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Quality Assurance Project Plans

Quality Assurance Project Plans. Melinda Ronca-Battista, ITEP. What is a QAPP. Tool for project managers and planners to document type and quality of data needed for environmental decisions Describes methods for collecting and assessing data

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Quality Assurance Project Plans

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  1. Quality Assurance Project Plans Melinda Ronca-Battista, ITEP

  2. What is a QAPP Tool for project managers and planners to document type and quality of data needed for environmental decisions Describes methods for collecting and assessing data Integral part of fundamental principles and practices that form foundation of EPA Quality System Required by EPA

  3. Why is a QAPP important? • EIs are the foundation of decisions • Sets goals and objectives • Road map of how to conduct EI • Provides long-term guidance • Makes writing the EI report easier

  4. Formats of QAPP TEISS Inventory Preparation Plan (IPP) Wizard QAPP Emission Inventory Improvement Plan (EIIP) Format

  5. IPP Wizard

  6. QAPP • Group A: Project Management • Group B: Data Generation and Acquisition • Group C: Assessment and Oversight • Group D: Data Validation and Usability

  7. Inventory Planning Determine the Audience Determine the Uses Chose a Category Level

  8. Determine the Use Air quality program planning Assess contributions of future new sources Assess need for tribal permitting program Support development of TIP Support participation in regional AQ planning efforts

  9. Levels of EI • Level 1 • Requires highest degree of defensibility • Based on site-specific data • Results can be used directly in enforcement, compliance or litigation support if sufficient scope • Level 2 • Used to directly support decision-making or standard setting • CAA-SIP inventory or other national inventory developed to support numerous EPA regulatory requirements • Site- or region-specific information generally required

  10. Levels of EI (cont.) From US EPA’s Emission Inventory Improvement Program (EIIP) Vol. 6, page 2.1-5 • Level 3 • General assessment or research • Site-specific data may be gathered • Do not directly support rulemaking activities • Level 4 • Usually compiled from previously-published emissions data • Not intended to directly support rulemaking or compliance activities

  11. Levels of EI (cont.) • Level 4 EI – Gather Existing Data • Everyone should start by doing a Level 4 EI • Compile existing data from the National Emission Inventory (NEI). • Shows air pollution emitting facilities in your area. (Point sources) • Identifies non-point sources that create most emissions in your area • If tribal lands already adequately covered by NEI/state inventory, level 4 is all you need to do!

  12. Levels of EI (cont.) • After existing data is collected, decide which of two paths to take • Path 1 – Write Level 4 EI Report • Path 2 – Write a QAPP for a Level 3 or 2 EI • How do you know which path to take?

  13. Levels of EI (cont.) • Do Level 4 report if land area is very small AND you don’t have sources • Write report summarizing what you found • Which sources put out the most pollution? • Which are closest to you? • Which are upwind of you? • What pollutants concern you the most? • This data is NOT submitted to NEI by tribe— unless you want to claim a portion of those emissions to be assigned to reservation

  14. Levels of EI (cont.) • Do QAPP for Level 2 or 3 EI if • Your tribe’s land area is larger AND/OR you have sources on tribal land • List sources on tribal land for which you will estimate emissions • Use TEISS calculators to determine data you need to collect to estimate emissions • Summarize off-reservation data in separate section of report

  15. Scope of the Inventory • Define • Geographic area – include a map! • Pollutants: Criteria and/or HAPs • Source types – point, nonpoint, mobile • Time period • Annual – state which year • Seasonal (e.g., Ozone season)

  16. Where to start? • Sources on reservation • Existing inventories: Tribal, NEI, RPO • TEISS Calculators • List sources on paper • Find using calculator

  17. Exercise • Make a list of Point Sources on your reservation • Draw out organization chart • Open up Calculator and look up • Gas station with mini-mart • Asphalt batch plant • Plywood manufacture

  18. Point Source List

  19. Organization Chart

  20. TEISS Calculator • Gas station with mini-mart • Asphalt Batch Plant • Plywood manufacturer

  21. Planning Work • Establish staff and resource requirements, schedule • Identify partners and develop communication plan • Industry • Agencies • Community groups

  22. Quality Assurance Plan QA Coordinator Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) Inventory implementation timeline

  23. Data Management and Reporting • Describe how data will be stored • In TEISS • Paper and electronic filing system • Data collection and calculations on paper • Calculations done in spreadsheets • Final Products of EI • Completed TEISS project – has ALL the details • Paper report – gives general details, summarizes results • Presentation – summarizes results

  24. Exercise • Look at Section 8.0 of the Example Tribal EI QAPP handout • Use TEISS calculators to write out estimation method you’ll use and data you’ll need to collect for one of your reservation’s nonpoint sources

  25. Boring – Questionable Useful – Positively

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