Systematic Planning for Environmental Decision Making

Day 2 of DOE EM-3 DQO/DQA Training

Abstract:

The U.S. Department of Energy, EM-3, in cooperation with the Richland Operations Office, Bechtel Hanford, Inc., and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, has developed a second training course with the objective to 'institutionalize' the Data Quality Objectives (DQO) Process throughout the DOE complex. This is the second day (Day 2) of the planned three courses on the DQO and Data Quality Assessment Processes. This 8-hour course provides instruction on how to perform each step of the U.S. EPA's 7-Step DQO Objectives process. The target audience is DOE, State and Federal regulatory, and contractor project managers / engineers and technical support staff.

Students are taken through each step of the process. The actions required to implement each of the seven DQO Process steps are listed with technical details and explanation of each action that is taken.

For each step, there are generic examples and a case study. The case study provides an example that shows the continuity of the logic required to implement the process. Examples of documentation of each step are provided. The format of the examples is based on the DQO electronic "workbook", which was modeled after the EPA DQO guidance (QA-G4, 1994, 2000). The course materials are available on the DOE Hanford DQO website (http://www.hanford.gov/dqo/index.html).

The course includes an introduction to basic statistical concepts with hands-on examples performed by the students. These examples show the necessity of developing valid sampling designs so that the populations of waste, soil, etc., are properly characterized. The focus of this course is to provide the student with the knowledge to generate defensible sampling designs that support making correct environmental decisions. The course is applicable to projects that require data to support decisions such as those related to site characterization, remediation, surface and groundwater compliance, decontamination and decommissioning, waste classification and management, and long-term stewardship.

This training will go a long way in helping EPA meet the requirements of the June 17, 1999, EPA Fields memo (Appendix F) and helping DOE meet the requirements of the September 7, 1994, Tom Grumbly DOE EM-1 directive (Appendix E). Note that the Fields memo, in addressing EPA Inspector General findings of EPA deficiencies in not doing Systematic Planning/Data Quality Objectives, refers to EPA Order 5360.1, CHG 1, which requires the use of a systematic planning approach to develop acceptance or performance criteria for all work covered by the Order (CERCLA/RCRA projects). The memo further states EPA's commitment to institutionalize the DQO Process for the Superfund program.

To date this training has been successfully presented to DOE, EPA, USACE, DOD, State, and Contractor staff at numerous federal facilities at locations throughout the US.
See:
Day 1 locations: http://www.hanford.gov/dqo/training/locations1.html
Day 2 locations: http://www.hanford.gov/dqo/training/locations2.html