The information contained within Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) and on this website represents the latest step in an ongoing effort of the EPA’s NHSRC to provide selected analytical methods for use by those laboratories tasked with performing confirmatory analyses of environmental samples is support of EPA remediation and recovery efforts following a homeland security incident. SAM is intended for use by EPA and EPA-contracted laboratories; it also can be used by other agencies and laboratory networks.

At this time, only some of the methods selected have been fully validated for the listed analyte and sample type. However, the methods are considered to contain the most appropriate currently available techniques based on expert judgment. Unless a published method listed within SAM and on this website states specific applicability to the analyte/sample type for which it has been selected, it should be assumed that method evaluation is needed, and adjustments may be required to accurately account for variations in analyte/sample type characteristics, environmental samples, analytical interferences, and target risk levels.

EPA will strive to continue development and evaluation of analytical protocols, including optimization of procedures for measuring target analytes or agents in specific sample types, as appropriate. This will be an ongoing process as EPA will strive to maintain the most appropriate methods for use with each listed analyte and sample type. In those cases where method procedures are determined to be insufficient for a particular situation, NHSRC will continue to provide technical support regarding appropriate actions. NHSRC has also compiled information and published documents regarding field screening equipment, sample collection materials, rapid screening/preliminary identification equipment, and disposal of samples corresponding to SAM analytes and sample types. See: SAM Companion Documents and Sample Collection Procedures.

Public officials need to accurately assess and characterize site contamination following an emergency situation. This assessment includes initial characterization of potential site contamination for determination of immediate public and environmental risk, determination of the extent of contamination, and effective approaches for site remediation. EPA recognizes that having data of known and documented quality is critical in making proper decisions during each of these activities and strives to establish Data quality objectives (DQOs) for each response activity. These DQOs are based upon needs for both quality and response time. During initial assessments, time is of utmost importance and DQOs must be established that weigh the need for rapid analytical response (e.g., using screening methods) against the need for very high quality data. See: Data Quality Objectives.

Many of the methods listed in SAM include quality control (QC) requirements for collecting and analyzing samples. EPA will assess these QC requirements to ensure analytical data quality supports decisions concerning site remediation and release. These QC requirements may be adjusted as necessary to maximize data and decision quality. Specific QC considerations and recommendations for analysis of samples for chemical, radiochemical, pathogen, and biotoxin analytes are provided in the section-specific Quality Control (QC) Guidelines. EPA’s ERLN, which is tasked with providing laboratory support following homeland security-related contamination events, also has established data reporting procedures. Requirements for receiving, tracking, storing, preparing, analyzing, and reporting data are specified in the Environmental Response Laboratory Network Laboratory Requirements Document. Project-specific requirements also are included in individual Analytical Service Requests (ASRs). See: Environmental Response Laboratory Network Laboratory Requirements Document.

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