United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
EPA540-F-01-012
Publication 9240.0-36FS
June 2001
vvEPA
Summary of Major Changes Made to the
Low Concentration Organic Analytical
Service for Superfund (Water Matrix)
(OLC02.1 to OLC03.2)
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Analytical Operations/Data Quality Center (5204G)
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
Under the legislative authority granted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), EPA develops standardized analytical methods for the measurement of various
pollutants in environmental samples from known or suspected hazardous waste sites. Among the pollutants that are of
concern to EPA at such sites are a series of volatile, semivolatile, and pesticide/Aroclor (pesticide/PCB) compounds that
are analyzed using Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and Gas Chromatography with an
Electron Capture Detector (GC/ECD). The Analytical Operations/Data Quality Center (AOC) of the Office of
Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR) offers an analytical service that provides data from the analysis of water
samples for low concentration organic compounds for use in the Superfund decision-making process. Through a series
of standardized procedures and a strict chain-of-custody, the low concentration organic analytical service produces data
of known and documented quality. This service is available through the Superfund Contract Laboratory Program (CLP).
OVERVIEW OF MAJOR CHANGES
The new low concentration organic analytical service
provides a technical and contractual framework for
laboratories to apply EPA/CLP analytical methods for
the preparation, detection, and quantitative
measurement of 50 volatile, 65 semivolatile, and 28
pesticide/Aroclor (pesticide/PCB) target compounds in
water samples.
i. All references to 14-day turnaround times were
removed. With OLC03.2, laboratories now have
7-, 14-, or 21-day turnaround times for analyses
after laboratory receipt of the last sample in the
Sample Delivery Group (SDG).
ii. Modified the number of days required for the
distribution of noncompliance reports to
laboratories from 10 to 7 days after data receipt.
iii. The number of volatile and semivolatile
compounds has been modified to include nine new
volatile compounds and six new semivolatile
compounds. The compounds that have been
added are detailed in the Modifications to Target
Compounds section and are shaded in Table 1.
iv. Laboratories are now required to submit a
computer-readable copy of the data contained
within data reporting forms on high-density
diskettes or via alternate means of electronic
transmission approved in advance by EPA. The
specifications of the electronic deliverable formats
are detailed in Exhibit H. Delivery will be as
specified in the laboratory Contract.
v. Preliminary results may be requested through this
analytical service, as detailed in Exhibit B.
Preliminary results consist of Form I and Form I-
TIC analytical results, by fraction, for field and
Quality Control (QC) samples, submitted via
telefacsimile or email upon prior approval by
EPA.
vi. Laboratories may be requested to perform
modified analyses, as detailed in Exhibit A. The
modifications will be within the scope of the SOW
and may include, but are not limited to, analysis of
additional analytes and/or lower quantitation
limits.
MODIFICATION TO TARGET COMPOUNDS
Since the CLP began in 1980, compounds have been
added and removed from the Target Compound List
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Table 1. Target Compound List and Contract Required Quantitation Limits (CRQLs) in ug/L (OLC03.2)
VOLATILES
Quantitation Limits
Ug/L
1. Dichlorodifluoromethane 0.5
2. Chloromethane 0.5
3. Vinyl Chloride 0.5
4. Bromomethane 0.5
5. Chloroethane 0.5
6. Trichlorofluoromethane 0.5
7. 1,1-Dichloroethene 0.5
8. l,l>Trichloro-l,2,2-trifluoroethane 0.5
9. Acetone 5
10. Carbon Bisulfide 0.5
11. MethylAcetate 0.5
12. Methylene Chloride 0.5
13. trans-1,2-Dichloroethene 0.5
14. Methyl tert-Butyl Ether 0.5
15. 1,1-Dichloroethane 0.5
16. cis-l,2-Dichloroethene 0.5
17. 2-Butanone 5
18. Bromochloromethane 0.5
19. Chloroform 0.5
20. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.5
21. Cyclohexane 0.5
22. Carbon Tetrachloride 0.5
23. Benzene 0.5
24. 1,2-Dichloroethane 0.5
25. Trichloroethene 0.5
26. Methylcyclohexane 0.5
27. 1,2-Dichloropropane 0.5
28. Bromodichloromethane 0.5
29. cis-l,3-Dichloropropene 0.5
30. 4-Methyl-2-pentanone 5
31. Toluene 0.5
32. trans-l,3-Dichloropropene 0.5
33. 1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.5
34. Tetrachloroethene 0.5
35. 2-Hexanone 5
36. Dibromochloromethane 0.5
37. 1,2-Dibromoethane 0.5
38. Chlorobenzene 0.5
39. Ethylbenzene 0.5
40. Xylenes (total) 0.5
41. Styrene 0.5
42. Bromoform 0.5
43. Isopropylbenzene 0.5
44. 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 0.5
45. 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 0.5
46. 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 0.5
47. 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.5
