A1. Title Page and Approval Page
[OPTIONAL - INCLUDE TRIBE LOGO HERE]
[AIR, LAND, WATER]
TRIBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM-LEVEL QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN
Prepared by
_[Insert Name of organization conducting
work and mailing address]
Prepared for
Date (Month, Day and Year)
A1. (continued) Title Page and Approval Page
Name: [Tribe’s Chairperson/Chief]
Title: Tribal Council ______
Organization: ______
Telephone: ______
Email: ______
Signature: ______Date: ______
Name: [Tribe’s Project Manager]
Title: Project Manager
Organization: ______
Telephone: ______
Email: ______
Signature: ______Date: ______
Name: [Tribe’s Quality Assurance Manager]
Title: QA Manager
Organization: ______
Telephone: ______
Email: ______
Signature: ______Date: ______
Name: [Preparer of Document other then Tribe]
Title:
Organization:
Telephone: ______
Email: ______
Signature: ______Date: ______
Name: ______
Title: Project Manager (if Designated Approving Official)
Organization: USEPA
Telephone: ______
Email: ______
Signature: ______Date: ______
Name: ______
Title: Quality Assurance Manager or Designated Approving Official
Organization: USEPA
Telephone: ______
Email: ______
Signature: ______Date: ______
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A2. Table of Contents
ELEMENT / SECTION / PAGEA. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
A1. / TITLE AND APPROVAL
A2. / TABLE OF CONTENTS
A3. / DISTRIBUTION LIST
A4. / PROJECT/TASK ORGANIZATION
A5. / PROBLEM DEFINITION / BACKGROUND
A6. / PROJECT / TASK DESCRIPTION
A7. / SPECIAL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
A8. / DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDS
B. DATA GENERATION AND ACQUISITION
B1. / SAMPLING DESIGN AND SITE FIGURES
B2. / SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL METHODS REQUIREMENTS
B3. / SAMPLE HANDLING AND CUSTODY REQUIREMENTS
B4. / ANALYTICAL METHODS REQUIREMENTS
B5. / FIELD QUAILITY CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
B6. / LABORATORY QUALITY CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
B7. / FIELD EQUIPMENT CALIBRATION AND CORRECTIVE ACTION
B8. / LABORATORY EQUIPMENT CALIBRATION AND CORRECTIVE ACTION
B9. / ANALYTICAL SENSITIVITY AND PROJECT CRITERIA
B10. / DATA MANAGEMENT AND DOCUMENTATION
C. ASSESSMENT/OVERSIGHT
C1. / ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE ACTIONS
C2. / REPORTS
D. DATA VALIDATION AND USABILITY
D1. / DATA REVIEW, VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION
A3. Distribution List
This list includes the names and addresses of those who receive copies of this approved Tribal Programs Level QAPP and subsequent revisions.
Name: ______
Title: Quality Assurance Manager, Tribe
Address: ______
______
______
Name: ______
Title: Project Manager, Tribe
Address: ______
______
______
Name: ______
Title: Project Manager, USEPA
Address: ______
______
______
Name: ______
Title: Quality Assurance Manager or Designated Approving Official, USEPA
Address: ______
______
______
Name: ______
Title: Field Leader
Address: ______
______
______
Name: ______
Title: Laboratory Manager/Leader
Address: ______
______
______
A4. Project/Task Organization
The individuals or organizations participating in the project and their specific roles and responsibilities are provided below. A project chart is provided following the specific roles and responsibilities. Also identify the individuals who have stop work authority if the QAPP is not being followed properly and/or health and safety issues warrant work stoppage.
Following is a list the key project personnel and their corresponding responsibilities.
[You can insert an organizational chart if it is helpful to you] Local Community Elder(s) Responsibilities
[List the names and titles of local tribal elders that will be involved in making decisions
regarding this project.] The main responsibility of the local community elder may include providing historical and cultural information. Elders will assist the tribe in making decisions that will affect the tribe’s cultural heritage.
Project Manager (PM) Responsibilities
[Name of the person who will serve as the Tribe’s Project Manager.] The Project Manager is the primary contact for technical objectives, sampling, analytical procedures, QA requirements, problem resolution and general implementation of the QAPP. The Project Manager oversees project efforts and other project activities, provides and ensures that each of the project team
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members conducting project activities has completed all required training and refresher requirements.
