![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Procedures for Detection and Quantitation
Federal Advisory Committee on Detection and Quantitation for Uses in Clean Water Act Programs
Meeting #10
Additional FACDQ Recommendations
The FACDQ recommends that:
- To maintain consistency, EPA, state, or private programs that reference the present Part 136 Appendix B procedure should adopt the new procedure that is replacing it. The new procedure has been thoroughly studied and vetted by a group of stakeholders in the FACDQ.
- The FACDQ recommends that EPA's Office of Water complete a long-term study to confirm the performance of the recommended procedure(s).
- EPA continue to act as the national lead for Clean Water Act (CWA) programs in developing analytical methods and setting the performance standards for those methods.
- EPA evaluate the federal resources dedicated to developing analytical methods with detection/quantitation limits of sufficient quality (i.e., meet data quality objectives) and capable of meeting the needs of CWA programs (e.g., quantitation at or below current water quality standards) and adjust those resources, where necessary, to meet data quality and program needs.
- EPA evaluate and modify the uses of data in CWA programs (beyond those uses discussed in the FACDQ recommendations) based on data uncertainty and decision error rate requirements relative to corresponding detection and quantitation limits. This could be accomplished through establishment of and adherence to data quality objectives for all CWA programs. How data relative to detection and quantitation limits are to be used in 303(d) listings, reasonable potential determinations, NPDES effluent limit derivation, the development of water quality criteria, and other uses should be documented.
- EPA establish data quality objectives (with indicators and measurement quality objectives) for CWA programs where detection/quantitation limits are used in decision making.
- EPA develop and implement guidance on the new procedures as well as a computer-based program to assist in calculating detection and quantitation limits.