective than the conventional GC-MS, HPLC, or
LC-MS methods. This verification is being conducted
under the auspices of EPA's Environmental Technology
Verification Program.
Method 8261A Vacuum Distillation:
A regional laboratory developed the capability to per-
form EPASW846 Method 8261 A, "Volatile Organic
Compounds by Vacuum Distillation in Combination with
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (VD/GC/MS)."
This method is based on a vacuum distillation and cryo-
genic trapping procedure (Method 5032) followed by
gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The
method incorporates internal standard-based matrix cor-
rection, where the analysis of multiple internal standards
is used to predict matrix effects. The normalization of
matrix effects has the impact of making Method 8261
analyses matrix independent and allows multiple matri-
ces to be analyzed within a sample batch. As a result,
the calculations involved are specific to this method, and
may not be used with data generated by another
method. This method is used to determine the concen-
trations of volatile organic compounds, and some low-
boiling semivolatile organic compounds, in a variety of
liquid, solid, and oily waste matrices, as well as animal
tissues. This method differs from Method 5032/8260 in
the use of internal standards to measure matrix effects
and compensate for analyte responses for matrix ef-
fects. This method is applicable to nearly all types of
matrices, including water, soil, sediment, sludge, oil, and
animal tissue. This method should be considered for
samples where matrix effects are anticipated to severely
impact analytical results. The method can be used to
quantitate most volatile organic compounds that have a
boiling point below 245°C and a water-to-air partition co-
efficient below 15,000, which includes compounds that
are miscible with water. Note that this range includes
compounds not normally considered to be volatile ana-
lytes (e.g., nitrosamines, aniline, and pyridine). This
capability has been applied toward Superfund projects.
Transferability of Drinking Water Liquid Chromatog-
raphy Mass Spectrometer (LC/MS) Libraries:
The Waters Corporation/EPA LC/MS library protocol
was verified through an inter-laboratory study that in-
volved federal, state, and private laboratories. The re-
sults demonstrated that the libraries are transferable
between the same manufacturer's product lines, and
have applicability between manufacturers. The ion ra-
tios within a mass spectrum were different between two
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
manufacturers' instruments, but the same product ions
were usually observed. Despite the ion ratio differ-
ences, the NIST search engine's match probability was
96 percent or greater for 64 out of 67 of the compounds.
Through a cooperative research and development
agreement (CRADA) between Waters Corporation and
the regional laboratory, the libraries and protocol are
available free of charge. This allows environmental lab-
oratories to search the LC/MS library to tentatively iden-
tify a substance of concern which can be further
confirmed using the library protocol to identify product
ion spectra (LC/MS/MS). This is a fast screening tech-
nique that aids in the identification of substances of con-
cern in drinking water threat situations.
Laboratory Validation of EPA Methods:
Analytical support was provided to the Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water for the second laboratory vali-
dation of EPA Method 523, Rev. 2, "Determination of Tri-
azine Pesticides and Their Degradates in Drinking
Water by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
(GC/MS)." Method 523 is an improvement to existing
methods for herbicides in drinking water because it in-
cludes degradation products. The study included deter-
mination of Lowest Concentration Minimum Reporting
Level (LCMRL). The LCMRL is defined as the lowest
spiking concentration such that the probability of spike
recovery in the 50% to 150% range is at least 99%. This
determination was accomplished by doing sample
preparation and analysis of four replicates each of
seven different concentrations in reagent water. This
was followed by an assessment of precision and accu-
racy in real water matrices including three sets of repli-
cates of unfortified and fortified tap water.
Low Level N-Nitrosodimethylamine and 1,4-Dioxane
Analyses:
In response to a request from the regional Superfund
Division, the regional laboratory developed the capabil-
ity to analyze for n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and
1,4-dioxane in groundwater samples down to reporting
limit levels of 10 and 80 ng/L, respectively. A modified
version of EPA Method 521 was used for NDMA with
solid phase extraction, capillary GC, and chemical ion-
ization mass spectrometer-mass spectrometer (MS-
MS). EPA Method 522 was used for the 1,4-dioxane
analyses using GC/MS. These capabilities were devel-
oped in order to support evaluation of several former
Nike missile sites.
