I
Quality Assurance Project Plan
Protecting Subsistence Resources Monitoring Project
performed by
RAVEN COMMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
under
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Indian General Assistance Program
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GROUP A: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
A1 - Title and Approval Sheet
Title: Protecting Subsistence Resources Monitoring Project
Organization: Raven Community Association
Approving Officials:
Position
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Person
Signature
Approval Date
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A2 - Table of Contents
GROUP A: PROJECT MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................
A1 - Title and Approval Sheet ........................................................................................................
A2 - Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................
A3 - Distribution List ......................................................................................................................
A4 - Project/Task Organization ......................................................................................................
A5 - Problem Definition/Background .............................................................................................
A6 - Project/Task Description ........................................................................................................
A7 - Quality Objectives and Criteria for Measurement Data .........................................................
A8 - Special Training Requirements/Certification .........................................................................
A9 - Documentation and Records ...................................................................................................
GROUP B: MEASUREMENT/DATA ACQUISITION ................................................................
B1 - Sampling Process Design (Experimental Design) ..................................................................
B2 - Sampling Methods Requirements ...........................................................................................
B3 - Sample Handling and Custody Requirements ......................................................................
B4 - Analytical Methods Requirements ........................................................................................
B5 - Quality Control Requirements ..............................................................................................
B6 - Instrument/Equipment Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance Requirements ......................
B7 - Instrument Calibration and Frequency..................................................................................
B8 - Inspections/Acceptance Requirements for supplies and Consumables ................................
B9 - Data Acquisition Requirements (Non-direct Measurements) ...............................................
B10 - Data Management ...............................................................................................................
GROUP C: ASSESSMENT/OVERSIGHT ..................................................................................
C1 - Assessments and Response Actions......................................................................................
C2 - Reports to Management ........................................................................................................
GROUP D: DATA VALIDATAION AND USABILITY ...........................................................
D1 - Data Review, Validation, and Verification Requirements ...................................................
D2 - Validation and Verification Methods ...................................................................................
D3 - Reconciliation with User Requirements ...............................................................................
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
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A3 - Distribution List
The following individuals and organizations will receive copies of the approved QAPP and any
subsequent revisions.
Individual
Organization
John Smith
John Smith
John Smith
John Smith
John Smith
John Smith
Raven Community Association
Raven Community Association
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Raven Native Corporation
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
A4 - Project/Task Organization
The project team organization is shown in the following organization chart. The specific roles
and responsibilities of each person/entity are described below.
Tribal Council
Quality Assurance Manager
John Smith
Environmental Planner
John Smith
Environmental Technician
John Smith
John Smith, Raven Community Association – Environmental Coordinator
Mr. Smith will be responsible for the overall project management. He will be the primary
contact person in charge of the project. He will oversee the water quality monitoring efforts and
other project activities,
John Smith, Raven Community Association - Environmental Technician
Mr. Smith will be responsible for completing the assigned field monitoring outlined in this
QAPP. He will train and oversee all volunteer field technicians that will conduct monitoring
under the Protecting Subsistence Resources Monitoring Project.
John Smith, Smith Consulting Services – Quality Assurance Officer
Mr. Smith of Smith Consulting Services will serve as the Raven Community Association Quality
Assurance Officer. He will be responsible for assuring the objectives of this Quality Assurance
Project Plan are met and adhered to over the course of the monitoring.
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Raven Tribal Council, Raven Community Association
The Raven Tribal Council will be responsible for guidance for the project by planning and
prioritize water quality monitoring important to the Tribe.
A5 - Problem Definition/Background
Raven is located within Alaska, in which an abundant array of migratory and resident fish are
subsisted on by local people. There are certain times when each species is sought after in order to
get top quality fish. The boundaries surrounding the community are starting to show signs of
more environmental stress from increased population, development, and climate change. The
aftermath of each fall storm, were signs of resident specie caresses of countless fish used for
subsistence taken during fall/winter season to store.
