Environmental Quality Team Cites Problems, Makes Recommendations BY ANDREW D. EATON, MONTGOMERY WATSON LABORATORES/ACT/LABS, AND BRIAN LEWIS, DTSC, MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TEAM The Environmental Quality Team (EQT), sponsored by Cal/EPA with members from the various boards and departments within Cal/EPA, as well as from other state labs and actLabs (Association of California Testing Laboratories), has finalized its report. DTSC has created a follow-up workgroup for implementing the recommendations. The team’s charter was to develop mechanisms to improve the quality of environmental data in California. The team was formed, in part, in response to significant problems that developed as a result of the laboratory fraud committed by Eureka labs on several military sites. The report provides background on the problems that have been documented concerning the quality of environmental data used for decision making. These problems include poor field sampling procedures, poor lab procedures, production of fraudulent results by labs taking shortcuts, and sample integrity. Recommendations Many of the report’s recommendations are relatively easy to implement, while others may require a significant commitment of resources. The EQT concluded that all of the recommendations were justified by gains to be realized in the quality of data available to the state. Among the recommendations for Cal/EPA Boards, Offices and Departments: Establish Quality Management Plans (QMP). Ensure Quality Plans are prepared in accordance with U.S. EPA recommendations. Of particular interest to laboratories, this recommendation also includes requirements that labs maintain magnetic tape data, that Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) specify how to deal with Ònontarget analysts,Ó and QAPPs include reasonable data quality objectives. Use and monitor performance on double blind samples whenever feasible. Establish a frequency for lab and field audits of contractors. Ensure that all subcontractor labs performing sampling on a project are identified by name and identified as to the specific tests performed so that performance can be monitored. For environmental data management, adopt the use of standardized content for hardcopy deliverables, specify requirements for electronic deliverables, ensure that 10% of data on projects is validated by entities independent of all involved parties, and adopt EPA functional guidelines for review of data as a default guideline to evaluate data quality. Maintain and update standards of quality by adopting NELAC standards. Establish consistent laboratory and field audit protocols. Require that state laboratories, which support Cal/EPA programs, both within and outside Cal/EPA, be accredited by NELAP, when accreditation is available. There is also a plan to follow up on the recommendations over the next few years to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the selected recommendations by monitoring a number of parameters. Overall, the team concluded that implementation of the recommendations should result in significant improvements in the quality of data produced for Cal/EPA programs. For further information on the report, or to obtain a copy, contact Fred Seto, Cal/EPA/DTSC-HML at (510) 540-3388. You can also download the report from GRA’s web page: http://www.grac.org.