Tire Crumb Components in Playgrounds and Syn-
thetic Turf Fields:
In the spring of 2008, national attention was raised con-
cerning exposures to recycled tire crumbs in play-
grounds and artificial turf playing fields. An ad-hoc
Agency-wide workgroup was formed to determine if
samples could be collected and analyzed to begin as-
sessing the potential environmental risks from exposure
to these materials. The cross-Agency workgroup was
chaired by the National Exposure Research Labora-
tory/Office of Research and Development (NERL/ORD)
and the Office of Children's Environmental Health Pro-
tection and Environmental Education (OCHPEE) and
members included Headquarter's program offices, Re-
gional and Headquarter's communications staff and sci-
entists in several Regions.
A very limited scoping study was proposed, designed
and recommended by the science workgroup as a
means to generate consistently collected data across
the country that could be used to help determine if fur-
ther research was warranted. Most of the sampling and
analyses were performed by NERL/ORD. Because
NERL/ORD did not have air analytical capabilities, a re-
gional laboratory provide analytical support for the air
sampling. The regional laboratory had previously
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
participated as partners in the design of the scoping
study. The analytical support included analysis of ap-
proximately forty samples collected at five locations.
Certified canisters, field blanks and National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) QC samples were
prepared in the laboratory and shipped to NERL/ORD in
4 batches of 11. Samples were analyzed by GC/MS
using a TO-15 based method. Concentrations detected
were consistent with typical ambient air levels.
The challenges for conducting the study included a
short window for sampling, high public scrutiny and no
allocated funds for sampling or analysis. Basically, the
study had to be done with what ORD and the Regions
could offer for the summer/fall 2008. Capabilities of
ORD and regional labs were leveraged to produce pre-
liminary data that will guide next steps in investigating
an emerging issue.
Achieving Lower Detection Limits:
In order to meet the state drinking water detection level
requirements for reporting, the regional laboratory de-
veloped the capability to analyze 1,2,3-trichloropropane
to 0.005 ug/L. The reduced detection limit was needed
because several Superfund sites in the state were re-
quired to monitor groundwater to this lower level.
Transmission Electron Microscopy Development:
In order to meet continued demand for asbestos analy-
sis associated with Libby, Montana studies, the regional
laboratory began the early stages of establishing a
transmission electron microscopy laboratory. In FY
2008, the laboratory processed and analyzed 2518 as-
bestos samples from Libby, Montana using the polarized
light microscopy test method. This is the second year of
this environmental project with on-site quality assurance
assistance as well as laboratory analyses. The trans-
mission electron microscopy method is a more sensitive
method for asbestos.
Analysis for Perchlorate in Milk and Watermelon:
In order to assist the regional Superfund program with
an assessment of exposure to perchlorate, the regional
laboratory developed the capability to analyze for per-
chlorate in milk and watermelon samples. The samples
were collected from towns where perchlorate was
known to be a contaminant based on proximity to former
military operations. The method developed was a modi-
fied version of an FDA approach with the application of
an ion chromatograph/mass spectrometer and improved
clean-up techniques. A reporting limit of 0.8 ug/L for
perchlorate in milk was achieved.
Homeland Security
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 caused EPA
to reevaluate the types of events which might result in
environmental emergencies and require laboratory sup-
port. The ability to analyze samples for chemicals that
might be used in terrorist incidents is an important as-
pect of the EPA's emergency response responsibilities.
The ten regional laboratories have consequently made it
a high priority to provide accurate environmental data to
emergency responders and to participate in OSWER-
OEM's Environmental Response Laboratory Network
(ERLN) a high priority.
In order to enhance regional capability to respond to
emergencies, whether from natural causes or terrorist
activity, the regional laboratories are working on four
significant development projects:
Evaluating a prototype All Hazard Receipt Facil-
ity designed to screen for hazards in unknown or
suspicious samples;
Developing capability to analyze environmental
samples for chemical warfare agents and their
environmental degradation products;
Developing and testing Regional Laboratory Re-
sponse Plans (RLRPs) with state and utility labo-
ratories and other stakeholders to enable a
coordinated multi-laboratory response to a major
contamination event;
stablishment of an ERLN.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
2008 Annual Repor
All Hazard Receipt Facility (AHRF)
Following September 11, 2001 and the subsequent an-
thrax release, the public health and environmental labo-
ratory community requested that the federal government
develop a standardized approach to sample receipt and
screening under conditions designed to protect labora-
tory facilities and staff. The federal response is the de-
velopment of the prototype AHRF and the All Hazards
Screening Protocol. The AHRF and All Hazards
Screening Protocol (the Protocol) were designed to as-
sess explosive, chemical and radiological hazards that
might be associated with an unknown or suspicious
sample, and to assist laboratory managers in making
safe and appropriate decisions about sample accept-
ance and further laboratory analysis.
