Systematic Planning Process

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Systematic Planning Process

• Topic 2

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Topic 2 Objectives

• DESCRIBE the process for defining the
  environmental problem statement
• EXPLAIN the use of the systematic planning
  process (SPP)
• DESCRIBE the importance of sampling design and
  the relationship to the heterogeneity of cleanup
  sites

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Topic 2 Introduction

• Systematic Planning Process (SPP)
• Form Project Team
• Define Environmental Problem
• Identify Investigation Objectives
• Implement
• Quality assurance project plan used for
  implementation of the data collection activities

• Ensure data are of known and documented quality
  and appropriate for their intended use

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SPP Steps

• Identify Lead Organization
• Project Organization and Responsibilities
• Convene Scoping Sessions
• Define Environmental Problem and Objectives
• Define Project Schedule
• Determine Type of Data Needed
• Determine Quality of Data Needed
• Determine Quantity of Data Needed
• Determine Data Review Needed

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SPP Steps (Continued)

• Define Sampling Design Rationale
• Determine Sampling Requirements
• Select Sampling SOPs with QC
• Develop Analytical Requirements
• Determine QA Assessments
• Decide Data Usability Assessment Process
• Prepare, Review and Submit QAPP for approval
• Implement QAPP

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QUIZ!

• Why do systematic planning?

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QUIZ!

• Why do systematic planning?
• Define what questions need to be answered
• Revise questions as more information is gathered
• Define roles and responsibilities of players
• Define activities to answer the questions
• Keep project focused and on target

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Define Problem
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Define Problem

• Research site history and background
• Identify secondary data sources and limitations
• Identify decisions that need to be made
• Identify questions that require an answer
• Decide if formal DQO process is required
• Identify data users needs
• Develop if/then statements that link data results
  and possible actions

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Questions to Answer

• Who will use the data?
• What will the data be used for?
• What type of data are needed?
• How good do the data need to be in order to
  support the decision?
• How much data are needed?

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Questions to Answer

• Where, when and how should the data be
  collected/generated?
• Who will collect and generate the data?
• Who will determine the usability of the data?
• How will the data be reported?
• How will the data be archived?

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Gather Information

• Site Maps
• Detailed map of current site with boundaries
• Historical maps or plans
• Map placing site in geographical context
• Historical and current aerial photographs
• Develop Conceptual Site Model (CSM)
• CSM documented in QAPP

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Conceptual Site Model (CSM)

• Term used by many
• UFP-QAPP Section 3.1.1 paragraph 2
• Picture of a site and its environment
• Sources of contamination
• Actual, potentially complete or incomplete
  exposure pathways
• Current or reasonable proposed use of site and
  potential receptors
• Assists team in planning, data interpretation and
  communication
• (from USACE EM 1110-1-1200 Conceptual Site Models
  for OE and HTRW Projects, 2/2003)

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CSM - continued

• Integration of all relevant information assembled
  for the purposes of investigating or remediating
  a site
• Captures heterogeneity physical reality
• Distinguishes different decision-driven
  populations
• A CSM is not merely a
• Computer modelor
• Risk receptor model (fate and transport)or
• Geological evaluation alone

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Identify possible contaminants
Create list of possible contaminants with
rationale for inclusions
Provide rationale for exclusions
Specify release mechanisms
Conceptual Site Model (CSM)
Identify fate and transport mechanisms
List potential receptors
Problem Statement
Estimate contaminant distributions
Discuss decision drivers
Write CSM Summary Narrative
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Conceptual Site Model Inputs

• Contaminant Releases what, how, where, spatial
  distributions/patterns?
• Contaminant movement migration, transport
  mechanisms
• Contaminant fate and degradation
• Potential receptors human, ecological
• Potential exposure pathways
• Exposure mitigation (cleanup, containment)

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Building a Conceptual Site Model

• Review transport of contaminant
• How did it get there?
• Where did it go? Did it bind to matrix
  components?
• Could it have gone somewhere else?
• Review fate
• Will it change form or composition?
• Harm to ecology or humans?
• What is future land use?
• Exposure pathways?

