- EPA QA/G-5, Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans (PDF) (111 pp, 434 K)
- The Volunteer Monitor's Guide to Quality Assurance Project Plans (PDF) (67 pp, 1.6 MB)
- Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan Guidance for Programs Using Community Level Biological Assessment in Wadable Streams and Rivers (PDF) (100 pp, 3.7 MB)
EPA New England Regional Laboratory (Office of Environmental Measurement and Evaluation)
Quality Assurance Project Plan Development Tool
This tool contains information designed to assist in developing a Quality Assurance (QA) Project Plan that meets EPA requirements for projects that involve surface or groundwater monitoring and/or the collection and analysis of water samples. The structure of the tool is intended to step one through the thought process of planning a project, as well as to provide a framework for documenting the plan. The tool is divided into modules as follows:
Module 1. Guidance on Preparing a QA Project Plan: This guidance provides a streamlined version of EPA's national QA documents (EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans, EPA QA/R-5 and companion guidance EPA Guidance for the Preparation of Quality Assurance Project Plans, EPA QA/G-5) and represents a graded approach to QA Project Plan for water quality monitoring projects. The guidance follows the same basic organization structure as the Template and Model QA Project Plan described, respectively, in Modules 2 and 3 below.
- Module 1. Guidance on Preparing a QA Project Plan (PDF) (31 pp, 128 K)
Module 2. QA Project Plan Template: This template provides a formatted outline to serve as a basis for documenting your QA Project Plan. Each section of the template includes a brief description of the information to include (which supplements the more detailed information provided in Module 1). The template also includes example tables, figures, and/or appendices providing optional ways to present project information. The template is provided as a guide and is not a requirement to follow exactly. (Note: You may copy and save the template to your computer.)
- Module 2. QA Project Plan Template (PDF) (1 pg, 25 K)
- MS Word: Template (31 pp, 430 K)
Module 3. Model QA Project Plan: The model is provided as an example of what a completed QA Project Plan might look like. It follows the same basic structure as the guidance and template included in Modules 1 and 2, while demonstrating flexibility in applying the structure to an example project.
- Module 3. Model QA Project Plan (PDF) (1 pg, 23 K)
Module 4. References and Links: This module provides a great deal of both technical and QA information that may assist with designing and planning a project.
- Module 4. References and Links (PDF) (10 pp, 124 K)
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- Requirements/Specifications
- Primary Guidance
- Secondary Guidance
- EPA QA/G-4, Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process (PDF) (100 pp, 358 K)
- EPA QA/G-4HW, Data Quality Objectives Process for Hazardous Waste Site Investigations (PDF) (143 pp, 620 K)
- EPA QA/G-6, Guidance for Preparing Standard Operating Procedures (PDF) (58 pp, 166 K)
- EPA QA/G-7, Guidance on Technical Audits and Related Assessments (PDF) (101 pp, 288 K)
- EPA QA/G-8, Guidance on Environmental Data Verification and Data Validation (PDF) (96 pp, 386 K)
- EPA QA/G-9, Guidance for Data Quality Assessment: Practical Methods for Data Analysis (PDF) (219 pp, 1.2 MB)
- Quality Assurance Guidance for Conducting Brownfields Assessments, EPA (PDF) (75 pp, 312 K)
- Guidance for QA Project Plan Development for EPA-Funded Cooperative Agreements with State & Tribal Agencies for the Conduct of FIFRA Pesticide Programs, EPA (PDF) (118 pp, 408 K)
- Supplemental Technical Information
- California Stream Bioassessment Procedure, California Department of Fish & Game (PDF) (11 pp, 204 K)
- Statistical Methods in Water Resources, USGS (PDF) (524 pp, 6.6 MB)
- National Recommended Water Quality Criteria: 2004, EPA (PDF) (23 pp, 131 K)
- Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data for Use in Fish Advisories, Third Edition
- Volume 1. Fish Sampling and Analysis (PDF) (485 pp, 4.2 MB)
- Volume 2. Risk Assessment and Fish Consumption Limits (PDF) (383 pp, 1.5 MB)
- USGS/Water Resources-Office of Water Quality, National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data, Book 9, Handbook for Water-Resources Investigations
- USGS/Water Supply Paper 2175. Measurement and Computation of Stream Flow
- Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Invertebrates, and Fish, EPA
- Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A Methods Manual (PDF) (227 pp, 2.2 MB)
- Volunteer Lake Monitoring: A Methods Manual, EPA (PDF) (65 pp, 245 K)
- Methods for Biological Sampling and Analysis of Maine's River and Streams, MDEP (PDF) (37 pp, 612 K)
- Water on the Web
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Geomorphic Assessment
- Watershed Analysis and Management (WAM) Guide for Tribes, EPA
- Analytical References
- Handbook for Analytical Quality Control In Water and Wastewater Laboratories (PDF) (164 pp, 1.01MB)
- 40 CFR Chapter 1, (1 July 2003); Subchapter D - Water Programs:
- Part 136 - Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants (PDF) (333 pp, 2MB)
- Part 141.23 Inorganic Chemical Sampling and Analytical Requirements (PDF) (11 pp, 114 K)
- Part 141.24 Organic chemicals other than total trihalomethanes, sampling and analytical methods (PDF) (12 pp, 106 K)
- Other Analytical Information Available on the Internet
- Nationwide Information on National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation
- Index to EPA Test Methods, April 2003 revised edition (PDF) (85 pp, 1.4 MB)
- Analytical Methods Developed by the Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, EPA
- Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, EPA
- Water Science Analytical Methods, EPA
- National Environmental Methods Index
- Other Tools
- US EPA-New England: Beginner's Guide to Preparing Quality Assurance Project Plans for Environmental Projects
- Data Verification and Validation Form, 29 Palms Laboratory (PDF) (10 pp, 309 K)
- MS WORD: Data Evaluation/Documentation Form, EPA-New England (4 pp, 41 K)
- PROGRAM FILE: Converting Units Tool (453 K)
- Introduction to Excel Spreadsheets (PDF) (14 pp, 396 K)
- Organizational Website Links
- EPA New England/Region 1 Quality Assurance
- EPA Region 3 - Environmental Science Center, Quality Assurance Team
- EPA Region 7 Quality Assurance
- EPA Region 9 Quality Assurance
- EPA Region 10 Quality Assurance
- EPA Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center, Northern Arizona University
- 29 Palms of Mission Indians
Module 5. Standard Operating Procedures: The module contains a compilation of information from various Regions and Tribes represented on the workgroup who initially developed this tool. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are provided as a basis for developing ones own SOPs to fit the way ones own organization implements its environmental sampling and analysis program. To request SOPs noted in this Module, contact Pat Svetaka (svetaka.pat@epa.gov or 617-918-8396).
Module 6. Selecting an Environmental Laboratory: The module describes a number of factors to be considered to assist in choosing a laboratory to meet specific project needs. How you choose to weigh the different factors presented will be dependent on your individual circumstances.
Note: This QA Project Plan development tool was initially developed as a CD-ROM for Tribal organizations that may not have internet access. The CD-ROM was made possible through the efforts of various EPA and Tribal organizations. For a CD-ROM version of the information above, please contact Pat Svetaka (svetaka.pat@epa.gov or 617-918-8396) of the EPA QA Unit.