Project Quality Assurance Manager Responsibilities
[Name of the person that will be the Tribe’s QA Manager.] The QA Manager prepares the project QAPP and its subsequent revisions. The QA Manager ensures that the QAPP incorporates adequate QA and QC measures to meet the data quality objectives set forth by the project and the program and that the QAPPs are timely reviewed and approved by appropriate approving personnel. The QA Manager also ensures that the QA/QC measures specified in the QAPP are effectively implemented throughout the duration of the project. The QA Manager coordinates and facilitates technical, performance and quality system audits conducted by appropriate authorities at the project-specified frequency.
Field/Sampling Leader (FSL) Responsibilities
[List the name of the Field or sampling leader(s).] The Field/Sampling Leader is responsible for the timely completion of assigned fieldwork with strict adherence to the QAPP’s activity/task
schedules, SOPs and sample chain-of custody documentation. The Field’s Sampling Leader will
perform the following duties:
1. Select the field team.
2. Conduct the field activities per the approved QAPP and supervise the field sampling team.
3. Upon receipt from the Project Manager, distribute the approved QAPP and subsequent revisions to the members of the field sampling team.
4. Report problems in the field to the Project Manager.
5. Implement corrective actions in the field as directed by the Project Manager.
Corrective actions will be documented in the field logs and provided to the Project
Manager.
Laboratory Manager/Leader Responsibilities
[Specify the name of the Laboratory that will perform the analyses for this project. Specify the name, phone number and/or e-mail address of the contact for the laboratory.] This individual will be responsible for coordinating the analysis of the samples and laboratory verification of the data. He/she will coordinate the receipt of the samples at the laboratory, select the analytical team, ensure internal laboratory audits are completed per the Laboratory’s Quality Assurance Manual and distribute the applicable sections of the QAPP and subsequent revisions to members of the analytical team. He/she is responsible for instituting corrective actions for problems
encountered in the chemical analyses and will also report laboratory problems affecting the project data to the Project Manager and QA/QC Manager. Corrective actions for chemical analyses will be detailed in a QA report that will be provided to the Project Manager via electronic and conventional mail.
EPA Region 4 Project Officer
[Specify name,] EPA Project Officer has the responsibility to oversee and monitor the
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grant. As part of that responsibility he/she must ensure the process described in the work plan is followed and the terms and conditions of the grant are met.
EPA Region 4 Quality Assurance Coordinator or Designated Approving Official
[ Specify name,] Region 4 Quality Assurance Coordinator or Designated Approving Official (DAO) provides a technical assistance role to Region 4 Project Officer working on projects/sites. The DAO’s role is to provide technical reviews of the Program Level QAPPs and Project/Site-Specific QAPPs that are generated. This includes the approval of Program Level QAPP and Project/Site-Specific QAPPs.
A5. Problem Definition/Background
The Problem Definition will be addressed in the Project/Site-Specific QAPP.
A6. Project/Task Description
The project/task description and timeline will be provided in a Project/Site-Specific QAPP.
The project/task description will address items such as the project objectives and goals; the tasks and activities that will be conducted to achieve the project goals; field work that will be conducted; rationale for sample locations; environmental samples that will be collected as appropriate for soil, surface water, subsurface soils, groundwater, waste matrices, etc.; sample management and handling; laboratory analysis; data review and evaluation; and reporting.
A timeline will address the overall projected schedules or timelines for conducting the tasks.
A7. Special Training and Certification
Training needs are determined by requirements to conduct air, land and/or water projects and by a review and evaluation of specific site conditions and proposed activities. In general, all field
personnel must have current 40‐hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
(HAZWOPER) certification and up to date 8-hour refreshers, as applicable, in accordance with
40 CFR Part 311 and 29 CFR 1910.120. All field team members will have orientation as to the content and importance of this QAPP and each Project/Site-Specific QAPP including items such as, SOPs, the work plan, and Health and Safety Plan (HASP). If applicable, a review of state and federal license or certification requirements to perform certain duties that will be conducted for each project and stated in the Project/Site-Specific QAPP.