EPA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD),
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Center for Dis-
ease Control (CDC), are evaluating the efficacy of the
AHRF and Protocol as critical steps toward building an
environmental laboratory network capable of responding
to terrorist incidents. Evaluation of the prototype AHRF
will result in a standard describing critical laboratory de-
sign and engineering criteria and a robust unknown
sample screening protocol which can be flexibly inte-
grated into public health and environmental laboratories
requiring the capability to screen unknown samples
throughout the country.
Status: Two prototype AHRFs were delivered in late
2006, one to a Regional Laboratory and the other to a
State Public Health Laboratory. In 2007, the partner fed-
eral agencies conducted evaluations of the efficacy of
the prototype AHRFs, the testing protocol and associ-
ated laboratory equipment. The final evaluation report
was completed by ORD National Homeland Security
Research Center in early 2008. The conclusion of the
evaluation resulted in further adjustments to the screen-
ing protocol as suggested by the subject matter experts
from EPA, FBI, and DoD. The final protocol revisions
were tested with a series of surrogate samples at the
EPA test site in the spring of 2008. DHS and EPA ac-
cepted comments on the AHRF program and the evalu-
ation of the prototypes during an open session held in
June 2008 during the APHL annual meeting. As a result
of this session the AHRF protocol was jointly published
by EPA and DHS in September 2008 and DHS initiated
a follow-on task with DoD to develop tiered guidance for
construction of AHRF facilities at fixed laboratories.
1
Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) Fixed Labo-
ratory Pilot Project
Five regional and two state laboratories are participating
in a DHS/OSWER-funded project to develop an ability to
analyze samples for specialized chemicals that might be
used in terrorist incidents. This new EPA regional labo-
ratory capability will allow confirmation of CWAs in envi-
ronmental samples, such as soil, debris, and water
samples, associated with the clean up of sites contami-
nated from a terrorist incident.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
2008 Annual Repor
In 2006, in response to the findings of the White House
Chemical End to End Assessment, DHS launched an ef-
fort to address a critical national vulnerability by sub-
stantially increasing the laboratory capacity for analysis
of chemical warfare agents (CWA) in environmental
samples. DHS and EPA selected two EPA regional lab-
oratories and one state laboratory as the Phase I pilot
sites to establish CWA capability in the northeast. In
2007, DHS and EPA selected four Phase II pilot labora-
tories (three EPA and one state) in the west and south-
east to expand national capacity.
Status: During 2008, the three Phase I pilot laborato-
ries, trained analytical staff to handle agents, received
initial shipments of CWA calibration materials, and took
steps to complete laboratory preparation for method val-
idation work. The four Phase II laboratories have iden-
tified gaps in their laboratories and begun necessary
infrastructure, documentation and instrumentation up-
grades. Several EPA offices are providing critical tech-
nical support to the CWA pilot laboratories. In 2008,
EPA's National Homeland Security Research Center
(NHSRC) completed a single-laboratory evaluation of
microscale extraction procedures for preparation and
analysis of aqueous and solid samples containing nerve
and blister agent (GF, GB, GD (GD1 and GD2), VX, HD)
residues. Single-laboratory evaluation of procedures for
wipes and Ottawa sand are underway and should be
completed by early 2009. A number of EPA Regional
labs are assisting ORD NHSRC with method develop-
ment for CWA degradation products as a part of the
overall effort. Region 5 has developed LCMSMS meth-
ods for selected degradation products and Region 7 is
performing similar work for other products using ICPMS.
As the methods are developed other regions are partici-
pating in multi-laboratory validation studies to demon-
strate method performance.
Drinking Water Regional Laboratory Re-
sponse Planning
Over the past two years the EPA Water Security Division
(WSD) has sponsored a nationwide project to increase
laboratory cooperation for response to drinking water
emergencies. This effort, the Drinking Water Laboratory
Response Preparedness Project, was designed to im-
prove intra-regional laboratory cooperation for response
to actual or suspected water contamination incidents.
The project, developed in partnership with EPA regional,
drinking water utility and state laboratories, responds to
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9, which
charges EPA with developing a comprehensive, nation-
wide surveillance program for water quality and a labo-
ratory network to support such a program.
Status: In 2007 a Regional Laboratory Response Plan
(RLRP) was developed by each regional laboratory in
partnership with state and water utility laboratories.
