Environmental QA: A Plan for Consistency in the 90s

摘要

The mandatory quality assurance program requirements for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been in place for more than ten years, as have two critical pieces of guidance which described the development of QA Program Plans and QA Project Plans. During the period, the absence of a formal standard or criteria for QA by the EPA has led to varying interpretation of the guidance by different groups, both inside and outside the Agency. The situation has frequently created confusion and uncertainty among those who must prepare and implement the QA plans as well as among those who must review and approve them. EPA has been working with other Federal agencies and the private sector to develop a national consensus standard for QA/QC activities performed in support of environmental programs, which may be adopted and used Government-wide. In anticipation that a standard will emerge from the process, EPA has begun to reflect the proposed standard by revising old guidance and developing new guidance for use both by EPA and the general public. The paper discusses the current status of the standard and of EPA guidance, and how both will provide increased consistency and uniformity in the 1990s.