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Quality Assurance References

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National QA Guidances and Requirements Documents

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ANSI/ASQC E4-1994 AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD Specifications and Guidelines for Quality Systems for Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs
EPA Order 5360.1 A2 Policy and Program Requirements for the Mandatory Agency-Wide Quality System (May 2000)
EPA Quality Manual for Environmental Programs, 5360 A1
EPA QA/G-1 Guidance for Developing Quality Systems for Environmental Programs
EPA QA/R-2 - EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans
Checklist for Reviewing EPA Quality Management Plans (QMPs)
EPA QA/G-3 - Guidance on Assessing Quality Systems
EPA QA/G-4 - Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process
EPA QA/G-4D - Decision Errors Feasibility Trials (DEFT) Software for the Data Quality Objectives Process
EPA QA/G-4HW - Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process for Hazardous Waste Sites
EPA QA/R-5 - EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans
EPA/240/B-01/003
March 2001

QA/R-5 defines the requirements and specifications for QA Project Plans (QAPPs) prepared for activities conducted by or funded by EPA. This document has been finalized and replaces QAMS-005/80. R-5 parallels the implementation requirements for QAPPs contained in the EPA Quality Manual for Environmental Programs (EPA Order 5360, July 1998), an internal policy manual.

• Link to EPA QA/R-5 document (PDF, 120 Kb, 40 pages)
EPA QA/G-5 - Guidance on Quality Assurance Project Plans
EPA/600/R-98/018
February 1998

QA/G-5 provides guidance on developing Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) that will meet EPA expectations and requirements. This document provides a linkage between the DQO process and the QAPP. It contains tips, advice, and case studies to help users develop improved QAPPs.

• Link to EPA QA/G-5 guidance document (PDF, 401 Kb, 111 pages)
EPA QA/G-5G Guidance on Geospatial Data Quality Assurance Project Plans
EPA QA/G-5i - Guidance on Data Quality Indicators
EPA QA/G-5M Quality Assurance Project Plans for Model Development and Application Projects
EPA QA/G-5S - Guidance for Choosing a Sampling Design for Environmental Data Collection
EPA QA/G-6 - Guidance for the Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
EPA/240/B-01/004
March 2001

QA/G-6 provides non-mandatory guidance to help organizations develop and document Standard Operating Procedures. The document contains advice and examples to help users develop improved SOPs.

• Link to EPA QA/G-6 guidance document (PDF, 125 Kb, 58 pages)
EPA QA/G-7 - Guidance on Technical Audits and Related Assessments
EPA QA/G-8 - Guidance on Environmental Data Verification and Validation
EPA/240/R-02/004
November 2002

QA/G-8 provides non-mandatory guidance to assist users in verifying and validating environmental data. The guidance discusses alternative approaches to data validation, including examples of statistics-based validation techniques, and options for verifying that the validated data satisfy relevant claims about their authenticity and quality.

• Link to EPA QA/G-8 guidance document (PDF, 387 Kb, 96 pages)
EPA QA/G-9R - Data Quality Assessment: A Reviewer's Guide
EPA QA/G-9S - Data Quality Assessment: Statistical Tools for Practitioners
EPA/240/B-06/003
February 2006

This document can be considered the technical aspect of G-9R. The document is designed as a "tool-box" of useful techniques in assessing the quality of data. The overall structure of the document will enable the analyst to investigate many different problems using a systematic methodology. For more information and resources, see Tools - Data Quality Assessment. Link to EPA QA/G-9S guidance document (PDF, 1.5Mb, 198 pages)

EPA QA/G-9D - Data Quality Assessment Statistical Toolbox - DataQUEST
QA/G-9D is a software package that implements the statistical methods described in QA/G-9. DataQUEST provides a quick and easy means for managers, analysts, or those unfamiliar with standard statistical packages to review data and verify assumptions on those data.

Final Version: EPA/600/R-96/085, December 1997

Note: this document is no longer available. For links to other free software for performing data quality assessments, see Quality Related Resources - Software. EPA has a SAS site license for EPA employees - for information, email: <quality@epa.gov>
EPA QA/G-10 - Guidance for Developing a Training Program for Quality Systems
EPA QA/G-11 Guidance on Quality Assurance for Environmental Technology Design, Construction, and Operation
EPA/240/B-05/001
January 2005

QA/G-11 provides guidance for environmental technology projects.This development will be accomplished in two phases. This document provides relevant information on the design, construction, and operation of environmental technology and the quality assurance and quality controls practices needed to support them.

• Link to EPA QA/G-11guidance document (PDF, 401 Kb, 86 pages)
NOTES

Other EPA Program and Region QA-Related Documents

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The Volunteer Monitor's Guide To Quality Assurance Project Plans
Quality Assurance Guidance for Conducting Brownfields Site Assessments
Quality Assurance Project Plan Template and Guide for Water Quality Monitoring
February 2004

This template and guide were developed and written by the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, Cook Inlet Keeper, and the University of Alaska Anchorage Environmental and Natural Resources Institute. These documents have been reviewed and approved by EPA and ADEC.

• Download QAPP Template (PDF, 92 Kb)
• Dowload QAPP Guide (PDF, 161 Kb)

CLP Superfund Analytical Services Guidance Documents

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Introduction to the Contract Laboratory Program
Contract Laboratory Program Guidance for Field Samplers

• CLP Superfund Analytical Services home

Quality Assurance References

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view most files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.

National QA Guidance and Requirements Documents

Click directly on the triangle to expand a heading and view the documents.

