Volume II: Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program

346 Pages·2017·4.75 MB·English

Quality Assurance
Handbook for Air
Pollution Measurement
Systems
Volume II
Ambient Air Quality
Monitoring Program
Page Intentionally Left Blank
EPA-454/B-17-001
January 2017

Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement
Systems

Volume II

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Air Quality Assessment Division
RTP, NC 27711
QA Handbook Volume II January 2017

Contents

Section Page Revision Date
Contents iv FINAL 01/17
Figures vi FINAL 01/17
Tables vii FINAL
Acknowledgments viii FINAL 01/17
Acronyms and Abbreviations ix FINAL 01/17
0. Introduction FINAL 01/17
0.1 Intent of the Handbook 1/3
0.2 Use of Terms Shall, Must, Should, May 2/3
0.3 Use of Footnotes 2/3
0.4 Handbook Review and Distribution 2/3
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1. Program Background FINAL 01/17
1.1 Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network 1/12
1.2 The EPA Quality System Requirements 6/12
1.3 The Ambient Air Monitoring Program Quality System 8/12
2. Program Organization FINAL 01/17
2.1 Organization Responsibilities 1/7
2.2 Lines of Communication 6/7
3. Data Quality Objectives FINAL 01/17
3.1 The DQO Process 3/7
3.2 Ambient Air Quality DQOs 4/7
3.2 Measurement Quality Objectives 5/7
4. Personnel Qualification and Training FINAL 01/17
4.1 Personnel Qualifications 1/3
4.2 Training 2/3
5. Documentation and Records FINAL 01/17
5.1 Management and Organization 2/9
5.2 Site Information 3/9
5.3 Environmental Data Operations 3/9
5.4 Raw Data 8/9
5.5 Data Reporting 8/9
5.6 Data Management 9/9
5.7 Quality Assurance 9/9
MEASUREMENT ACQUISITION
6. Monitoring Network Design FINAL 01/17
6.1 Monitoring Objectives and Spatial Scales 5/15
6.2 Monitoring Site Location 7/15
6.3 Minimum Network Requirements 11/15
6.4 Operating Schedules 12/15
6.5 Network Plan Reporting 15/15
7. The Sampling System FINAL 01/17
7.1 Monitor Placement 1/17
7.2 Environmental Control 2/17
7.3 Sampling Probes and Manifolds 5/17
7.4 Reference/Equivalent and Approved Regional Methods 13/17
8. Sample Handling and Custody FINAL 01/17
8.1 Sample Handling 2/7
8.2 Chain of Custody 5/7
9. Analytical Methods 01/17
9.1 Good Laboratory Practices 3/3
9.2 Laboratory Activities 3/3

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QA Handbook Volume II January 2017

Section Page Revision Date
10. Quality Control FINAL 01/17
10.1 The Quality Control Process 1/13
10.2 QC Activity Areas 3/13
10.3 Internal vs. External Quality Control 4/13
10.4 CFR Related Quality Control Samples 7/13
10.5 Use of Computers for Quality Control 12/13
11. Instrument/Equipment Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance FINAL 01/17
11.1 Instrumentation 1/8
11.2 Preventative Maintenance 5/8
12. Calibration FINAL 01/17
12.1 Calibration Standards and Reagents 3/15
12.2 Calibration Procedures 7/15
12.3 Multi-point Verifications 9/15
12.4 Frequency of Calibration and Analyzer Adjustment 11/15
12.5 Validation of Ambient Data Based on Calibration Info. 15/15
13 Inspection/Acceptance for Supplies and Consumables FINAL 01/17
13.1 Supplies Management 1/4
13.2 Standards and Reagents 2/4
13.3 Volumetric Glassware 3/4
13.4 Sample Containers 3/4
13.5 Particulate Sampling Filters 3/4
13.6 Field Supplies 4/4
14. Data Acquisition and Management FINAL 01/17
14.1 Data Acquisition 3/16
14.2 Data Transfer-Public Reporting 9/16
14.3 Data Transfer-Reporting to External Data Bases 10/16
14.4 Data Management 16/16
ASSESSMENT/OVERSIGHT
15. Assessment and Corrective Action FINAL 01/17
15.1 Network Reviews 1/16
15.2 Performance Evaluations 4/16
15.3 Technical Systems Audits 10/16
15.4 Data Quality Assessments 15/16
16. Reports to Management FINAL 01/17
16.1 Guidelines for Preparation of Reports to Management 2/5
DATA VALIDATION AND USABILITY
17. Data Review, Verification, Validation FINAL 01/17
17.1 Data Review Methods 3/10
17.2 Data Verification Methods 5/10
17.3 Data Validation Methods 5/10
18. Reconciliation with Data Quality Objectives FINAL 01/17
18.1 Five Steps of the DQA Process 2/11

