FCEAP Criteria Air Pollutants QAPP September 2017 Page 1 of 109 Revision 0 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN (QAPP) FOR AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MONITORING OF CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS 9/5/17 SUBMITTED BY THE FORSYTH COUNTY OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION (FCEAP) FCEAP Criteria Air Pollutants QAPP September 2017 Page 2 of 109 Revision 0 Quality Assurance Project Plan Acronym Glossary A&MD- Analysis and Monitoring Division A&MPM- Analysis and Monitoring Program Manager AQI – Air Quality Index AQS - Air Quality System (EPA's Air database) CFR – Code of Federal Regulations DAS - Data Acquisition System DQA - Data Quality Assessment DQI - Data Quality Indicator DQO - Data Quality Objective EPA - Environmental Protection Agency FCEAP-Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection FTS - Flow Transfer Standard FEM – Federal Equivalent Method FRM – Federal Reference Method LAN – Local Area Network MQO – Measurement Quality Objective NAAQS - National Ambient Air Quality Standards NCDAQ - North Carolina Division of Air Quality NIST - National Institute of Science and Technology NPAP - National Performance Audit Program PEP – Performance Evaluation Program PQAO – Primary Quality Assurance Organization QA – Quality Assurance QA/QC - Quality Assurance/Quality Control QAPP - Quality Assurance Project Plan QC – Quality Control SD – Standard Deviation SLAMS - State and Local Air Monitoring Station SOP - Standard Operating Procedure SPM - Special Purpose Monitor TEOM - Tapered Elemental Oscillating Microbalance TSA - Technical Systems Audit TTP – Through the Probe FCEAP Criteria Air Pollutants QAPP September 2017 Page 4 of 109 Revision 0 1.2 TABLE OF CONTENTS QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN Cover Page ................................................................................... 1 Quality Assurance Project Plan Acronym Glossary ............................................................................................. 2 1.1 Signature Page ............................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................. 4 1.3 QAPP - DISTRIBUTION LIST ................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 PROJECT ORGANIZATION ...................................................................................................................... 9 1.5 PROBLEM DEFINITION/BACKGROUND ............................................................................................ 17 1.6 PROJECT/TASK DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................. 19 1.6.1 Field Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 21 1.6.2 Laboratory Activities ............................................................................................................................. 21 1.6.3 Project Assessment Techniques ............................................................................................................. 22 1.6.4 Project Records ...................................................................................................................................... 23 1.6.5 Site Locations ......................................................................................................................................... 23 1.7 QUALITY OBJECTIVES AND CRITERIA FOR MEASURING DATA ................................................. 25 1.7.1 Data Quality Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 25 1.7.2 Intended Use of Data .............................................................................................................................. 26 1.7.3 Type of Data Needed ............................................................................................................................. 26 1.7.4 Tolerable Error Limits ........................................................................................................................... 29 1.7.5 Measurement Quality Objectives ........................................................................................................... 29 1.7.6 Network Scale ........................................................................................................................................ 51 1.8 TRAINING / CERTIFICATION ................................................................................................................. 51 1.9 DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS ................................................................................................................ 54 1.9.1 Program Policy and Procedure Documentation ..................................................................................... 54 1.9.2 Sample Collection Records .................................................................................................................... 55 1.9.3 Chain of Custody Forms ........................................................................................................................ 56 1.9.4 QA/QC Records ..................................................................................................................................... 57 1.9.5 Reference Materials ............................................................................................................................... 57 1.9.6 Archiving and Retrieval ......................................................................................................................... 58 2.0 Measurement / Data Acquisition .................................................................................................................. 59 2.1 Sampling Process Design ............................................................................................................................. 59 2.1.1 Network Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 59 FCEAP Criteria Air Pollutants QAPP September 2017 Page 5 of 109 Revision 0 2.1.2 Site Types…………………………………………………..……...……………………..60 2.1.3 Monitoring Station Types………………………………………………………………...60 2.1.4 Site Selection……………………………………………………………………………..61 2.2 Sampling Methods………………………………………………………………...…………….63 2.3 Sample Handling and Custody…………………………………………………………………..66 2.4 Analytical Methods……………………………………………………………………………...70 2.5 Quality Control………………………………………………………………………………….71 2.6 Instrument/Equipment Performance Acceptance Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance………77 2.7 Instrument/Equipment Calibration and Frequency……………………………………….…..…80 2.8 Inspection/Acceptance of Supplies and Consumables…………………………………….…….82 2.9 Non-Direct Measurements………………………………………………………………………83 2.10 Data Management………………………………………………………………………….…..84 2.10.1 Data Collection and Recording…………………………………………………………85 2.10.2 Data Transmittal………………………………………………………………………...85 2.10.3 Data Verification and Validation……………………………………………………….86 2.10.4 Data Reduction and Analysis…………………………………………………………...87 2.10.5 Data Storage and Retrieval……………………………………………………………...88 3.0 Assessment / Oversight………………………………………………………………………… 88 3.1 Assessment and Response Actions……………………………………………………………...88 3.1.1 Network Plans/Assessments……………………………………………………………...89 3.1.2 Technical Systems Audits………………………………………………………………..89 3.1.3 Internal Systems Audits…………………………………………………………………..91 3.1.4 External Agency Performance Audits……………………………………………………91 3.1.5 Internal Performance Audits……………………………………………………………..92 3.1.6 Data Quality Audits………………………………………………………………………92 3.1.7 Data Quality Assessments………………………………………………………………..93 3.1.8 Data Certification………………………………………………………………………...93 3.1.9 Reporting and Resolutions of Issues……………………………………………………..94 3.2 Reports to Management…………………………………………………………………………96 4.0 Data Validation and Usability…………………………………………………………………...97 4.1 Data Review, Verification, and Validation……………………………………………………...97 4.1.1 Data Usability………………………………………………………………………….....98 4.2 Verification and Validation Methods…………………………………………………………..101 4.2.1 AQS Null Value Codes and Descriptions………………………………………………103 FCEAP Criteria Air Pollutants QAPP September 2017 Page 6 of 109 Revision 0 4.2.2 AQS Qualifier Flags .............................................................................................................................105 4.2.3 Informational Flags ..............................................................................................................................106 4.2.4 Guideline for Monthly Reports ............................................................................................................107 4.3 Reconciliation with Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) ............................................................................... 108 5.0 References .................................................................................................................................................. 109 List of Tables and Figures Table 1 National Ambient Air Quality Standards ........................................................................................... 18 Table 2 Assessment Schedule 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