Overview
Systematic planning is an evidence-based approach to site investigation and cleanup under the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP). All projects under the ERP require comprehensive planning including quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) measures to obtain data of appropriate quality for the intended purpose. This spans investigation, information acquisition, and results assessment to support ERP project success.
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Process
The requirements for documentation of the systematic planning process are provided in the Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans Manual (UFP-QAPP Manual; EPA/505/B-04/900A). The UFP-QAPP was used as the basis for developing templates for the Department of the Navy (DON) Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP). The DON SAP combines the elements of a UFP-compliant QAPP with the elements of a Field Sampling Plan (FSP).
The purpose of the QAPP portion of the SAP is to describe in comprehensive detail the necessary QA/QC and other technical activities that must be implemented to ensure that the results of the work performed will satisfy the stated performance criteria. The QAPP portion of the DON SAP integrates technical and QC aspects of a project throughout its lifecycle, including planning, implementation, assessment, and remedial action. The purpose of the FSP portion of the SAP is to detail a “plan of action” for the field sampling effort to ensure that proper sampling techniques are employed to obtain samples that retain their scientific integrity and are legally defensible.
In support of SAP development for chemical constituents, NAVFAC has a three-tiered approach as follows:
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Tier I SAP Template. The Tier I SAP Template contains all 37 worksheets and is recommended for most Site Inspection (SI) and Remedial Investigation (RI) efforts.
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Tier II SAP Template. The Tier II SAP Template contains fewer worksheets and is recommended for smaller or less complex sites. The use of the Tier II SAP must be approved for use by the entire partnering team, as well as the Navy chemist or Quality Assurance Officer (QAO).
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Management and Monitoring Approach. Lastly, NAVFAC has developed the Management and Monitoring Approach (MMA), which is intended for sites that are conducting Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) as part of a remedy component in the Record of Decision (ROD). Again, this approach needs to be approved by the entire Team, as well as the Navy chemist or QAO.
QA/QC programs for munitions response (MR) actions are also implemented through QAPPs and Quality Assessment Surveillance Plans (QASPs) that are tailored to the project needs. For MR projects utilizing Advanced Geophysical Classification (AGC), an AGC-QAPP template is available here. Other documents that support quality assessments at MR sites include the MR RI/FS QAPP toolkit, Munitions Response Quality Assessment Spreadsheet, NAVFAC's Statement of Work Template for Quality Assessment at a MRS, and Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council’s (ITRC’s) Quality Considerations for Munitions Response Projects.
For more information, Chapter 8.2 of the DON Environmental Restoration Program Manual reviews the systematic planning requirements for ERP projects. EPA’s Triad Approach and data quality objective (DQO) process are also examples of systematic planning efforts and are incorporated into the Navy’s overall ERP site management approach.