Environmental Data Validation
Environmental data collected and/or compiled by Cox-Colvin & Associates professionals become the foundation for a successful project. Data quality objectives (DQOs) are established by Cox-Colvin & Associates early in the project planning stages to ensure development of efficient and appropriate data collection programs. Careful consideration of the DQOs ensures that the type, quantity, and quality of environmental data used in decision making will be appropriate for the intended application.
"The primary goal of the QA program is to ensure that all environmentally related measurements...[laboratory analysis] produce data of known quality. The quality of data is known when all components... are thoroughly documented, such documentation being verifiable and defensible."
-EPA Order 5360.1
-EPA Order 5360.1
Depending on its end use, data validation of laboratory analytical data may be required. Data validation is a systematic process for reviewing analytical results against a set of DQO-derived criteria to confirm that data are adequate for their intended uses. Data validation typically is required or suggested for RCRA Corrective Action, RCRA closure, CERCLA work, most groundwater monitoring programs, and any analytical data which may be subject to litigation. Depending on the decisions to be made with the data, validation can range from a review of the sample results and basic QC data (holding times, reporting limits, field and laboratory blanks) to a full evaluation of the raw analytical data. Cox-Colvin & Associates follows appropriate federal or state validation guidelines during the validation process. Results that do not meet specified quality control criteria are qualified ("flagged"); qualifier codes are entered into the project's database and accompany the analytical result whenever presented. Cox-Colvin & Associates prepares a validation summary which identifies any deficiencies or biases in the data set and includes a conclusion regarding the usability of the data.
Cox-Colvin & Associates strongly believes that the benefits of environmental data validation outweigh its costs. Data validation adds confidence to the data set by ensuring that data are of a known and acceptable quality. Consequently, decisions made based on a validated data set are more defensible. In addition, data validation can identify contamination introduced during field activities or laboratory analyses, thus eliminating stray or inappropriate data. This is increasingly important due to lower standard reporting levels, as well as regulations that require results be reported to the method detection limit. During validation, proper qualification of "detections" resulting from field or laboratory contamination lowers project costs by eliminating potential regulatory violations, reducing resampling costs, and/or eliminating unnecessary remediation. Please contact us to obtain more information about Cox-Colvin & Associates environmental data validation services and the benefits to your project.
Cox-Colvin & Associates strongly believes that the benefits of environmental data validation outweigh its costs. Data validation adds confidence to the data set by ensuring that data are of a known and acceptable quality. Consequently, decisions made based on a validated data set are more defensible. In addition, data validation can identify contamination introduced during field activities or laboratory analyses, thus eliminating stray or inappropriate data. This is increasingly important due to lower standard reporting levels, as well as regulations that require results be reported to the method detection limit. During validation, proper qualification of "detections" resulting from field or laboratory contamination lowers project costs by eliminating potential regulatory violations, reducing resampling costs, and/or eliminating unnecessary remediation. Please contact us to obtain more information about Cox-Colvin & Associates environmental data validation services and the benefits to your project.