Quality Assurance Project Plans for the National Estuary Program (NEP)

Waiver, template, guidelines and checklist for preparing Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP)

Welcome. You can use this website if you:

Need to write a QAPP for your project, or determine if you need to write a QAPP.
Need to access Ecology's QAPP guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for field work.
Want to access a simplified QAPP template for preparation.
View and use a QAPP checklist.
Review an example QAPP.

Waiver form - Go here to download the NEPP QAPP waiver form. All grantees will use this form to determine if their project requires a QAPP. If the project does not require a QAPP, this form will be completed to document project objectives and assessment criteria.
QAPP template - Use this template for the development of your QAPP. The template includes information and instructions needed for the preparation of a QAPP. Some of the text in the template 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 QAPP and a glossary that can be referenced for terms used in this document.

Review checklist - The checklist can be used as you prepare the QAPP. It provides a list of all the required elements for the plan. This checklist will also be used in the review of your QAPP.
Standard operating procedures - 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
Lab 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 QAPP - This Model QAPP is as an example of a well-written QAPP. It includes all required QAPP elements.

QAPPs must be submitted to the NEP Quality Coordinator a minimum of 4 weeks before field work begins. Submit your QAPP or QAPP waiver form to tgri461@ecy.wa.gov.