APPENDICES
A. National Air Quality Monitoring Program Fact Sheets 10 FINAL 01/17
B: Ambient Air Monitoring QA Information and Web Addresses 4
C: Using the Graded Approach for the Development of QMPs and QAPPs 7
D: Measurement Quality Objectives and Validation Templates 1
E: Characteristics of Spatial Scales Related to Each Pollutant 9
F: Sample Manifold Design for Precursor Gas Monitoring 13
G: Example Procedure for Calibrating Data Acquisition System 3
H: Audit Information 48
I: Example of Reports to Management 25
J: Guidance for Use of Electronic Logbooks 18
K: Guidance for Verification of Zero Air Generators 10
L: Rounding Policy for Evaluating NAAQS QA/QC Acceptance Criteria 5

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QA Handbook Volume II January 2017

Figures

Number Title Section/Page
1.1 Ambient air quality monitoring process 1/1
1.2 Hierarchy of quality system development 1/7
1.3 Ambient Air Quality Monitoring QA Program 1/8
1.4 Example Quality Bulletin 1/11
2.1 Program organization and lines of communication 2/1
2.2 Relationship of monitored pollutants to site, monitoring organizations and 2/5
primary quality assurance organizations
3.1 Effect of positive bias on the annual average estimate resulting in a false 3/1
rejection error
3.2 Effect of negative bias on the annual average estimate resulting in a false 3/1
acceptance error
6.1 Wind rose pattern 6/9
6.2 Sampling schedule based on ratio to the 24-hour PM NAAQS 6/13
10
7.1 Example design for shelter 7/3
7.2 Individual sample line design for air monitoring 7/5
7.3 Views of sampling inlets 7/6
7.4 Position of calibration line in sampling manifold 7/7
7.5 Acceptable areas for PM and PM micro, middle, neighborhood, and 7/10
10 2.5
urban samplers except for microscale canyon sites
7.6 Optical mounting platform 7/10
7.7 Examples of contaminated tubing and manifolds needing more frequent 7/11
maintenance
8.1 Example sample label 8/3
8.2 Example field COC form 8/6
8.3 Example laboratory COC form 8/7
10.1 QC samples for PM placed at various stages of measurement process 10/2
2.5
10.2 Historical example of calibration, span and 1-point QC 10/8
10.3 An example approach for selecting QC check ranges 10/10
10.4 Ozone calibration 10/11
10.5 Control chart example 10/12
12.1 Electronic Chart Display of an SO2 Calibration Procedure 12/10
12.2 DASC Calibration Tool 12/11
12.3 Calibration/Verification Process Flow Chart 12/13
14.1 DAS data flow 14/3
14.2 Flow of data from gas analyzers to final reporting 14/4
15.1 Definition of independent assessment 15/7
15.2 Pre-Audit activities 15/11
15.3 On-Site audit activities 15/13
15.4 Audit finding form 15/14
15.5 Post-audit activities 15/14
15.6 Audit response form 15/15
18.1 DQA in the context of data life cycle 18/2
18.2 Example DASC Tool 18/10
18.3 Example Box and Whisker Plot 18/11

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QA Handbook Volume II January 2017

