Lake Michigan Mass Balance

Metadata

LMMB Methods Compendium
This compendium describes the sampling and analytical methods used in the LMMB Study. For ease of use, the compendium is organized into three volumes. Volume 1 describes sampling procedures used in the study; Volumes 2 and 3 describe analytical procedures used by each principal investigator.

Allowable Codes for LMMB Data Releases
Codes used by the Research Data Management and Quality Control system (RDMQ; a SAS-based program configured to perform routine quality control and data management for the LMMB data) to load, flag, revise, and export data into several spreadsheet formats.  

Original Allowable Codes tables
The original codes developed for the LMMB study for use by principal investigators.  

Current Data Reporting Standards
In order to store data for long-term viability, the Great Lakes National Program Office has developed specific formats (i.e., file formats and codes to represent certain data values) for reporting data for the Lake Michigan Mass Balance and other projects.

Original Data Reporting Format

Over twenty organizations are producing LMMB data through collection and analysis of samples. Two major sources are the field sampling crews and the analytical laboratories. Specific formats (i.e., file formats and codes to represent certain data values) have been established for reporting LMMB data. These formats must be followed by whomever is collecting and submitting data under the study. Each format specifies the "rules" by which data must be submitted, and, in many cases, the allowable values by which they are to be reported.

The data reporting formats were designed to minimize the number of data elements reported from the field crews and lab analysts. By adhering to this structure, all data sets going in to the LMMB data base will have a consistent format and be compatible with each other no matter who generated and submitted the data.

The data base has five types of data: Program, Project, Station, Sample Collection, and Results. All of the Program, Project, and Station data, as well as any data that can be gleaned from the Quality Assurance Project Plans, will be entered by GLNPO into the LMMB database and is therefore not part of the data reporting formats. The Sample Collection and Results data will be supplied by the principal investigators (the sampling crews and the analytical laboratories) following the standardized reporting formats. Both the database and the data reporting formats were designed to be applicable to projects outside the LMMB as well.

LMMB Laboratory Data Reporting Formats

Accurate data in electronic format is necessary for the efficient handling and timely analysis of project results. The LMMB Data Reporting Formats are required to be used for submittal of both sample collection and laboratory analysis information. The information in these formats shall be reported electronically according to these instructions, as stated in the Quality Assurance Program Plan and in contract/grant special conditions. Requested modifications to these data reporting formats must be approved by an EPA data management officer prior to submission; contact:

• Lou Blume, QA Manager, (312-353-2317)
• Ken Klewin, Database Manager, (312-886-4794)

Go to:

1. General Requirements
2. Specific Format Requirements
3. Sample Naming
4. Quality Control (QC) Reporting Requirements
5. Station Visit and Sample Collection Data Reporting Standards
6. Laboratory Analysis and Results Data Reporting Standards
7. Lists of Valid Codes and Allowable Values

General Requirements

Data will be submitted to GLNPO in electronic media (i.e., 3.5" diskette, magnetic tape, CD ROM, Internet transmission). All results submitted in electronic format will have been verified against field collection and/or laboratory records, and will agree exactly with any hard copy submissions. Records of the verification should be made. Diskettes, tapes, or CDs shall bear an external label supplying the following information:

• Submitter name and organization
• Brief description of contents

All files shall be submitted in comma-delimited ASCII format (or comma-separated values .CSV). Field lengths should only be as long as necessary to contain the data; do not pack fields with blanks. Missing/unknown values or empty fields need not have anything entered but two consecutive commas (,,) as this will hold a place in an ordered format. Please remove all headers and titles prior to converting to ASCII.

All fields are alpha-numeric unless remarks state otherwise. Numeric fields may contain numeric digits, a decimal place, and a leading minus (-) sign. A positive (+) sign is assumed, and must not be entered into any numeric field. The mass balance models require all chemistry results to be reporting in scientific notation, with at least 3 figures (regardless of significance). Please remember, spelling counts!

Specific Format Requirements

• Report temperature values in degrees centigrade
• Report times on a 24-hour clock (military time) as HH:MM:SS Greenwich Mean Time (00:00:00 = midnight, and 12:00:00 = noon)
• Report dates as YY-MM-DD
• Report all results in the units specified in the QA Management Plan (ex: PCB as ng/L or ng/kg)
• For consistency across the program, use the allowable values for select data types (ex: Quality Control identifiers, Lab Remark code) as provided through the specific Instructions for sample collection data or for lab data. Check spelling carefully!

Sample Naming

Consistency and uniqueness in sample naming is crucial for GIS and modeling use of information. EPA-designated names or identifiers shall be used when they exist. Please use the Field Sample ID as reported by the field crew in this file, and make sure that it is unique. Exception Internal laboratory sample IDs will be reported only for internal QC samples. Sample IDs must be unique (even lab sample IDs must be unique). Consistency and uniqueness in sample naming is crucial for GIS and modeling use of information. EPA-designated names or identifiers shall be used when they exist. Please use the Field Sample ID as reported by the field crew in this file, and make sure that it is unique. Exception Internal laboratory sample IDs will be reported only for internal QC samples. Sample IDs must be unique (even lab sample IDs must be unique).

QC Reporting Requirements

All relevant quality control data must be provided, including but not limited to:

• Spikes
• Blanks
• Duplicates
• Performance material

Please select the appropriate code(s) the pick lists for QC identifier, Lab Remark, and Statistic Type codes. Get approval from the EPA Quality Assurance Manager (Lou Blume) and the Data Manager (Ken Klewin) to request adding any new codes. Report sample volume or weight (and weight basis) necessary for calculating detection limits for each sample.

Report a value for all "below detection limit" analyses. Enter zero (0) for all non-detects.

Report corrected values in the Result field according to QAPP guidelines. Any correction factors applied are to be listed in the appropriate column.

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