The Raven Community Association (RCA) houses an environmental department that works
towards addressing environmental concerns within the community. The primary objective of
this project is to assess the potential impact of road development on subsistence resources in
adjoining aquatic habitats. The initial phase of this project will be to establish a baseline of basic
water quality information, which can be used for comparison purposes for longer term
monitoring. While this current project will focus on marine water quality monitoring, RCA will
be working towards adding fish habitat assessment parameters which will be included in formal
updates to the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).
A6 - Project/Task Description
This QAPP is developed for the purpose of supporting sampling activities and baseline data
collection for marine water quality associated with road development in Raven, Alaska. The
primary task will be to conduct regular in-situ sampling events to establish a baseline for basic
water parameters including: nitrates, pH, alkalinity, carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen, salinity,
temperature and turbidity.
This QAPP may be revised as a full water quality and fish habitat monitoring program has been
established by RCA. Currently, this QAPP addresses baseline information. However, other
contaminants and fish habitat are a concern and may be added at a later date when funding
becomes available.
A7 - Quality Objectives and Criteria for Measurement Data
The project data quality objectives are to collect data within accepted accuracy needed to
establish a baseline of information for aquatic fish habitat in Raven, Alaska. All data will
provide a baseline of data which can be used in an environmental assessment document and for
reporting required by funding agencies.
Precision
Precision is the degree of agreement among repeated measurements of the same characteristic, or
parameter, and gives information about the consistency of methods. All field tests performed by
RCA staff will comply with equipment specifications. All results will be recorded in lab
logbooks; however, results which fall outside the specified range will not be entered into the
project data system.
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Accuracy
Accuracy is a measure of confidence that describes how close a measurement is to its” true”
value. In this project, accuracy is measured by duplicate sampling.
Representativeness
Representativeness is the extent to which measurements actually represent the true
environmental condition. Representativeness of data collected is assured by the location of
sampling sites.
Comparability
Comparability is the degree to which data can be compared directly to similar studies. Using
standardized sampling equipment and units of reporting with comparable sensitivity ensures
comparability. All results produced under this QAPP will be reported in metrics common to
water quality regulations specific to each parameter.
Completeness
Completeness is the comparison between the amounts of usable data collected versus the amount
of data called for in the sampling plan. Completeness is measured as the percentage of total
samples collected and analyzed as a whole and compared to the goals set out by the project
design. To measure completeness the primary number of samples collected will be divided by
the useable number of samples submitted to the funding agency with a goal of 85%
completeness.
A8 - Special Training Requirements/Certification
Trained personnel will conduct all field sampling and data collecting for the FY 2011 GAP
Protecting Subsistence Resources Project. The US EPA’s guidelines and restrictions will be used
on measurements for the project.
John Smith has had training and completed the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society’s
Tribal Water Quality Assessment Phase I, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Yukon River
Inter-Tribal Watershed Council Water Quality Workshop, and Bureau of Indian Affairs Water
Quality.
John Smith has had and completed the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council Water
Quality Workshop, NOAA Tribal Marine Science Workshop, which included Traditional
Knowledge, uses of marine resources, the ecology of marine plants, invertebrates, fish, and
marine mammal species commonly used for subsistence by Alaska Natives, testing for paralytic
shellfish positioning, and concepts of physical oceanography which may be important for
monitoring conditions in the marine environment that affect Alaska’s coastal communities.
A9 - Documentation and Records
The current QAPP will be maintained at the RCA’s Environmental Department office and the
offices of Smith Consulting Services. Any changes necessitate by unforeseen conditions will be
transmitted by fax or email to the funding agency’s Project Officer, the RCA Quality Assurance
Officer and the EPA.
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Data will be entered into an Excel spreadsheet and stored on the RCA Environmental
Department’s computer network. Data will also be stored on a compact disc and/or back-up hard
drive and housed at the RCA and off-site with the RQuality Assurance Officer at Smith
Consulting Services. All electronic and hardcopies of data for the project will be filed and stored
at RCA for a minimum of 10 years.