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Building a CSM (Continued)

• Review chemistry, biology, geology, statistics,
  or other science to evaluate need for data in
  making decision
• Can it still be there? Will it be present?
• Can we sample it? Can we analyze for it?
• What is the risk to receptors?

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Building a CSM (Continued)

• Highlights Physical Features of Site
• Man-made Structures / Historically Disturbed
  Areas / Accumulation Points
• Actual Site Data or Professional Conjecture
• Contaminants of Concern
• Release Mechanisms
• Incorporates known Societal Considerations
• Future Land Use / Community Goals
• Potential Exposure Pathways
• Risk Management Scenarios

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Data for Building CSM

• Related information
• other nearby contaminated sites regulatory
  agencies
• state geological surveys
• research by academic institutions
• Professional judgment
• scientific knowledge
• conjecture

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How Might a CSM Appear?
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Modeled CSM-High Density
Direct-push MIP-PID sensing high areal
vertical data density (existing wells shown)
Slide adapted from Columbia Technologies, Inc.,
2003
Jul 2000 BTEX plume
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Problem Definition

• Summarize the problem to be addressed
• Summarize the environmental questions being
  asked/decisions to be made
• Include observations from any site reconnaissance
  reports
• Prepare a synopsis of existing data or
  information from prior site reports

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Problem Definition

• List possible classes of contaminants and the
  affected matrices
• Record the rationale for inclusion of chemical
  and non-chemical analyses
• Compile information concerning various
  environmental indicators
• Write problem statements initially at a very
  general level (specifics to come later) get
  planning team concurrence

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Problem Statement Format

• General Format
• In order to support decisions for site
  remediation/better understand the nature of the
  waste/establish a basis for materials management
  data are required that define the nature and
  extent of contamination/the constituents of
  concern/the source and characteristics of the
  materials.

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Decision Statement

• General Format
• Determine whether Principal Study Question 1
  requires Alternative Action A or Alternative
  Action B.
• Example
• Determine whether the surface soil of the Smith
  property is radiologically contaminated and
  requires further action or requires no action.

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Ifthen Statement

• General Format
• If Principal Study Question 1 is above or
  equal to the action level then proceed with
  Alternative Action A or
• If Principal Study Question 1 is below the
  action level then proceed with Alternative
  Action B
• Example
• If the surface soil of the Smith property is
  below the level defined for radiological
  contamination then no action is required.

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Outcome vs Decisions

• Desired project outcome (starting point)
• Desired site restoration/reuse outcome
• May have tiered options (Plan A, B,)
• Achieving an outcome requires making project
  decisions about contaminant nature extent,
  exposure risk, cleanup potential and cost, etc.
• How long this discussion takes depends on the
  complexity of perceived site conditions and
  participant interests

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QUIZ!

• Why define the problem?

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QUIZ!

• Why define the problem?
• Ensure agreement by all parties on the data
  gathering that will resolve the problem to all
  parties satisfaction
• Determine how much is known and how must must be
  determined
• Understand the expectations of all parties as to
  the outcome and decisions for this phase of the
  project

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Project Quality Objectives (PQOs)

• Define the type, quantity, and quality of data
  needed to answer specific environmental questions
  and support proper environmental decisions
• Developed using a systematic planning process
• Qualitative and quantitative statements

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PQOs Before Iteration

• Obtain data to locate source(s) of contamination
  or show that a major source does not exist
• Obtain data to understand the lateral and
  vertical extent of contamination in both the
  saturated overburden and the fractured bedrock
  aquifer within the limits of the site
• Obtain data to characterize the fractured bedrock
  aquifer

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PQOs After Iteration

• Identify the highest concentration of VOCs in the
  overburden soil and groundwater
• Determine the placement of additional permanent
  saturated overburden monitoring wells, if any, to
  further evaluate risk posed to human health
• Gather soil analytical data, if warranted, to
  evaluate risk to human health

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Summarize Data Needs

• Focus on data needed to address the information
  gaps identified
• List information gaps in tables
• Gather specific data needs from scoping
  participants data users perspectives (e.g.,
  risk assessors, remedial action planners)
• Summarize and collate the data needs
• Update and record throughout planning

