Quality Assurance Project Plan Development Tool

NOTE: The QAPP Standard defines the minimum requirements for QAPPs for EPA and non-EPA organizations performing environmental information operations. The QAPP Standard requirements will apply to all contracts issued on or after July 18, 2023 and new and supplemental grant awards issued on or after August 31, 2023. All new and supplemental assistance agreements requiring QAPPs awarded as of that date must be in compliance with the new Standard or must include an updated term and condition that links to the Standard.

Previously awarded grants will continue to use QA/R-5, unless they are amended to add new activities requiring a QAPP, in which case the requirements of the new Standard must be followed.

The Office of Grants and Debarment has updated the national programmatic terms and conditions to revise the QA T&C. As well, new, and existing FR templates will be updated as applicable.

In the transition period between July 18 – August 31, 2023, Program Offices may elect to include the new Standard in any funding recommendations and awards requiring the QA T&C. Citing to the new Standard during this transition period, while not required, is preferred.

Contact the organization sponsoring the work if you have any questions. 

This example tool contains information designed to assist in developing a Quality Assurance (QA) Project Plan that meets EPA requirements for projects that involve surface or groundwater monitoring and/or the collection and analysis of water samples. The structure of the example tool is intended to step one through the thought process of planning a project, as well as to provide a framework for documenting the plan. The tool is divided into modules as follows:

• Module 1
• Module 2
• Module 3
• Module 4
• Module 5
• Module 6

Module 1

Module 1. Guidance on Preparing a QA Project Plan: This guidance provides a streamlined version of EPA's national QA documents (Quality Assurance Project Plan Standard and companion guidance EPA Guidance for the Preparation of Quality Assurance Project Plans, EPA QA/G-5) and represents a graded approach to QA Project Plan for water quality monitoring projects. The guidance follows the same basic organization structure as the Template and Model QA Project Plan described, respectively, in Modules 2 and 3 below.

• Module 1. Guidance on Preparing a QA Project Plan

Module 2

Module 2. QA Project Plan Template: This template provides a formatted outline to serve as a basis for documenting your QA Project Plan. Each section of the template includes a brief description of the information to include (which supplements the more detailed information provided in Module 1). The template also includes example tables, figures and/or appendices providing optional ways to present project information. The template is provided as a guide and is not a requirement to follow exactly. (Note: You may copy and save the template to your computer.)

• Module 2. QA Project Plan Template
  • Module 2 Template (doc) (256.5 KB)

Module 3

Module 3. Model QA Project Plan: The model is provided as an example of what a completed QA Project Plan might look like. It follows the same basic structure as the guidance and template included in Modules 1 and 2, while demonstrating flexibility in applying the structure to an example project.

• Module 3. Model QA Project Plan

Module 4

Module 4. References and Links: This module provides a great deal of both technical and QA information that may assist with designing and planning a project.

• Module 4. References and Links

Requirements/Specifications

• Quality Management Plan Standard
• Quality Assurance Project Plan Standard

Primary Guidance

• EPA QA/G-5, Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans
• The Volunteer Monitor's Guide to Quality Assurance Project Plans
• Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan Guidance for Programs Using Community Level Biological Assessment in Wadable Streams and Rivers

Secondary Guidance

• EPA QA/G-4, Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process
• EPA QA/G-4HW, Data Quality Objectives Process for Hazardous Waste Site Investigations
• EPA QA/G-6, Guidance for Preparing Standard Operating Procedures
• EPA QA/G-7, Guidance on Technical Audits and Related Assessments
• EPA QA/G-8, Guidance on Environmental Data Verification and Data Validation
• EPA QA/G-9, Guidance for Data Quality Assessment: Practical Methods for Data Analysis
• Quality Assurance Guidance for Conducting Brownfields Assessments, EPA
• Guidance for QA Project Plan Development for EPA-Funded Cooperative Agreements with State & Tribal Agencies for the Conduct of FIFRA Pesticide Programs, EPA

Supplemental Technical Information

• Statistical Methods in Water Resources (Download or purchase a copy of the document from the U.S. Geological Survey website)
• National Recommended Water Quality Criteria: 2004, EPA
• USGS/Water Resources-Office of Water Quality, National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data, Book 9, Handbook for Water-Resources Investigations
• USGS/Water Supply Paper 2175. Measurement and Computation of Stream Flow
• Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Invertebrates and Fish, EPA
• Water on the Web
• Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Geomorphic Assessment
• Watershed Analysis and Management (WAM) Guide for Tribes, EPA

Analytical References

• Handbook for Analytical Quality Control In Water and Wastewater Laboratories
• 40 CFR Chapter 1, (1 July 2003); Subchapter D - Water Programs:
  • Part 136 - Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants
  • Part 141.23 Inorganic Chemical Sampling and Analytical Requirements
  • Part 141.24 Organic chemicals other than total trihalomethanes, sampling and analytical methods
• Other Analytical Information Available on the Internet
  • Analytical Methods Developed by the Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, EPA
  • Water Science Analytical Methods, EPA
  • National Environmental Methods Index

Other Tools

• US EPA-New England: Beginner's Guide to Preparing Quality Assurance Project Plans for Environmental Projects
• Data Evaluation/Documentation Form (doc) (41 KB)
• Converting Units Tool (EXE) (exe) (453 KB)
• Introduction to Excel Spreadsheets

Organizational Website Links

• EPA New England/Region 1 Quality Assurance
• EPA Region 3 - Environmental Science Center, Quality Assurance Team
• EPA Region 7 Quality Assurance
• EPA Region 9 Quality Assurance
• EPA Region 10 Quality Assurance
• EPA Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center, Northern Arizona University
• 29 Palms of Mission Indians

Module 5

Module 5. Standard Operating Procedures: The module contains a compilation of information from various Regions and Tribes represented on the workgroup who initially developed this tool. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are provided as a basis for developing ones own SOPs to fit the way ones own organization implements its environmental sampling and analysis program. 

• Module 5. Standard Operating Procedures
  • EPA ERT SOPs

Module 6

Module 6. Selecting an Environmental Laboratory: The module describes a number of factors to be considered to assist in choosing a laboratory to meet specific project needs. How you choose to weigh the different factors presented will be dependent on your individual circumstances.

• Module 6. Selecting an Environmental Laboratory