Environmental decisions are only as good as the information upon which they are based, which means the quality of the data must be assured.
Quality Management Plans (QMPs) are mandated by EPA, and describe an organization’s system for planning, implementing, documenting, and assessing data collection to ensure the quality of the information that is generated. This system applies to work done by the organization itself or a contractor hired by the organization to conduct a project.
Following EPA’s directive, NEIWPCC’s Quality Management Steering Committee developed a QMP that spells out our commitment to developing quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) for each project involving the collection of environmental data or the evaluation of environmental technology. These QAPPs carefully describe how the project’s data collection activities will be planned, conducted, and reviewed throughout the life cycle of the project.
Our QMP even went beyond EPA requirements by pledging to create QAPPs for all environmental data projects, not just those supported by EPA funds.
In October 2018, NEIWPCC received a periodic Quality System Assessment from representatives of the EPA Region 1 Quality Assurance Unit. Their cover letter and report were received in November 2018. There were no non-conformances found during the assessment.
The 2023 Annual QA Status Report and Quality Management Plan Review was submitted to EPA Regions 1 & 2 on December 26, 2023.
For more information, contact Emily Bialowas, NEIWPCC’s Quality Assurance Program Manager, at ebialowas@neiwpcc.org.