Environmental Data Quality Workgroup
With representatives from Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense Logistics Agency, this workgroup's primary mission is to develop and recommend DoD policy pertaining to environmental sampling,laboratory testing operations, and data quality.
Primary goals are to:
- Promote the generation of environmental data of known and documented quality
- Develop and recommend DoD policy affecting environmental sampling and testing operations
- Facilitate a coordinated response to legislative and regulatory issues
- Coordinate the exchange of technology and best management practices within DoD
- Improve overall performance.
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The EDQW also responds to legislative and regulatory initiatives and other requests for Component information and policy, and coordinates information exchange among DoD Components.
The Department of Defense/ Department of Energy Consolidated Quality Systems Manual for Environmental Laboratories (QSM) was updated to version 5.2/5.3 to address the new requirements of the underlying ISO standard 17025:2017. Just like earlier versions of the QSM, both QSM versions 5.2 and 5.3 meet the requirements of ISO 17025:2005 and The NELAC Institute (TNI) Standard 2009. Any laboratory accredited to DoD QSM 5.2/5.3 can meet the testing requirements for projects requiring accreditation to earlier versions of the DoD QSM. As with all work, projects are required to ensure that selected laboratories can meet the method requirements specified in the project specific quality assurance project plan.
What's New
Module 5 Data Validation Guidelines - Metals by ICP - MS Final
Module 6 Data Validation Guidelines - 1633 PFAS Final
EDQW 1,4-Dioxane Sampling and Analysis Guidance
May 2022 EMDQ Workshop Webinar
DoD AFFF01, Revision 1.0, dated December 07, 2021, is the finalized method that is required by the Performance Specification Fire Fighting Agent, Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) Liquid Concentrate, for Fresh and Sea Water, MIL-PRF-24385 (current revision) for the determination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) content of AFFF concentrates. MIL-PRF-24385 requires the testing using this method, to be conducted by a DoD ELAP laboratory whose scope of accreditation included the testing of AFFF concentrate by method DoD AFFF01. The scope of this method is specific to the determination of PFOA and PFOS in AFFF concentrates, a commercial product, not environmental media. DoD AFFF01 is a prescriptive method due the intended use of the data to demonstrate compliance to the PFOA and PFOS content specification in MIL-PRF-24385. MIL-PRF-24385 requires compliant AFFF concentrates to contain no more than 25 ppb of PFOA and PFOS each.
DoD AFFF01 Rev 1.0 dtd 7 Dec 2021
Replacement Blank Qualification Table 2022-02-09
June 2021 EMDQ Workshop Webinar: DoD Data Validation Guidelines
May 2021 EMDQ Workshop Webinar
DoD Data Validation Guidelines Revised Blank Qualification Table
Module 4 Data Validation Guidelines - GC Final
October 2020 EMDQ Webinar: DoD Data Validation Guidelines
May 2020 EMDQ Workshop Webinar
DoD EDQW Statement on EPA Method 8327
DoD EMDQ Workshop Webinar May 2020- Additional Questions and Answers
Proficiency Testing for Analytes in Isomer Groups Memo
DoD_DOE QSM Requirements for Subcontracting Activities Memo
Module 1 Data Validation Guidelines - GCMS Final
Module 2 Data Validation Guidelines - ICP-OES Metals Final
Module 3 Data Validation Guidelines - PFAS Final
DoD Information for EPA Method 533
DoD Guidance on PFAS Analysis in Biota
The DoD EDQW has developed the DoD Advanced Geophysical Classification Accreditation Program (DAGCAP) to accredit organizations that perform advanced classification at DoD MRS. The DAGCAP will use third-party accreditation bodies (ABs) to provide a unified program through which geophysical classification organizations (GCOs) can demonstrate competency and document conformance to a set of requirements.
Requirements are based on the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2005, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories supplemented by the DoD Quality Systems Requirements for Organizations Performing Advanced Classification (DoD QSR).
We have also provided a frequently asked question (FAQ) document to accompany the QSR.
Memo- LC-MS-MS Mass Calibration for PFAS FINAL
General Data Validation Guidelines Revision 1 Final
QSM Version 5.1 FAQs October 2017
EDQW PFAS Sampling Factsheet Rev 1.2 July 2017
Revised Detection and Quantitation Fact Sheet October 2017