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8.3.
Quality Assurance Project Plans
The core documentation for quality planning of MERC tests are the Program Quality Assurance Project
Plan and the Test/ Plan. The Program QAPP is meant to promote uniform testing for all MERC tests and
is therefore considered a more general document. The Test plan is prepared for each BWTS test and
contains the specific information needed to conduct the test.
The QAPP format and content is based on the EPA document
Requirements for Quality Assurance
Project Plans
, EPA QA/R-5, 2001. Elements of the QAPP are defined in Appendix E.
8.3.1.
Program Quality Assurance Project Plan
The Program Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) provides the necessary framework for development
of the more detailed test/QA plan. The QAPP typically includes:
•
general description of MERC;
•
responsibilities of all involved organizations;
•
experimental design;
•
equipment capabilities and description;
•
description and use of field test sites;
•
description and use of laboratory test sites;
•
DQOs for BWTS tests;
•
QA/QC procedures;
•
Use of existing data;
•
data handling;
•
requirements for other documents;
•
health and safety;
•
references.
The QA/QC section of the QAPP typically describes the activities that verify the quality and consistency
of the work and provides data quality descriptors, such as accuracy, precision, representativeness,
completeness, comparability, and detection limit, as appropriate. Preparation and use of appropriate QA
procedures such as QC samples, blanks, split and spiked samples, and PEA samples to verify
performance of the technology being tested can be described. Frequency of calibrations and QC checks
and the rationale for them can be described. Procedures for reporting QC data and results can be given.
Who is responsible for each QA activity, and who has the responsibility for identifying and taking
corrective action can be specified. However, if these items vary between tests, the more appropriate
document in which to describe them may be the Test plan.
The QAPP may cite documents or procedures that explain, extend, and/or enhance the QAPP, such as
related procedures, the published literature, or methods manuals.
8.3.2.
Test Plan
The planning process considers selection of test parameters, availability of test equipment, availability of
testing personnel, optimal test procedures, and the necessary and sufficient data quality indicators for test
measurements. The test design takes into account constraints of time, scheduling, and resources. The
product of the design process is a Test Plan, which has the following characteristics: