Phase II GIS-based Sediment Quality Database Quality Assurance Project Plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) has extended a grant to the Duluth office of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to develop a comprehensive sediment management plan for the lower St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC). As one component of this project, Phase II of a geographic information system (GIS)-based sediment quality database for the St. Louis River AOC will be initiated. The Phase I GIS-based database, funded through GLNPO grant number GL97536301-01, was completed September 30, 2003 (Smorong and Crane, 2003; Smorong et al., 2003a,b). The Phase I project followed the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures provided in the Phase I Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP; Crane 2001). To ensure continuity in the Phase II project, the same consulting group that worked on the Phase I project [i.e., MacDonald Environmental Sciences Ltd. (MESL)] will work on this project. This document provides an update of the Phase I QAPP to meet the goals of the Phase II GISbased sediment quality database. As part of the Phase II QAPP, a detailed work plan for this project is given in Section B. Since the amount of funds available for this task is inadequate to complete the GIS-based sediment quality database, additional funds are being sought by the Environmental Outcomes Division of the MPCA to complete it. A separate QAPP will be developed by Brian Fredrickson (MPCA Grant Manager) for the other work components of the comprehensive sediment management plan, including a compilation of loading sources, compilation of recommendations from related studies with applications to sediment management topics, identification of historical point sources, and development and implementation of an overall public participation strategy. The various quality assurance and management responsibilities of key project personnel are defined in the following section.