GROUP B: MEASUREMENT/DATA ACQUISITION
B1 - Sampling Process Design (Experimental Design)
Field water quality sampling data collected under this QAPP will be taken at Insert sampling
locations. Sampling events will occur in the spring after ice break-up and prior to road
construction activities, in the summer during road construction activities and in the Fall after
road construction activities before ice formation. Sampling locations were chosen where water
crosses the road corridor, both above and below the road, in order to determine the effects of the
road on water quality (Appendix A).
At each site the field team will use in-situ LaMotte Salt Water Test Kit and LaMotte Turbidity
Meter to measure the following parameters: ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH, alkalinity, carbon
dioxide, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature and turbidity. Daily weather observations, GPS
and site photos will also be taken at each sampling location.
Additional test may be added to this monitoring program in the future, as funding becomes
available, and the QAPP will be updated in include any new parameters that are added. All data
will be used to determine if water quality is affecting subsistence based resources in adjacent
waterways.
B2- Sampling Methods and Requirements
The sampling events are schedule for spring, summer and fall to coincide with road construction
activities. Each sampling location will be marked by GPS. Flagging will be hung at the
sampling location in order to find the exact location for each sampling event. While sampling
sites have been pre-determined using maps, some refinement in the selection will occur during
the first sampling event to assure sample sites are representative. Water samples will be
collected directly from the waterway, with the sampler standing in the water in the opposite
direction of water flow. The samples will be collected into vials supplied in the LaMotte Salt
Water Test kit. At each site, the collection vials will be rinsed 3 times in water from that site.
Between sites, the collection vials will be washed with Liquinox, and then rinsed in deionized
water. Each sample will be conducted and recorded twice to meet the accuracy and precision
measurements set by this QAPP.
Sampling methods will be in accordance with the step by step process for each parameter as
specified by the operating manual for each piece of equipment (Appendix X). The data will be
recorded onto data sheets as soon as the results are read for each parameter tested. The RCA
Environmental Planner will assure that all reagents are not expired prior to use, and will assure
that all reagents are disposed of property after the samples have been analyzed.
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The RCA Quality Assurance Officer is responsible for any correction action plan. Corrective
actions may include re-location of sampling site, omission of data due to improper collection
and/or potential cross-contamination, un-reconcilable flagged data.
B3 - Sample Handling and Custody Requirements
All field sampling will be conducted on site at each sampling location. The samples will be
tested, and logged onto data collection sheets (Appendix X). In the field, samples will be the
responsibility of and will stay with the RCA Environmental staff person until the test results are
complete. There are no chain-of-custody requirements at this time because samples will not be
transported.
B4 - Analytical Methods Requirements
The water samples collected under this QAPP will be analyzed for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH,
alkalinity, carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature and turbidity in brackish
waters. Water drawn from the identified sampling locations will be tested in-situ with LaMotte
field equipment (LaMotte Salt Water Test Kit and LaMotte Turbidity Meter), in accordance to
sampling instructions that accompany the equipment.
Responsibility for corrective action during the laboratory falls on RCA Quality Assurance
Project Officer. If data do not meet quality objectives of this QAPP (Appendix X) the RCA
Quality Assurance Officer will work with RCA staff and the funding agency representative to
resolve the issues.
B5 - Quality Control Requirements
The LaMotte Salt Water Test kit comes with prepared one-time-only tests for each of the nine
parameters. The LaMotte Turbidity meter will be calibrated prior to each sampling event in
accordance to calibration procedures provided in Appendix X. Each sampling event will include
X locations. At each sampling location field measurements will be gathered in duplicate. Any
deviation from the data quality objectives will be documented and sites will be re-sampled.
Variation of duplicate values for each parameter must not exceed the range of precision and
accuracy specified in the data quality objectives (Appendix X). Field data that do not meet
project accuracy and precision objectives will be omitted from reporting and replicated.
B6 - Instrument/Equipment Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance Requirements
The LaMotte equipment used to collect salt water quality parameters will be calibrated as
described in Section B7. A general visual inspection of the meter will take place prior to each
use. Maintenance of the meters will occur on an as needed basis. If instrument failure occurs
during a sampling event, all field data will be omitted and replicated once proper function is
ensured in accordance with the data quality objectives of this QAPP. All field equipment
maintenance is the responsibility of the RCA Environmental Planner.