48. l,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane 0.5
49. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 0.5
50. 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene 0.5
SEMIVOLATILES
Quantitation Limits
Ug/L
51. Benzaldehyde
52. Phenol
53. bis-(2-Chloroethyl)ether
54. 2-Chlorophenol
55. 2-Methylphenol
... 5
... 5
... 5
... 5
... 5
56. 2,2'-oxvbis(l-Chloropropane) ... 5
57. Acetophenone 5
58. 4-Methylphenol 5
59. N-Nitroso-di-n-propylamine .... 5
60. Hexachloroethane 5
61. Nitrobenzene 5
62. Isophorone 5
63. 2-Nitrophenol 5
64. 2,4-Dimethylphenol 5
65. bis(2-Chloroethoxy)methane .... 5
66. 2,4-Dichlorophenol 5
67. Naphthalene 5
68. 4-Chloroaniline 5
69. Hexachlorobutadiene 5
70. Caprolactam 5
71. 4-Chloro-3-methylphenol 5
72. 2-Methylnaphthalene 5
73. Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 5
74. 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 5
75. 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 20
76. l,l'-Biphenyl 5
77. 2-Chloronaphthalene 5
78. 2-Nitroaniline 20
79. Dimethylphthalate 5
80. 2,6-Dinitrotoluene 5
81. Acenaphthylene 5
82. 3-Nitroaniline 20
83. Acenaphthene 5
84. 2,4-Dinitrophenol 20
85. 4-Nitrophenol 20
86. Dibenzofuran 5
87. 2,4-Dinitrotoluene 5
88. Diethylphthalate 5
89. Fluorene 5
90. 4-Chlorophenyl-phenylether .... 5
91. 4-Nitroaniline 20
92. 4,6-Dinitro-2-methylphenol 20
93. N-Nitrosodiphenylamine 5
94. 1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene 5
95. 4-Bromophenyl-phenylether .... 5
96. Hexachlorobenzene 5
97. Atrazine 5
98. Pentachlorophenol 5
99. Phenanthrene 5
100. Anthracene 5
Quantitation Limits
Ug/L
101. Di-n-butylphthalate 5
102. Fluoranthene 5
103. Pyrene 5
104. Butylbenzylphthalate 5
105. 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine 5
106. Benzo(a)anthracene 5
107. Chrysene 5
108. bis-(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate 5
109. Di-n-octylphthalate 5
110. Benzo(b)fluoranthene 5
111. Benzo(k)fluoranthene 5
112. Benzo(a)pyrene 5
113. Indeno(l,2,3-cd)pyrene 5
114. Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene 5
115. Benzo(g,h,i)perylene 5
PESTICIDES/AROCLORS
(PESTICIDES/PCBs)
116. alpha-BHC 0.01
117. beta-BHC 0.01
118. delta-BHC 0.01
119. gamma-BHC (Lindane) 0.01
120. Heptachlor 0.01
121. Aldrin 0.01
122. Heptachlor epoxide 0.01
123. Endosulfan I 0.01
124. Dieldrin 0.02
125. 4,4'-DDE 0.02
126. Endrin 0.02
127. Endosulfan II 0.02
128. 4,4'-DDD 0.02
129. Endosulfan sulfate 0.02
130. 4,4'-DDT 0.02
131. Methoxychlor 0.10
132. Endrin ketone 0.02
133. Endrin aldehyde 0.02
134. alpha-Chlordane 0.01
135. gamma-Chlordane 0.01
136. Toxaphene 1.0
137. Aroclor-1016 0.20
138. Aroclor-1221 0.40
139. Aroclor-1232 0.20
140. Aroclor-1242 0.20
141. Aroclor-1248 0.20
142. Aroclor-1254 0.20
143. Aroclor-1260 0.20
(TCL) based on advances in analytical methods,
evaluation of method performance data, and to meet the
needs of Superfund program participants. Compounds
that have been added to the SOW are shaded in Table
1. The following modifications were made to the low
concentration organic analytical service TCL:
i. New volatile compounds include:
dichlorofluoromethane; triehlorofluoromethane;
1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane; methyl
acetate; methyl tert-butyl ether; cyclohexane;
methylcyclohexane; isopropylbenzene, and 1,2,3-
trichlorobenzene.
New semivolatile compounds include:
benzaldehyde; acetophenone; caprolactam; 1,1'-
biphenyl; 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene, and
atrazine.
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MODIFICATIONS TO METHODS
Current methods have been modified in an effort to
allow CLP participants to use newer techniques or
address previous issues. The following items
summarize the modifications to the low concentration
organic analytical service:
i. Matrix Spike/Matrix Spike Duplicate (MS/MSD)
analysis has been added to this service. This is
performed only when requested by a Region for
every 20 field samples in an SDG or for each
SDG, whichever is most frequent.
ii. Method DetectionLimit(MDL) determination has
been added to this service. This is run before any
samples are analyzed under contract (annually
thereafter) and after major instrument
maintenance.
Volatiles
The following items were changed for volatiles:
i. All references to System Monitoring Compounds
(SMCs) have been removed. Deuterated
Monitoring Compounds (DMCs) will be used
instead and are added to each sample, standard,
and blank.
ii. All references to Laboratory Control Samples
(LCSs) have been removed.
Semivolatiles
The following items were added or changed for
semivolatiles:
i. All references to surrogates have been removed.
DMCs are now required to be added to each
sample, standard, and blank.
ii. All references to LCSs have been removed.
For more information, or for suggestions to improve
this analytical service, please contact:
Terry Smith
Organic Program Manager
USEPA/AOC
Ariel Rios Building (5204G)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
703-603-8849
FAX: 703-603-9112
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