Tables

Number Title Section/Page
4-1 Monitoring Functions the Need Some Level of Staffing or Expertise 4/1
4-2 Suggested Sequence of Core QA Related Ambient Air Training Courses … 4/3
5-1 Types of Information the Should be Retained Through Document Control 5/1
6-1 Relationship Among Monitoring Objectives and Scale of Representativeness 6/6
6-2 Summary of Spatial Scales for SLAMS, NCore, PAMS, and Open Path Sites 6/6
6-3 Relationships of Topography, Air Flow, and Monitoring Site Selection 6/10
6-4 Completeness Goals for Ambient Monitoring Data 6/14
7-1 Environment Control Parameters 7/3
7-2 Summary of Probe and Monitoring Path Siting Criteria 7/9
7-3 Minimum Separation Distance between Road and Sampling Probes… 7/9
7-4 Performance Specifications for Automated Methods 7/15
9-1 Acceptable Analytical Methods 9/1
10-1 QC Samples Used in Various Ambient Air Monitoring Programs 10/5
10-2 PM Field and Lab QC Checks 10/6
2.5
11-1 Routine Operation Checks 11/6
12-1 Instrumentation and Devices Requiring Calibration and Certifications 12/14
14-1 AQS Data Reporting Requirements 14/11
14-2 AQS Agency Roles 14/12
14-3 Data Certification and Concurrence Flag Values 14/14
14-4 NCore Information Technology Performance Needs 14/15
15-1 National Performance Evaluation Activities Performed by EPA 15/5
15-2 Suggested Elements of an Audit Plan 15/12
16-1 Types of QA Reports to Management 16/2
16-2 Sources of Information for Preparing Reports to Management 16/2
16-3 Presentation Methods for Use in Reports to Management 16/3
18-1 Summary of Violations of DQO Assumptions 18/6
18-2 Weights for Estimating Three-Year Bias and Precision 18/6
18-3 Summary of Bias and Precision 18/9

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QA Handbook Volume II January 2017

Acknowledgments

This QA Hand Book is the product of the combined efforts of the EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, the EPA Regional Offices, and the State, Tribal and Local monitoring organizations. The
development and review of the material found in this document was accomplished through the activities
of the QA Strategy Workgroup. The following individuals are acknowledged for their contributions.

State, Tribal and Local Organizations

Amanda Hughes, Andy Clifton, Andy Johnson, Anna Kelley, Arun Roychowdhury, Barb Regynski, Ben
Davis, Bethany Head, Bradley Webber, Brian Lee, Bryan Paris, Ceresa Stewart, Charles Pearson, Chris
Wood, Cindy Wike, Clyde Sharp, David Johnson, David Mannis, Dennis Fenlon, Don Gourley, Donovan
Rafferty, Dustin Kuebler, Edwin Gluth, Erik Saganic, Gary Ensminger, Glenn Gehring, Harleen
Khangura, Hien Tran, Hugh Tom, James Jordan, Jason Low, Jeff Francis, Jeff Wasson, Jeremy Hardin,
Jill Schulte, Jim Conner, Joel Maddy, Joette Steger, John Haus, Joseph Ugorowski, Kate Hoag, Kirit
Dalal, Ken Cowen, Kent Curtis, Kevin Watts, Leonard Marine, Larry Taylor, Leroy Williams, Merrin
Wright, Mary Kay M. Clark, Melinda Ronca-Battista, Melvin Schuchardt, Mickey Palmer, Mike Draper,
Mike Hamdan, Nathan Stroup, Nydia Burdick, Patti DeLaCruz, Paul Lang, Paul Sanborn, Ranjit
Bhullar, Rayna Broadway, Richard Heffern, Ritchie Scott, Robert Franicevich, Robert Olson, Ryan
Callison, Sean Lundblad, Sean Nolan, Scott Reynolds, Stephen Hall, Steve Miller, Susan Kilmer, Susan
Selby, Tammy Eagan, Tim Carroll, Tom Koehler, Thomas McGrath, Tyler Muxworthy, Sandra
Wardwell, Will Wetherell, Yousaf Hameed

EPA Regions

Region
1 Chris St.Germain, Mary Jane Cuzzupe, Peter Kahn, Robert Judge
2 Avraham Teitz, Mark Winter, Mustafa Mustafa,
3 Kia Hence, Loretta Hyden
4 Danny France, Doug Jager, Richard Guillot, Stephanie McCarthy
5 Anthony Ross, Bilal Qazzaz, Basim Dihu, Scott Hamilton, Gordon Jones
6 Trisha Curran, Kara Allen, John Lay
7 James Regehr, Leland Grooms, Michael Davis, Thien Bui
8 Michael Copeland, Richard Payton, Joe Delwiche, Ethan Brown
9 Elfego Felix, Gwen Yoshimura, Larry Biland, Mathew Plate, Michael Flagg, Meredith Kurpius,
Roseanne Sakamoto,
10 Chris Hall