During 2008, Functional Exercises were conducted at
each EPA Region to test Regional Laboratory Response
Plans (RLRPs).
Eleven separate exercises (ten regions plus an inde-
pendent test in Hawaii) were conducted between Febru-
ary and September, 2008 involving a total of sixty-four
participating laboratories. These exercises focused on
testing and evaluating the RLRP and the roles of mem-
ber laboratories during a potential contamination event
impacting a drinking water system.
The goals of the functional exercise program
were to:
Reveal procedural weaknesses in each region's
RLRP;
Practice and improve coordination between and
among RLRP member laboratories;
Identify additional systems and mechanisms
needed to provide sample transport, data trans-
fer, and analytical support for a drinking water
contamination event;
Define factors associated with analysis including
method selection, required level of quality control
(QC), and analytical time constraints;
Fine-tune processes associated with data, includ-
ing reporting, transfer, and compilation.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Cross Goal Strategies (cont.)
ERLN
In 2008 the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Re-
sponse launched the Environmental Response Labora-
tory Network (ERLN). The initial launch of the ERLN
included the ten regional laboratories and two state lab-
oratories with unique testing capabilities. In 2009 the
network will be expanded to include additional state and
commercial laboratories. OSWER established the ERLN
as an Agency asset to ensure sufficient analytical capa-
bility and capacity to respond to routine accidents as
well as nationally significant incidents, such as terrorist
attacks involving weapons of mass destruction and for
other purposes such as surveillance and monitoring.
The ERLN is an Agency-wide, integrated network requir-
ing coordination across offices to cover chemical (in-
cluding toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare
agents), biological, and radiological/nuclear agents in
drinking water and all other environmental media. It is a
scalable network which expands and/or leverages exist-
ing laboratory infrastructure and networks, and is de-
signed to implement responsibilities under Homeland
Security Presidential Directives 7, 9, 10 and 22. As a
charter member of the Integrated Consortium of Labora-
tory Networks (ICLN), EPA also coordinates externally
with other Federal laboratory networks to produce
timely, high quality, interpretable data.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Section
Quality Systems
The policy of the regional laboratories is to conduct all
business with integrity and in an ethical manner. It is the
basic and expected responsibility of each staff member
and each manager to adhere to EPA's Principles of Sci-
entific Integrity, dated November 24, 1999. This policy
statement has been incorporated into the quality man-
agement plans of all the regional laboratories. It pro-
vides the foundation for the inclusion of ethics and
ethics training into the quality systems to insure the pro-
duction of data that is scientifically sound and defensi-
ble.
Evaluation and accreditation of the regional laboratories
is crucial to ensuring the quality of environmental data.
In part, as a response to EPA's January 6, 2004 policy
directive "Ensuring the Competency of Environmental
Protection Laboratories," EPA's regional laboratories are
committed to accreditation through the National Environ-
mental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP).
NELAP is the program that implements the quality sys-
tem standards adopted by the National Environmental
Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC). Both
the NELAC standards and the NELAP program fall
under the recently formed NELAC Institute (TNI.) The
TNI is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to
foster the generation of environmental data of known
and documented quality through an open, inclusive, and
transparent process that is responsive to the needs of
the community.
Nine out of ten of the EPA regional laboratories have re-
ceived and are currently maintaining accreditation
through NELAP for the analysis of samples in one or
more of the following matrices: drinking water, non-
potable water, solid and chemical materials, and air and
emissions. In FY 2008, five regional laboratories were
due for biennial on-site re-accreditation assessments.
All five laboratories completed their scheduled assess-
ments and were successfully re-accredited by NELAP.
In order to maintain and improve the regional laboratory
quality systems, regional laboratories regularly conduct
internal audits, participate in performance evaluation
studies, and review and revise quality management
plans and standard operating procedures as necessary.
In FY 2008, four of the ten regional laboratories com-
pleted audits of their QA system either by internal quality
assurance programs or state programs.
One notable activity related to quality system improve-
ments is described below:
Improved Management of Laboratory SOPs:
In order to make it easier to keep all SOPs current and
in order to assure that all staff members are following
only the current SOPs, a regional laboratory is using a
Lotus Notes based database as an electronic document
control system. The system includes all sampling, ana-
lytical, health & safety, quality systems, and facility oper-
ations Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Write
access for entering, editing, and archiving the controlled
documents in the database is limited to designated Doc-
ument Control Contact staff. All staff have read rights
and can access the database from anywhere they can
access the Lotus Notes system. All staff must read and
attest to all SOPs that are relevant to their functions. At-
testing can be done electronically in the Lotus Notes
database. The system can generate reports showing
staff that have attested to a particular document, or
which documents have been attested to by a particular
staff member. An automated e-mail notification system
alerts staff to read and attest to new or updated SOPs
and reminds them of annual review requirements. Ana-
lytical SOPs in the database are cross-referenced with
their LIMS analysis code, and with sample collection
and preservation information.
