Quality Assurance Project Plans for Grantees and Data Submitters

Template, guidelines and checklist for preparing Quality Assurance (QA) Project Plans

Use this template for the development of your QA Project Plan. The template includes information and instructions needed for the preparation of a QA Project Plan. Some of the text will be deleted as the plan is prepared.

If additional guidance is needed, please consult the Guidelines for Preparing Quality Assurance Project Plans for Environmental Studies (Guidelines), which is available in "pdf" format at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0403030.html. The guidelines provide detailed guidance on preparing a QA Project Plan and a glossary that can be referenced for terms used in this document.

The checklist can also be used as you prepare the QA Project Plan; it provides a list of all the required elements for the plan.

Standard Operating Procedures for Field Sampling and Analysis

Grantees are required to use standard operating procedures (SOPs) for any field sampling and field analytical activities they undertake. Here is a link to over 75 SOPs for field procedures.

Standard Operating Procedures

Help with Laboratory Accreditation

See the following web address: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/labs/lab-accreditation.html for more information about laboratory accreditation. Any data submitted to Ecology or funded by Ecology must be performed by an accredited lab using an accredited method.

Model QA Project Plan

This Model QA Project Plan is as an example of a well-written QA Project Plan. It includes all required QA Project Plan elements.