B7 - Instrument Calibration and Frequency
There are no calibration requirements for the LaMotte Salt Water Test kit. Each test is a
colorimetric and/or visual reading, where reagents are added to sample water and compared back
to color charts. Calibration of the LaMotte Turbidity meter will be conducted prior to each field
day use and recorded on the data sheet used for this study (Appendix X). Calibration methods
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will be in accordance to procedures outlined by the LaMotte Turbidity Meter operating manual
(cite reference). Turbidity will be calibrated to known blanks for salt water testing. Refer to
Appendix X for detailed calibration procedures for the LaMotte Turbidity Meter.
B8 - Inspections/Acceptance Requirements for Supplies and Consumables
Supplies and consumables used by RCA include water sampling bottles and reagents, calibration
fluids and personal field gear. All supplies and consumables received by the RCA personnel will
be inspected by the RCA Environmental Planner for tampering and/or equipment deficiencies.
Any tampering or defective products will be sent back to the supplier of the equipment and will
be replaced. Reagents that accompany the LaMotte Salt Water test kit will specifically be
examined for expiration date. Expired reagents will be disposed of according to MSDS
specification and replacement reagents will be ordered prior to sampling events. The RCA
Environmental Planner will maintain records for all supplies and ensure the use of reagents that
have not expired.
B9 - Data Acquisition Requirements (Non-direct Measurements)
The study area is defined by aerial photos for the area, which were used in determining sampling
locations. Digital site photographs and GPS points for sampling locations will be taken, once the
monitoring program begins. Each site will be described as to current daily weather observations
on sampling days. Other field notes may be taken on datasheets if the sampler makes
observations while in the field.
B10 - Data Management
All datasheets will be photocopied and data will also be entered into Excel spreadsheets.
Original datasheets and electronic copies of data will be housed at the RCA Environmental
Office. Copies of datasheets and electronic data burned to a compact disc will also be stored off
site at the office of Smith Consulting Services.
GROUP C: ASSESSMENT/OVERSIGHT
C1 - Assessments and Response Actions
No formal statistical analysis of data will be done for this study. All data collected will be
reviewed and compiled by the RCA Environmental Planner and will be available for the Tribal
Council and project funding agency for review. If there the results of this monitoring show
problems with contamination, the council will report the findings to the members indicated on
the distribution list for this QAPP.
Corrective actions under this QAPP will be taken by the RCA Environmental Planner in
coordination with the RCA Quality Assurance Officer.
C2 - Reports to Management
The RCA Environmental Planner will create a written record of who collected data, the location
the samples were collected, and the date the assessments were complete. The RCA
Environmental Planner is responsible for report production and distribution. Reports will
include progress to date, results of data, and interpretation of data. Additional reports may be
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required by funding agencies, and will be in accordance to their grant award specification.
Reports will be forwarded to funding agencies and to the distribution list for this QAPP.
GROUP D: DATA VALIDATAION AND USABILITY
D1 - Data Review, Validation, and Verification Requirements
All data will be reviewed, validated and verified by the RCA’s Quality Assurance Officer, John
Smith. Questionable data will be flagged and discussed with the EPA’s Quality Assurance
Officer as to whether it should be discounted. If the data is not discounted, a flag with the noted
concern will be incorporated into any reporting on the data.
D2 - Validation and Verification Methods
There are no validation or verification methods for field collected data.
D3 - Reconciliation with User Requirements
The project objectives include establishing a baseline of information regarding impacts to
subsistence resources from road projects in Raven, Alaska. The data collected under this QAPP
can be used at the discretion of the Raven Tribal Council. Any corrective actions or mistakes
will be reconciled with RCA staff.
REFERENCES:
User Manual for LaMotte Salt Water Test Kit.
User Manual and Calibration Manual for LaMotte Turbidity meter
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Appendix A: Map of Sampling Locations
Appendix B: Data Quality Objectives
Appendix C: Equipment Operating Manuals