Sustainability
Sustainability covers a variety of elements that are es-
sential to effective laboratory operation. These include
environmental management, health and safety, and fa-
cilities management. In recent years, identifying and im-
plementing long-term efficiencies and cost saving
opportunities within the regional laboratory network has
become another key Sustainability issue.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
Section III (cont.)
While supporting the EPA goals is the primary mission
of the regional laboratories, they also strive to be good
environmental stewards and to provide a healthy and
safe working environment for their employees. The rep-
utation of the regional laboratory is judged by the quality
of science it offers to regional and national programs.
Far less visible, but no less important, is the diligence
and commitment of laboratory management and staff to
supporting the infrastructure required to deliver the sci-
ence.
i. Identifying and Maximizing Efficiencies
In FY2008, the ten regional laboratories continued their
efforts to identify and implement long-term efficiencies
and cost saving opportunities within the regional labora-
tory network. These efforts included investigating op-
portunities to reduce individual laboratory costs, improve
energy and water conservation, and evaluating strategic
sourcing options. A few notable examples of these ef-
forts are described here.
Equipment Replacement:
Existing autoanalyzers for mineral and nutrient colori-
metric tests were replaced with a discrete analyzer. On
average, per test, the discrete analyzer uses 10 times
less reagent per sample, and generates 10 times less
waste per sample. It also reduces analyst time through
its' multitasking capabilities, allowing up to six different
chemical tests to run on a large batch of samples. The
former system could only run one or two chemical tests
per instrument. The discrete analyzer can also analyze
one sample while mixing reagents for subsequent
chemical tests on the same sample.
Laboratory Vacuum System Upgrade:
The existing laboratory vacuum system was upgraded
and replaced in FY 2008 resulting in an annual water
usage reduction of 5,000 gallons.
ii. Environmental Management
EPA continues to move forward to integrate and utilize
environmental management systems (EMS) as the
framework for enhancing its environmental perform-
ance, reducing its environmental footprint, and demon-
strating its leadership in environmental stewardship.
Likewise, the regional laboratories are committed to em-
ploying EMS in order to prevent and reduce environ-
mental impacts and in order to comply with legal and
applicable requirements. Most laboratory EMSs were
established over three years ago. However, EPA is re-
quired to periodically declare that its EMSs conform to
the requirements expressed in Executive Order (E.O.)
13423, "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy
and Transportation Management." In FY 2008, all re-
gional laboratories conducted conformance reviews of
their EMSs in preparation for the required triennial dec-
laration of conformance. All ten regional laboratories
completed their declaration of conformance by the
deadline of December 31, 2008.
In addition, Executive Order (E.O.) 13423 requires all
Federal agencies to submit a report summarizing the
status of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
implementation at appropriate organizations. EPA's per-
formance in this regard is an integral metric of OMB's
annual Environmental Stewardship Scorecard. In FY
2008, 9 out of 10 regional laboratories were rated
"green" with regard to their EMS performance.
Other notable environmental management measures
implemented at the regional laboratories include:
Regional Office Building - Green Roof:
Rooftop gardens are now a part of the regional office
building. The green roof helps reduce stormwater runoff,
filter pollutants from stormwater, and contribute to over-
all sustainability by reducing building energy needs and
minimizing urban heat island effects. The regional labo-
ratory supports green roof research and maintains a
rooftop weather station for the project.
Facility-wide Recycling:
After the existing recycling service provided by their
solid waste vendor was terminated, the regional labora-
tory established its own facility-wide recycling program.
In FY 2008, the new program delivered over 3600
pounds of recyclables (paper, cardboard, plastic, glass,
batteries, electronics and aluminum) to a local recycling
facility.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Section III (cont.)
FY 2008 Annual Report
iii. Health and Safety
The health and safety of laboratory personnel is the
most important laboratory management imperative. The
usage of glassware, fire and heat, high-pressure com-
pressed gases or liquefied gases, solvents and contami-
nated samples combine to increase the probability for
accidents and creates safety concerns that make labo-
ratories inherently more risky than office environments.
