Quality Assurance and Quality Control

The Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs) include numeric criteria used to determine if a potential risk to human health or the environment may exist. The results of analyses performed on environmental media (e.g. soil, water, air) are used to determine if remediation is needed to minimize risk to human health and the environment. Because of the complex nature of environmental media, limitations of analytical methods, characteristics of analytes, and human error, the results of environmental analysis may contain an element of uncertainty and, in some cases, may be significantly biased. Therefore, data may not always be representative of the accurate concentrations of the analytes in the environmental media. Thus, an evaluation of the quality of the analytical data in relation to its intended use is important in order for the environmental professional to make decisions which are supported by data of known and sufficient quality. Therefore, it is important that both environmental professionals and analytical laboratories implement Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) methodologies.

The use of QA/QC parameters provide a level of confidence in the quality of the acquired data. DEEP refers to this level of data confidence as “Reasonable Confidence”. “Reasonable confidence” is achieved when the laboratory has followed the Reasonable Confidence Protocols (RCPs), has described non-conformances, if any, and has provided adequate documentation for a particular dataset to allow the environmental professional or responsible party (i.e., data users) to make judgements regarding data quality for its intended purpose. The concept of Reasonable Confidence and the Reasonable Confidence Protocols are further supported by RCSA section 22a-133k-1(h)(1)(B).

DEEP is seeking feedback on the following, updated draft Reasonable Confidence Protocols for Laboratory Analytical Methods. Please send comments to Veronica Tanguay and Allison Forrest-Laiuppa by June 16, 2023.

Method 6010 Trace Metals ICP-AES (redline version)

Method 6020 Trace Metals ICPMS (redline version)

Method 7000 Metals FLAAS/GFAAS (redline version)

Method 7196 Hexavalent Chromium (redline version)

Method 7470/7471 Mercury CVAAS (redline version)

Method 8081 Pesticides (redline version)

Method 8082 PCBs (redline version)

Method 8151 Chlorinated Herbicides (redline version)

Method 8260 Volatile Organics (redline version)

Method 8270 Semivolatile Organics (redline version)

Method 9010/9012/9014 Total Cyanide (redline version)

Method TO-13 PAHs in Air (redline version)

Method TO-17 Volatile Organics (redline version)

Method APH Air-Phase Petroleum Hydrocarbons (redline version)

Method EPH Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (redline version)

Method ETPH Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (redline version)

Method VPH Volatile Petroleum Hydrocarbons (redline version) Data users have the option to use non-RCP analytical methods and/or methods that have no published RCP. However, it is important that data users consider the resources that may be required to demonstrate an equivalency with the RCPs. Pursuant to RCSA 22a-133k-1(h)(1)(C), when a non-RCP method is used for demonstrating compliance, the methods and/or protocol must be submitted to DEEP for review and evaluation. DEEP has provided a Demonstration of Equivalency form in the document list below that may be used to provide the necessary information including the laboratory-generated QC data that support the accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of the data.

To assist responsible parties and environmental professionals in evaluating the quality of analytical data in relation to its intended use, DEEP is providing the following guidance documents:

QA/QC Documents

Laboratory Quality Assurance Quality Control Reasonable Confidence Protocols - describes how environmental professionals should use the Reasonable Confidence Protocols to assure data is of known quality.
- RCP Lab Analysis QAQC Certification Form - must not be altered. The primary purpose of the RCP Certification Form is to standardize the questions that the laboratory must answer when determining if a data set meets the requirements for Reasonable Confidence.
- Project Communication Form
- Reasonable Confidence Protocol Equivalency Determination Form