DOE EH-31 DQO Training, Version 3.0
Course Information
The following information
describes the DOE EH-31 three-day training course, entitled "Managing
Uncertainty with Systematic Planning for Environmental Decision Making".
Each student receives
a course binder which contains the table of contents, course abstract,
course agenda, exercises, and copies of all the PowerPoint slides contained
in the 25 Modules and 6 Exercises used during the three-day course.
You may see all the binder contents and other course materials for the
course and more on the DOE Hanford
DQO Web Page. If you review the contents of the binder, using the
Web Site, you should be able to assess the value of this training and
identify the participants who should attend this three-day (8-hours
each day) training courses.
The development
of these training courses, has been funded by DOE EH-31 (George Detsis,
DOE EH-31 POC, (301) 903-1488). There are no tuition or registration
costs. Costs to non-DOE entities will include travel, preparation and
presentation labor costs, printing, shipping, etc.
This training will
go a long way in helping EPA meet the requirements of the June
17, 1999 EPA Fields memo (Appendix F in the binder) and helping
DOE sites meet the requirements of the September
7, 1994 Tom Grumbly DOE EM-1 directive (Appendix E in the binder).
Note that the Fields memo addressed EPA OIG findings related to failure
to perform Systematic Planning/Data Quality Objectives. The Fields memo
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 data quality objective
process for the Superfund program by, among other things, having this
training course presented to all the Regions.
During the first
day, the audience is introduced to the successful DOE EH-31 DQO Process
implementation model which evolved in the field in direct response to
the observed flaws and inefficiencies in project DQO efforts. The EPA
Office of the Inspector General has recognized this DQO implementation
model as a "best practice." Using a wall-chart depicting the
model as a "work-flow" diagram, the audience is taken through
DQO process implementation, showing all the logistical, schedule, budget,
inputs, actions, approvals, and documentation steps. The focus of the
implementation is to streamline and document the process and provide
a standard approach to systematic planning.
The course includes
an introduction to basic statistical concepts in a non-threatening manner
via demonstrations using common objects such as coins, marbles, and
beads. We then build on these concepts, demonstrating the fundamentals
of statistically based sample designs and decision performance diagrams.
The statistical concepts are reinforced through a demonstration of Visual
Sample Plan, which is the state-of-the-art sampling design software
package. It allows Decision-Makers to quickly see and evaluate various
sampling designs, make real time changes, and select the optimal cost
and quality design during the DQO process.
During the second
day, Steps 1-5 of the DQO Process are discussed in detail. For each
step (and action), 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). This and other course materials are available on the
DOE Hanford DQO web site.
In addition six
hands-on exercises designed to demystify statistical concepts and teach
the user how to implement these concepts are presented. Computer simulations
are also presented to reinforce the hands-on examples and provide visually
compelling illustrations of key concepts. These examples show the necessity
of developing valid sampling designs so that the populations of waste,
soil, etc., are properly characterized. At the end of this day, the
attendee should be able to write the five-steps and clearly work with
the statistical concepts.
During the third
day of the course, Steps 6 and 7 of the DQO Process are discussed in
detail. The case study continues, along with general examples consistent
with the approach used during the second day of training. Additional
hands-on statistical training and Visual Sample Plan is taught with
real applications related to remediation, decontamination and decommissioning,
and waste management. The student learns how to use the DQO e-Workbook
and an overview of the DQO Web Page is presented.
At the end of the
three days, the student has 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 assessment, investigation, characterization,
and remediation, surface and groundwater compliance, decontamination
and decommissioning, waste classification and management, and long-term
stewardship.
Several evaluations
of this course by Hanford and numerous DOE contractors, Washington
State Dept of Ecology, various state agencies (e.g., Hawaii, Tennessee,
Delaware, Colorado, California) and by EPA Regions 2, 3, 4, and 8 and
staff and a recent letter of commendation from DOE/RL on our efforts
to institutionalize the 7-Step DQO Process throughout the DOE Complex
are also available.
We have successfully
presented the previous version of this training course more than 30
times at over 20 locations
to date. Also, future presentations
of course are being planned at a number of DOE, EPA, USACE, State, and
other agencies.
A 3-hour course
on how to use the Visual
Sample Plan, which is the state-of-the-art software for creating
sampling plans is also available. VSP has been developed with EPA and
DOE funding and is available at no cost for downloading to anyone at
the PNNL VSP Web Site. Our VSP
course can also be taken by going to the ERC
VSP Training Course on our web site.
We have developed
workbooks (electronic templates)
for both the DQO and DQA processes, which will serve as the draft and
final DQO and DQA reports. The DQO e-Workbook is now available for downloading.
Finally, we have
developed an overall process to implement the DQO process and have been
using it successfully for several years within the ERC at Hanford. This
process has been recommended by the EPA Office of the Inspector General
(EPA OIG) as the model for EPA to adopt nationally in two separate EPA
IG audit reports (Appendix B):
Please give me a
call if you have any questions:
Sebastian
Tindall
ERC DQO Coordinator
(509) 372-9195
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