All of the EPA's laboratories have invested heavily in
their health and safety programs and have an excellent
safety record as proof of their efforts. Highlights of
health and safety activities for the past year include:
All laboratories have medical monitoring pro-
grams to evaluate and track the health of those
employees with a significant possibility of work-
place exposure to hazardous compounds;
All regional laboratories undergo a periodic,
comprehensive audit of safety, health, environ-
mental compliance and internal controls by the
Headquarter's Safety, Health and Environmental
Management Division;
Regional laboratories have active health and
safety committees that are well represented by
laboratory employees. These committees pro-
vide a forum for discussing safety and health is-
sues, and assist the safety officer in planning
training activities and organizing safety inspec-
tions;
All laboratories conduct annual refresher health
and safety training. New employees receive 24-
hour course training in health and safety.
iv. Facilities Management
EPA regional laboratories are housed in various types of
facilities; from converted World War I buildings to the lat-
est architectural designs which incorporate energy effi-
ciency and make use of alternative fuel sources. While
some facilities are U.S. Government owned, most are
operated under lease agreements through the General
Services Administration. The regional laboratories are
home to fixed laboratory functions, field investigation
functions, and mobile laboratories. Facilities manage-
ment involves not only day-to-day oversight activities for
proper maintenance, but the planning, budgeting, and
construction of needed modifications such as building
expansions and upgrades of servicing equipment.
Future Challenges
Each regional laboratory is a center of applied scientific
support that meets the unique needs of its geographical
region, states and tribes. As environmental analytical
laboratories, all ten organizations share many long-term
and short-term challenges to meeting their goals. The
following challenges represent a summary of those
needs identified by the regional laboratories.
Ability to meet customer needs as the demand
for quicker turnaround times for analytical results
continue to be the trend in Superfund removal
actions and emergency response;
Ability to balance increasing demands for scien-
tific support with static or decreasing staffing lev-
els and loss of expertise due to retirement of
senior scientists;
Ability to maintain and expand capacity to pro-
vide analytical services in a cost-effective and
efficient manner;
Ability to remain flexible and cultivate the neces-
sary foresight to meet changing analytical needs
and to address emerging pollutants and contam-
inants of concern;
Maintenance of accreditation under the National
Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Confer-
ence (NELAC);
Expansion of collaborative efforts with the scien-
tific community in order to advance the science
of environmental monitoring and analysis;
Involvement in a variety of efforts to support
Homeland Security including establishment of
an intergovernmental Environmental Response
Laboratory Network (ERLN); development of
analytical capabilities to give appropriate analyti-
cal support in emergency situations; and acqui-
sition of necessary training for the identification
and measurement of unknown threat agents.
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
Section III (cont.)
2008 Annual Repor
Meeting the Challenge
The regional laboratories play a key role in supporting
the Agency's strategic goals and provide significant sci-
entific foundations to meet these goals. In addition to
supporting national laboratory program initiatives, the
laboratories provide strong science and laboratory capa-
bilities for the regions. The laboratories are a crucial part
of the integrated analytical capacity needed to meet
specific environmental objectives on a global, national,
regional and local basis. As EPA moves into the future,
the regional laboratories will take on a variety of chal-
lenges in order to continue their support for the mission
of the Agency. The regional laboratories intend to meet
these challenges by, among other activities:
Identifying and addressing priorities;
Identifying and implementing additional long-
term efficiencies and cost saving opportunities;
Maintaining highly skilled laboratory staff through
training, employee development, scientific col-
laborations, and technology and information;
transfer;
Updating laboratory equipment in order to in-
crease analytical capabilities;
Identifying opportunities for regional laboratories
to pool their efforts in order to address high prior-
ity projects;
Staying current with technology and science is-
sues relating to analytical methodology, instru-
mentation and emerging pollutants of concern;
Exploring opportunities for alternative/additional
mechanisms for financial support;
Improved marketing of services and capabilities;
Enhancing communication and coordination with
programs;
Intra-regional networking with other governmen-
tal and private sector laboratories to improve
communications, coordinate development efforts
and provide mutual support.
-------
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
Ni\v F.MUAND RKGIONAI LABORATORY
II TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
i-*''''' -'.
