5.3 Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) 
A Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) documents the planning, implementation, and 
assessment procedures for a particular project, as well as any specific quality assurance and 
quality control activities. It integrates all the technical and quality aspects of the project in 
order to provide a blue print for obtaining the type and quality of environmental data and 
information needed for a specific decision or use. All work performed or funded by EPA that 
involves the acquisition of environmental data must have an approved QAPP. For more infor¬ 
mation, visit EPA s Web site at <www.epa.gov/quality>. 
Development of the QAPP required Syracuse to address essential project details. How will the 
data be collected? How will the data be used? Will the data support the decision-making 
process? How will the data be stored and presented? This up-front planning allowed Syracuse to 
work through issues before actually encountering them and saved time during project imple¬ 
mentation. 
Syracuse found that the exercise of developing a QAPP imposed an important discipline that 
guided the entire project. Syracuse took six months to develop the QAPP and continues to 
update it as the project matures. Although the initial push can be challenging, Syracuse staff 
believes that the process is worthwhile. A copy of the Syracuse QAPP appears in Appendix B. 
5.4 Resources for Additional Information 
Methods 6200, 6010B, and 7420 from EPA (entitled Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, 
Physical/Chemical Methods). Ordering information or a copy of the text can be obtained 
online by accessing <www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/test/sw846.htm>. 
ASTM D1792-96a, Standard Specification for Wipe Sampling Materials for Lead in Surface 
Dust, ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. For individual 
reprints call 610-832-9585; visit www.astm.org; or send an e-mail to service@astm.org. 
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Chapter 5 