Office of Radiation and Indoor Air

Montgomery, AL - Eric Boswell, Jewell Smiley, Steve Taylor
Las Vegas, NV - Emilio Braganza, Jeff Lantz

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards

Kevin Cavender, Robert Coats, Dennis Crumpler, Joseph Elkins, Tim Hanley, Elizabeth Landis, Dennis
Mikel, Jonathan Miller, Greg Noah, Joann Rice, Solomon Ricks, Mark Shanis, David Shelow, Jenia
Tufts, Lewis Weinstock

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QA Handbook Volume II January 2017

Acronyms and Abbreviations

AAMG Ambient Air Monitoring Group
APTI Air Pollution Training Institute
ADQ audit of data quality
AMNP Annual monitoring network plan
AMTIC Ambient Monitoring Technical Information Center
ANSI American National Standards Institute
AQAD Air Quality Assessment Division
AQI Air Quality Index
AQS Air Quality System
ARM approved regional method
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
ASQ American Society for Quality
AWMA Air and Waste Management Association
CAA Clean Air Act
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CL confidence limit
CBSA core-based statistical area
CMSA combined metropolitan statistical area
COC chain of custody
CPU central processing unit
CSA combined statistical area
CSN PM2.5 Chemical Speciation Network
CRM certified reference material
CV coefficient of variation
DAS data acquisition system
DASC Data Assessment Statistical Calculator
DC direct current
DQA data quality assessment
DOP digital aerosol photometer
DQI data quality indicators
DQOs data quality objectives
EDO environmental data operation
EDERF energy dispersive x-ray flouresence
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
FEM federal equivalent method
FR flow rate
FRM federal reference method
FTIR fourier transform infrared (spectroscopy)
GC/MS gas chromatography mass spectrometry
GIS geographical information systems
GLP good laboratory practice
GMIS gas manufactures internal standards
HAP hazardous air pollutants
HC hydrocarbon
HPLC high performance liquid chromatography
HVAC heating, ventilating and air conditioning
ICP inductively coupled plasma
IMPROVE Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments
IT information technology
LDL lower detectable limit
LIMS` laboratory information management systems
MDL method detection limit
MFC mass flow control

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Acronyms and Abbreviations (Continued)

MPA monitoring planning area
MQAG Monitoring and Quality Assurance Group
MQOs measurement quality objectives
MSA Metropolitan Statistical Area
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NACAA National Association of Clean Air Agencies
NATTS National Air Toxics Trends Sites
NECTA New England city and town area
NEIC National Enforcement Investigations Center
NTAA National Tribal Air Association
NTEC National Tribal Environmental Council
NCore National Core Network
NERL National Exposure Research Laboratory
NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology
NF National Formulary
NPS National Park Service
NPAP National Performance Audit Program
NPEP National Performance Evaluation Program
NOAA National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
NTRM NIST traceable reference material
OAQPS Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
OMB Office of Management and Budget
ORD Office of Research and Development
ORIA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
P&A precision and accuracy
PAMS Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations
PDFID Cryogenic Preconcentration and Direct Flame Ionization Detection
PC personal computer
PE performance evaluation
PEP PM Performance Evaluation Program
2.5
PBMS performance based measurement system
ppb part per billion
ppm part per million
PSD Prevention of Significant Deterioration
PQAO primary quality assurance organization
PT proficiency test
PWD primary wind direction
QA quality assurance
QA/QC quality assurance/quality control
QAARWP quality assurance annual report and work plan
QAD EPA Quality Assurance Division
QAM quality assurance manager
QAO quality assurance officer
QAPP quality assurance project plan
QMP quality management plan
RPO regional planning organization
RSD relative standard deviation
SD standard deviation
SIPS State Implementation Plans
SLAMS state and local monitoring stations
SOP standard operating procedure
SPMS special purpose monitoring stations
SRM standard reference material
SRP standard reference photometer

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