. -1 • •* +-yt»a&*w -« -Ji&j&r •,
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2008 Annual Report
EPA Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities - FY 2008
1. Chemistry
ANALYTE / GROUP
NAME
SAMPLE MEDIA
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY:
Acidity
Alkalinity
Asbestos
Chloride
Chromium,
Hexavalent (Cr+6)
Cyanide, Amenable
Cyanide, Total
Fluoride
Hardness
Mercury, Total
Mercury, Total
Mercury (TCLP)
Metals, Total
Metals (TCLP)
Metals, Total
Metals (TCLP)
Metals, Total
Metals (TCLP)
Water
Water
Solids/Bulk material
Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Water
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste
Water
Water
Water
Water
Water
Water
Soil/Sediment
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Soil/Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil /Sediment
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Soil/Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Tissue (Fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Soil/Waste (oil, drum, etc.)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Tissue (Fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Soil/Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Titrametric
Titrametric
PLM
PLM
Colorimetric
1C
Titrametric
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C
1C
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
ISE
1C
Colorimetric
Titrametric
ICP/Calculation
CVAA
CVAA
CVAA
CVAA
CVAA
ICP /AES
ICP /AES
ICP /AES
ICP /AES
ICP /AES
GFAA
GFAA
GFAA
GFAA
GFAA
ICP/MS
ICP/MS
ICP/MS
ICP/MS
ICP/MS
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2008 Annual Report
EPA Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities - FY 2008
I. Chemistry (continued)
ANALYTE / GROUP
NAME
Nitrogen (Ammonia)
Nitrogen
(NO3 &/or NO2)
Nitrogen,
Total Kjeldahl
Perchlorate
Phosphorus, Ortho
Phosphorus, Total
Sulfate
SAMPLE MEDIA
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Water, Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Water
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
Water
Soil
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
Electrode
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C
1C
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C
1C
1C with LC/MS confir-
mation
LC/MS
LC/MS/MS
Colorimetric
1C
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C
1C
Turbidimetric
Turbidimetric
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
4
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
5
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
7
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
8
X
X
X
X
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
10
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY:
Sulfide
BNA
BNA (TCLP)
BNA(TPH)
BOD
COD
EDB& DBCP
Herbicides
Water
Soil
Water
Water
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Solid/Waste
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Water
Water
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
1C, Turbidimetric
Titrimetric
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS or GC
GC/MS or GC
Membrane Electrode
Photometric
Colorimetric
GC/ECD
GC/ECD; GC/NPD
GC/ECD; GC/NPD
GC/ECD; GC/NPD
GC/ECD; GC/NPD
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2008 Annual Report
EPA Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities - FY 2008
I. Chemistry (continued)
ANALYTE / GROUP
NAME
Herbicides (TCLP)
Oil & Grease
Pesticides / PCBs
Pesticides (TCLP)
Phenolics
PAHs
TOC
VGA
VOA (TCLP)
VOA(TPH)
SAMPLE MEDIA
Solid/Waste
Solid/Waste
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Solid/Waste
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Soil/Sediment
Air
Tissue (fish &/or plant)
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil
Water
Water
Soil/Sediment
Air
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Solid/Waste
Water
Soil/Sediment
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
GC/ECD
HPLC/UV Detection
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
GC/ECD
GC/ECD
GC/ECD
GC/ECD
GC/ECD
Colorimetric
Colorimetric
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
Combustion / IR
Combustion / IR
UV/Persulfate
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC/MS
GC
GC
GC
GC/MS
GC/MS or GC
GC/MS or GC
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
4
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
5
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
7
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
8
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
10
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
II. Biology
ANALYTE / GROUP
NAME
Coliform, Total
Coliform, Fecal
E. coli
Toxicity
(Acute & Chronic)
SAMPLE MEDIA
Water, Soil &/or Sludge
Water, Soil &/or Sludge
Water, Soil &/or Sludge
Water
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
Various
Various
Various
Fathead,
Ceriodaphnia
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
X
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
X
4
5
6
X
X
X
X
7
8
X
X
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
10
X
X
X
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2008 Annual Report
EPA Regional Laboratories Core Capabilities - FY 2008
I. Physical & Other Determinations
ANALYTE / GROUP
NAME
SAMPLE MEDIA
Aqueous/Liquid
Conductivity
Ignitability
PH
Solids,
Non-Filterable
Solids, Percent
Solids, Total
Solids,
Total Dissolved
Solids,
Total Volatile
Turbidity
Waste (oil, drum, etc.)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Waste (oil, drum, etc..)
