r/EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
August 2009
Office of Analytical Services & Quality Assurai
Laboratory Branch
Environmental Science Center
Fort Meade, Maryland
Contacts
Office of Analytical Services &
Quality Assurance
Laboratory Branch
EPA Region 3
Environmental Science Center
701 Mapes Road
Fort Meade, MD 20755-5350
Cynthia Caporale
Branch Chief
Laboratory Branch (3EA21)
caporale.cvnthia@epa.gov
410-305-2732 (voice)
410-305-3095 (fax)
Kevin Martin
Sample Coordinator
Laboratory Branch (3EA21)
martin, kevi n@epa.gov
410-305-3032 (voice)
410-305-3096 (fax)
The EPA Region 3 OASQA Laboratory provides analytical sup-
port in the Mid-Atlantic. EPA scientists ensure the quality of en-
vironmental data by using state-of-the-art instrumentation and
rigorous quality assurance methods.
Services
Organic Analysis
Inorganic Analysis (Nutrients & Wet
Chemistry)
Metals
Microbiology
Invertebrate Taxonomy
Laboratory Inspections
Technical Assistance and Training
Web Links
Environmental Science Center
Office of Analytical Services & Quality
Assurance
Lab Services
Quality Assurance
The Region 3 Laboratory conducts testing for a variety of envi-
ronmental samples, including drinking water, surface water, air,
soil, sediment, tissues, and waste drum samples. Specific ser-
vices and information on submitting samples to the laboratory
are available on the lab services website.
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Laboratory Branch
Environmental Science Center - Fort Meade, Md
Roles
Criminal Investigations
Support:
Sample analysis, interpretation
of results and expert testimony
support the Regional
enforcement and criminal
investigation efforts.
Ac(
ccreditation:
The laboratory is accredited by
the National Laboratory
Accreditation Program to
perform analyses for organic
contaminants in drinking water,
wastewater and solid waste.
ERLN Member:
As a member of the
Environmental Response
Laboratory Network, our
laboratory is part of a response
network to respond to an
environmental emergency.
For more information on
specific services or how to
submit samples to the
laboratory, please refer to
contacts list on page 1.
Organic Analysis
Perform analysis of water, soil, air, wipe,
and waste samples by various methods us-
ing GC, GC/MS, high resolution GC/MS,
HPLC/MS, and FTIR. Methods include
NPDES, SDWA, Superfund and RCRA
methods used in the analysis of volatile and
semi-volatile organics, pesticides, PCBs,
PCB congeners, nitroaromatic explosives,
chemical warfare agents and identification
of unknowns.
Metals Analysis
The metals group provides trace elemental analysis in a number of ma-
trices, including air, water, soil, sediment, wipes and tissues. Analytical
techniques performed include atomic emission spectrometry (ICP), in-
ductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), liquid chroma-
tography tied with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LC-
ICP-MS) and cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAA).
Microbiology & Invertebrate Taxonomy
For microbiology, lab conducts testing of
water samples for total coliform, fecal coli-
form, E. co//, Enterococci, and heterotro-
phic bacteria. Technical support for estua-
rine and marine invertebrate taxonomy is
provided in the form of invertebrate species
identifications, training, and QC evaluations, and is provided for state
and regional coastal bioassessments that use the benthic (or bottom-
dwelling) invertebrate community as an indicator of environmental
health. The laboratory is equipped with stereo-dissecting and com-
pound microscopes, photomicroscopy equipment, electronic biblio-
graphic databases, and an extensive collection of taxonomic literature.
Inorganics
Inorganic group conducts analysis for water quality and nutrient analysis.
Analytical techniques include Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD); Total
Organic Carbon (TOC); Colorimetric determinations of phenol, nitrogen,
and Total Cyanide (CN); ion chromatography (1C); anions; and ammonia
by continuous flow analysis (CFA).
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