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Office of Analytical Services & Quality Assurance Flier
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Office of Analytical Services & Quality Assurance
Environmental Science Center
Fort Meade, Maryland
The Office of Analytical Services and Quality Assurance (OASQA), located at the Environmental Science Center (ESC) at Fort Meade, Maryland, ensures that good science is being used to make appropriate environmental decisions. OASQA's customers include the EPA Regional and Headquarters programs, other federal agencies, and state and local laboratories and environmental agencies.
The OASQA Laboratory performs a wide array of chemical and biological analyses on environmental samples, employing state-ofthe- art instrumentation and rigorous quality assurance processes. The analytical data generated supports environmental enforcement actions and hazardous waste site clean up activities.
Environmental samples include many different materials, including drinking water, waste water, air, soil and waste drum samples. The Laboratory is accredited under the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP).
OASQA also provides Quality Assurance (QA) program support. The QA staff assists their customers in planning site remediation projects by reviewing QArelated documents and recommending and evaluating options for measuring the level and extent of contaminants at a site. They review laboratory data to determine how the data can be used to support clean up decisions at the site.
Vision
Improving the environment by being champions of applied and innovative science.
Mission
Trusted environmental advocates of good science, fostering partnerships with our customers, providing and assuring the most appropriate quality of data for environmental decision making.
Services
- Laboratory Analytical Services - Identify chemical and biological contaminants in environmental samples
- Quality Assurance Support - Plan for and evaluate environmental data collection activities
- Analytical Services Procurement - Acquire laboratory services from private sector
- Laboratory Inspections - Determine compliance with laws and regulations
- Technical Assistance - Interpret environmental data
On the Web
OASQA manages the acquisition and oversight of laboratory analytical services for Regional program offices. It helps determine the number and type of samples to be analyzed and costs associated with the proposed analyses; identify and contract with qualified laboratories; and review and assess environmental data packages.
OASQA certifies Primary State Laboratories for Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) chemistry and microbiological methods and oversees state SDWA laboratory certification programs. It also provides assessment and oversight of State Accrediting Bodies under the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP).
OASQA provides training and technical assistance to state agencies and Regional program personnel regarding choosing appropriate laboratory methods, selecting method detection limits to meet project objectives, interpreting data results, defining project-specific sampling and analysis requirements, and providing expert witness testimony.
Office of Analytical Services &
Quality Assurance
USEPA Region 3
Environmental Science Center
701 Mapes Road
Fort Meade, MD 20755-5350
Contacts
Cynthia Metzger (metzger.cynthia@epa.gov)
Associate Division Director
(3EA20)
410-305-2735 (voice)
410-305-3095 (fax)
Cynthia Caporale (caporale.cynthia@epa.gov)
Chief
Laboratory Branch (3EA21)
410-305-2732 (voice)
410-305-3095 (fax)
Fred Foreman (foreman.fred@epa.gov)
Chief
Technical Services Branch
(3EA22)
410-305-2629 (voice)
410-305-3095 (fax)
Joseph Slayton (slayton.joe@epa.gov)
Senior Scientist (3EA20)
410-305-2653 (voice)
410-305-3095 (fax)