Water
Soil/Sediment
Water
Water
Water
Water
ANALYTICAL TECH-
NIQUE
Pensky-Marten
or Seta
Specific
Conductance
Pensky-Marten or Seta
Closed Cup
Pensky-Marten or Seta
Closed Cup
Electrometric
Electrometric
Electrometric
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
Gravimetric
Nephelometric
REGIONAL CAPABILITY
1
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
4
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
5
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
7
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
8
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
10
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
2008 Annual Repor
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2008 Annual Report
Abbreviations
AHRF All Hazard Receipt Facility
APEs Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
APHL Association of Public Health Laboratories
AQS Air Quality System
BNA Base/Neutrals and Acids Extractable Organics
BOD Biological Oxygen Demand
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CID Criminal Investigation Division
CDC Center for Disease Control
COD Chemical Oxygen Demand
CRADA Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
CSX CSX Transportation, Inc.
CVAA Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
CWA Chemical Warfare Agent
CWA Clean Water Act
DBCP Dibromochloroproprane
DC District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
DCE 1-dichloroethene
DDOE District Department of the Environment
DDT Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
DHS Department of Homeland Security
Dl De-ionized
DoD Department of Defense
EDB Ethylene dibromide
EDCs Endocrine Disrupting Compounds
ELISA Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
EMS Environmental Management Systems
EO Executive Order
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ERLN Environmental Response Laboratory Network
eLRN Environmental Response Laboratory Network
FAD Filtration Avoidance Determination
FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation
FDA Federal Drug Administration
FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
FY Fiscal Year
GB Chemical Warfare Agent
GC Gas Chromatography
GC/ECD GC/Electron Capture Detector
GC/MS Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
GC/NPD GC/Nitrogen - Phosphorus Detector
GC/ECD/PID Gas Chromatograph/Electron Captured Detector/Photo-Ionization Detector
GD Chemical Warfare Agent
GF Chemical Warfare Agent
GFAA Graphic Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
HD Chemical Warfare Agent
HPLC High Performance Liquid Chromatography
1C Ion Chromatography
ICLN Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks
ICP Inductively Coupled Plasma
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2008 Annual Report
Abbreviations
ICP/AES ICP/Atomic Emission Spectrometry
ICPMS Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
IR Infrared
ISE Ion Selective Electrode
LCMRL Lowest Concentration Minimum Reporting Level
LC-MS Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
LC/MS/MS Liquid Chromatography/Dual MS
LEED Leadership in Energy and Environment Design
LIMS Laboratory Information Management System
LT2 Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
LTIG Laboratory Technical Information Group
LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank
mg/L Milligrams/liter
MS-MS Mass Spectrometer-Mass Spectrometer
NDMA N-Nitrosodimethylamine
NEIC National Enforcement Investigations Division
NELAC National Environmental Lab Accreditation Conference
NELAP National Environmental Lab Accreditation Program
NERL National Exposure Research Laboratory
NHSRC National Homeland Security Research Center
NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology
NLA National Lakes Assessment
NOx Nitrogen Oxide
NO3 Nitrate
NO2 Nitrite
NPAP National Performance Audit Program
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NRMRL National Risk Management Research Lab
NRSA National Rivers and Streams Assessment
OCHPEE Office of Children's Environmental health Protection and Environmental Education
OEM Office of Emergency Management
OMB Office of Management & Budget
ORD Office of Research & Development
OSWER Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response
PAHs Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
PCB Polychlorinated biphenyl
PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction
PEP Performance Evaluation Program
PLM Polarized Light Microscopy
PM Particulate Matter
POTW Publicly Owned Treatment Works
ppq part per quadrillion
PPCP Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products
QA Quality Assurance
QAPP Quality Assurance Project Plans
QC Quality Control
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RLRPs Regional Laboratory Response Plans
SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
EPA-930-R-09-.
-------
US EPA Regional Laboratory System
FY 2008 Annual Report
Abbreviations
SRP Standard Reference Photometer
SO2 Sulfur Dioxide
SW Solid Waste
TCLP Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
TNI The NELAC Institute
TOC Total Organic Carbon
TO-15 Toxic Organic 15
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act
ug/L Micrograms/liter
USGS United States Geological Service
VD/GC/MS Vacuum Distillation in Combination with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
VOA Volatile Organic Analytes/Analyses
VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds
VX Chemical Warfare Agent (nerve agent)
WSC Water Security Division
WTC World Trade Center
WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant
303(d) Clean Water Act Section/ Total Maximum Daily Loads
EPA-930-R-09-.
------- |