ANSI/ASQC E4-1994 AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD Specifications and Guidelines for Quality Systems for Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs
This is not an EPA document but is a consensus document that describes a basic set of mandatory specifications and non-mandatory guidelines by which a quality system for programs involving environmental data collection and environmental technology can be planned, implemented, and assessed. The EPA quality assurance program is based upon this consensus document. This document is available from the American Society for Quality.
EPA Order 5360.1 A2 Policy and Program Requirements for the Mandatory Agency-Wide Quality System (May 2000)
EPA Quality Manual for Environmental Programs, 5360 A1
EPA QA/G-1 Guidance for Developing Quality Systems for Environmental Programs
EPA/240/R-02/008
November 2002

Guidance on developing and documenting the elements of a functional quality system in organizations that carry out environmental data operations within or on behalf of EPA.

• Link to EPA QA/G-1 guidance document (PDF, 160 Kb, 114 pages)

EPA QA/R-2 - EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans
Checklist for Reviewing EPA Quality Management Plans (QMPs)
December 1999

This checklist is designed to be used when reviewing Quality Management Plans prepared according to EPA QA/R-2 EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans. While the primary purpose of this checklist is for internal agency review and approval of Quality Management Plans, outside parties that need to prepare Quality Management Plans may find this checklist useful. Some of the checklist items may need to be adapted, when reviewing Quality Management Plans prepared by outside parties.

• Download the QMP review checklist (PDF, 35 Kb, 15 pages)
EPA QA/G-3 - Guidance on Assessing Quality Systems
EPA QA/G-4 - Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process
EPA QA/G-4D - Decision Errors Feasibility Trials (DEFT) Software for the Data Quality Objectives Process
EPA QA/G-4HW - Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process for Hazardous Waste Sites
EPA QA/R-5 - EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans
EPA/240/B-01/003
March 2001

QA/R-5 defines the requirements and specifications for QA Project Plans (QAPPs) prepared for activities conducted by or funded by EPA. This document has been finalized and replaces QAMS-005/80. R-5 parallels the implementation requirements for QAPPs contained in the EPA Quality Manual for Environmental Programs (EPA Order 5360, July 1998), an internal policy manual.

• Link to EPA QA/R-5 document (PDF, 120 Kb, 40 pages)
EPA QA/G-5 - Guidance on Quality Assurance Project Plans
EPA QA/G-5G Guidance on Geospatial Data Quality Assurance Project Plans
EPA QA/G-5i - Guidance on Data Quality Indicators
EPA QA/G-5M Quality Assurance Project Plans for Model Development and Application Projects
EPA QA/G-5S - Guidance for Choosing a Sampling Design for Environmental Data Collection
EPA QA/G-6 - Guidance for the Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
EPA QA/G-7 - Guidance on Technical Audits and Related Assessments
EPA QA/G-8 - Guidance on Environmental Data Verification and Validation
EPA/240/R-02/004
November 2002

QA/G-8 provides non-mandatory guidance to assist users in verifying and validating environmental data. The guidance discusses alternative approaches to data validation, including examples of statistics-based validation techniques, and options for verifying that the validated data satisfy relevant claims about their authenticity and quality.

• Link to EPA QA/G-8 guidance document (PDF, 387 Kb, 96 pages)

Quality Assurance References

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view most files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.

National QA Guidance and Requirements Documents

Click directly on the triangle to expand a heading and view the documents.

ANSI/ASQC E4-1994 AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD Specifications and Guidelines for Quality Systems for Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs
EPA Order 5360.1 A2 Policy and Program Requirements for the Mandatory Agency-Wide Quality System (May 2000)
EPA Quality Manual for Environmental Programs, 5360 A1
EPA QA/G-1 Guidance for Developing Quality Systems for Environmental Programs
EPA QA/R-2 - EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans
Checklist for Reviewing EPA Quality Management Plans (QMPs)
EPA QA/G-3 - Guidance on Assessing Quality Systems
EPA QA/G-4 - Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process
EPA QA/G-4D - Decision Errors Feasibility Trials (DEFT) Software for the Data Quality Objectives Process
EPA/240/B-01/007
September 2001

QA/G-4D is a PC-based software package designed to determine the feasibility of data quality objectives defined using the Data Quality Objectives (DQO) process. The software supplements the guidance provided in EPA QA/G-4. The previous DOS-based software has been replaced with a Windows-based software program.

• Link to the User's Guide (PDF, 275 Kb, 59 pages)

• Link to the DEFT Software for Windows (*.exe self-extracting ZIP file, 436 Kb).
EPA QA/G-4HW - Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process for Hazardous Waste Sites
EPA QA/R-5 - EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans
EPA QA/G-5 - Guidance on Quality Assurance Project Plans
EPA QA/G-5G Guidance on Geospatial Data Quality Assurance Project Plans
EPA QA/G-5i - Guidance on Data Quality Indicators
EPA QA/G-5M Quality Assurance Project Plans for Model Development and Application Projects
EPA QA/G-5S - Guidance for Choosing a Sampling Design for Environmental Data Collection
EPA/240/R-02/005
December 2002

QA/G-5S provides guidance on applying standard statistical sampling designs (such as simple random sampling) and more advanced sampling designs (such as ranked set sampling, adaptive cluster sampling) to environmental applications.

• Link to EPA QA/G-5S guidance document (PDF, 1.1 Mb, 178 pages)
EPA QA/G-6 - Guidance for the Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
EPA QA/G-7 - Guidance on Technical Audits and Related Assessments
EPA QA/G-8 - Guidance on Environmental Data Verification and Validation

Integrating Quality Assurance into Tribal Water Programs: A Resource Guide for Reliable Water Quality Data Collection
EPA Region 4 Enforcement and Investigations Branch Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Assurance Manual
Uniform Federal Policy for Implementing Environmental Quality Systems:

Region 10 QA Documents

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Region 10 Quality Management Plan