1. Electronic Management of Environmental Analytical Data Anand Mudambi USEPA National Environmental Monitoring Conference 2011 August 16, 2011 08/16/20111

2. Data Management Issues Multiple databases, processes, procedures, and methods for the same information Consistent and stable business driven framework needs to be prescribed with all data generated registered into an Agency catalogue 08/16/20112

3. Data Management Goals Need to develop and implement: – paperless data generation – paperless data transfer/exchange – review and management (input and retrieval) systems for all types of project data (e.g., field, chain-of-custody, analytical) 08/16/20113

4. General Environmental Data Flow - Need to Go Electronic 08/16/20114

5. Some Data Management System Concepts Need to build systems that are used regularly Same systems for regular and emergency use System should be capable of being scaled up or down (e.g., number of samples, reporting of QC data) 08/16/20115

6. Data Management Frameworks: Examples EPA’s Environmental Response Laboratory Network and Water Laboratory Alliance EPA’s Contract Laboratory Program USACE ADR.net 08/16/20116

7. General Environmental Data Flow: Needs for Going Electronic Standard formats for electronic project requirements. Standards/templates for field information. Standard formats for reporting analytical data. Standard procedures for reviewing analytical data. Standard formats for reporting reviewed analytical data 08/16/20117

8. Standard Format Requirements Non-Proprietary Formats (e.g., XML) Use international standards for Valid Values (e.g., ISO, IEEE, ASTM) Guidance/Specification/Requirement Documents 08/16/20118

9. First Needs: Data Capture Requirements Need to develop the following: –Standard Specification for Laboratory Instrument Output files (e.g., NIST’s AnIML) –Standard Specifications for Laboratory Information Management Systems (e.g., as an RFP) –Standard Electronic Versions for Measurement Quality Objectives (e.g., ERLN WebEDR MQO Template) 08/16/20119

10. Followed By: Adoption of Standard Reporting Formats/Guidance Laboratory Data –e.g., Staged Electronic Data Deliverable (SEDD) for EPA (ERLN, CLP, GLPNO) and USACE programs, ERLN EDDs Chain-of-Custody Information –e.g., WLA Response Plan (Appendix H) 08/16/201110

11. Then: Data Reporting Formats/Tools EPA and NIST –Developing an electronic deliverable that contains all laboratory and instrument data in a non- proprietary format for archival and retrieval (SEDD with AnIML) EPA Forms Generator –Generating different reporting formats from the same electronic deliverable (e.g., CLP and CLP – like forms) 08/16/201111

12. Leads to: Data Assessment Data Analysis or Assessment –Confidence in the reliability of data and ability to use appropriately are important –Consistent application of the data life-cycle and enforcement of data quality policies for greater confidence –Scientific Integrity 08/16/201112

13. Facilitating Data Assessment by Automating Data Review Example Data Review Software EPA ERLN WebEDR, EPA CLP EXES, USACE Automated Data Review.NET Need Specifications for Data Review Software 08/16/201113

14. Facilitating Data Assessment by Identifying Data Quality Capturing Data Review Steps In End User Databases –e.g., EPA’s Guidance for Labeling Validated Analytical Data 08/16/201114

15. Why do all this: Benefits Ease of data exchange Ease of data storage and retrieval Allows for verifying reported data (current and in future) Allows for reuse of data 08/16/201115

16. Getting to an Electronic World Need to get rid of the “Not-Invented-Here- Syndrome” (i.e., adoption of agency specific standards/systems) Need all parties (Federal and State Labs) to cooperate and adopt a set of data management standards that can be used by all parties 08/16/201116

17. Websites - 1 ERLN: http://www.epa.gov/oemerln1/ WLA: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/ wla/index.cfm 08/16/201117

18. Websites - 2 SEDD: http://www.epa.gov/fem/sedd.htm EPA’s Guidance for Labeling Validated Analytical Data : http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/pdfs/ EPA-540-R-08-005.pdf 08/16/201118

19. Contact Information Anand Mudambi Mudambi.Anand@epa.gov 202-564-2817 Joseph Solsky Joseph.F.Solsky@usace.army.mil 402-697-2573 08/16/201119