A8. Documentation and Records
Document generation and control is accomplished by well‐defined filing procedures using a well‐organized filing system. All project documents will be filed following the procedures of [Name the system] standardized project filing system. Original documents held by [Na m e of
entity that will hold the f iles] and will be located in the [ N ame the location] office. Documents will be maintained for a period of [indicate years to be held – check with EPA Project Officer] years. The following is an example but not inclusive of documents that may be generated and located in the project files:
• A study plan;
• Original chain-of-custody forms and field logbooks;
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• All records obtained during the investigation;
• Boring Logs, Monitor Installation Forms, Monitor Sampling Forms, etc;
• A complete copy of all analytical data and transmittal documents;
• Progress and/or status reports;
• Data validation/data quality assessment reports;
• Any other relevant documentation including photographs, letters, memos, and video and audio media;
• Copies of complete assessment reports; and
• Project audit and QA reports.
Laboratory analysis will be performed in a standard turn-around time and electronic data and hard copies received no later than 35 calendar days. Both the electronic data report and hardcopy will include the following:
• Job description and number;
• Field sample and lab sample identification;
• Analytical method, method detection limit, and reporting limit;
• Sample matrix;
• Sample collection date and analysis date;
• Analyst identification;
• Analyte name and result with units;
• Dilution factors;
• Quality control results; and
• Chain-of-custody records (included sample preparation and analysis date and time for each sample. Analytical method numbers, extraction and digestion method numbers used for each sample, etc.)
B. DATA GENERATION AND ACQUISITION
[Methods described in the Group B elements should have been summarized earlier in element
A6. Designated methods should be both well documented and readily available or attached to this QAPP.]
B1. Sampling Design and Site Figures
The sampling design process and site figures will be provided in the Project/Site-Specific QAPP. The network design components should comply with the recommendations in 40 CFR Part 58 Appendix D.
B2. Sampling and Analytical Methods Requirements
All samples will be collected in a manner consistent with the media being sampled and the analytes of interest. The collection methods will follow those outlined in the EPA Region 4
SESD, Field Branches Quality System and Technical Procedures, the most recent version.
Non‐typical sampling SOPs will be described in the Project/Site-Specific QAPP.
A table will be provided of sampling equipment on particular project and be provided in the Project/Site-Specific QAPP.
B3. Sampling Handling and Custody Requirements
Field and laboratory personnel will be aware, at all times, of the need to properly maintain all
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samples, whether in the field or in the laboratory, under strict chain‐of‐custody protocols and in a manner to retain physical sample properties and chemical composition. The handling and transportation of samples will be accomplished in a manner that not only protects the integrity of the sample, but also documents sample custody. Packing, marking, labeling, and shipping of samples will follow those outlined in the EPA Region 4 SESD, Field Branches Quality System and Technical Procedures.
B4. Analytical Methods Requirement
All analytical methods used on samples will comply with relevant requirements of applicable federal programs (e.g., Clean Water Act [CWA], Safe Drinking Water Act [SDWA], Resource Conservation and Recovery Act [RCRA], Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act [CERCLA], Clean Air Act [CAA]) for which they were collected, or alternative EPA‐approved methods. The list of approved analytical methods is subject to routine updates; therefore, the most recently approved methods will be verified.
Non‐standard or unpublished methodologies for analysis are not anticipated. Should unexpected requirements for non‐standard or unpublished analytical methodologies arise, they will be discussed in the Project/Site-Specific QAPP along with the reasoning behind the method use and the validation criteria required.
The Tribe’s QA Manager will be responsible for overseeing the success of the analysis and for implementing corrective actions (if warranted).
Laboratory analysis will be performed in a standard turn‐around time and electronic data and hard copies received no later than 35 calendar days.
B5. Field Quality Control Requirements
This section defines the quality control requirements for field sampling activities including QC sample selection and data quality objectives (DQOs). Quality control in the field will be conducted in accordance with the following SOP and will follow those outlined in the EPA Region 4 SESD, Field Branches Quality System and Technical Procedures.
Data quality will be assessed using QC samples and will be selected for each project based on the project DQOs, project‐sampling procedures, and established analytical method requirements. QC samples will be collected to verify the validity of analytical results and to assess whether the samples were contaminated from sources not directly attributable to releases at the site (such as improper decontamination, cross contamination, etc.). Field QC samples will include trip blanks, field blanks, equipment blanks/rinsate samples, and field duplicates, as appropriate. The field QC samples proposed for collection will be identified in the Project/Site-Specific QAPP addendum.