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Data Needs Table
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Project Tasks

• Sampling tasks
• Analysis tasks
• Quality control tasks
• Secondary data
• Data management tasks
• Documentation and records
• Assessment/audit tasks
• Data review tasks

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Sampling Tasks
Laboratory Subsample
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Representative Sample

• When sampling, what are you trying to represent
  with the data?
• Representative of the decision to be made on
• site
• area
• drum
• an individual sample container

UFP-QAPP Manual 2.6.2.4
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Sampling Design

• Statistically based sampling design vs.
  professional judgment?
• Sample locations numbers
• Grab or composite (multi-increment) samples
• Sample matrices
• Time frequency of sample collection
• Sample collection procedures
• Mixing and homogenization

Complicated by contaminant variability
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Within-Sample Populations
Soil Grain Size (Standard Sieve Mesh Size) Soil Fraction-ization () Pb Conc. in fraction by AA (mg/kg) Lead Distribution ( of total lead)
Greater than 3/8 (0.375) 18.85 10 0.20
Between 3/8 and 4-mesh 4.53 50 0.24
Between 4- and 10-mesh 3.65 108 0.43
Between 10- and 50-mesh 11.25 165 2.00
Between 50- and 200-mesh 27.80 836 25.06
Less than 200-mesh 33.92 1,970 72.07
Totals 100 927 (wt-averaged) 100
Adapted from ITRC (2003 ) http//www.itrcweb.org
/SMART-1.pdf
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Measurement Performance Criteria

• Determine metrics to be used to assess
  measurement performance, e.g.
• Precision Relative percent difference
• Bias Percent recovery
• Other Data Quality Indicators
• Determine criteria appropriate to your project
• Identify QC sample and/or activity to assess
  measurement performance

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Sensitivity Reference Limits

• Summarize project action limits (AL) and the
  quantitation limit (QL) goals for each analyte in
  each matrix at each concentration level
• Evaluate available methods and analytical
  performance against AL and QL goals

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QUIZ!

• Why PQOs?

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QUIZ!

• Why PQOs?
• Specify the type and quantity of data for each
  decision
• Ensure measurement performance criteria are
  applicable to the decision
• Ensure measurement organization data meets the
  quality criteria for the decision
• Ensure quality control samples are used as part
  of the decision making to reduce wasted dollars
  for unused data
• Understand sampling and testing limitations in
  order to balance costs with decision needs

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QA/QC Compendium

• Part IIB of UFP-QAPP guidance
• Decisions by IDQTF
• Definitions of QA/QC activities
• Minimum QA/QC activities
• List of specific QA/QC activities
• QA matrix
• CERCLA data collection, analysis and use

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Apply Compendium To

• All phases of CERCLA process
• Preliminary assessment
• Site investigation
• Remedial investigation
• Feasibility study
• Removal
• Post ROD Phase
• Project management
• Decision making

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Decisions

• Intermediate
• screening data
• Final
• definitive data
• NOTE CHANGE IN TERMS
• Screening does NOT mean field data

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Project Team Decisions

• Compendium based on CERCLA phases
• Specify minimum QA/QC activities for CERCLA phase
• QC samples selected based on MPC
• Data review involves completeness check through
  data usability assessment

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Site-Specific Guidelines

• Types of decisions supported by data
• Project quality objectives
• Acceptance criteria for DQI
• Sampling plan
• includes location and QC samples
• Types of contaminants

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Data Review
Environmental Question
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QUIZ!

• What else is required in planning?

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QUIZ!

• What else is required in planning?
• Assessment and data review
• Ensure resources available
• Gather input on project activities from
  participating organizations to evaluate cost,
  schedule and quality
• Document management and communication processes
• Data management tools
• Anything necessary for making the final decision
  to achieve the outcome desired by all parties

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Summary - Topic 2

• Project teams assembled
• Develop scoping meetings
• Define organization for project
• Define problem
• Identify objectives
• Develop sampling and testing design
• Define QA/QC for project

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Does anyone have a question?
Question !
How does this improve quality?