National Water Quality Laboratory Mission Briefing June
2015
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USGS Occupants of Bldg 95 National Water Quality Laboratory
(NWQL) Branch of Quality Systems (BQS) National Research Program
(NRP) *Central Mineral and Environmental Resources *Crustal
Geophysics and Geochemistry *Geosciences and Environmental Change *
These three known as the Center for Isotope Research in Earth
Science and Biology
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Chief (Vacant) Dave Reppert Acting Chief Assistant Chief
Business Support Science Science Support Tom Bushly Information
Technology Pat Johnson Administrative Services Duane Wydoski
Analytical Services Jeff McCoy Methods Research And Development
Doug Stevenson Quality Assurance Contracts Milton Marshall Support
Services Carlos Arozarena Safety, Health, And Environment NWQL
Organization
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NWQL Sections Working Together For Mission Success
Administration financial, purchasing, human resources Support
Services warehouse, login, data entry, customer support Safety,
Health, & Environmental Quality Assurance/Quality Control -
customer support, contract administration Information Technology
Analytical Services Methods Research and Development Chiefs
Office
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NWQL Particulars NWQL is a national capability with a 29+ year
history Diversified and powerful research and analytical
partner/team member Available for use by other DOI and/or Federal
agencies Nationally accredited Full-service capability: In-house
Commercial laboratories Other USGS laboratories
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NWQL Customers NWQL Customers USGS Water Science Centers
Cooperative Water Program National Water Quality Assessment Program
(NAWQA) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program USGS BRD USEPA USFWS -
USNPS International Program Department of Defense Earth Science
Program Research agreements with private industry partners
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NWQL Mission Elements 1. Analytical methods Research,
Development, & Evaluation 2. Analytical chemistry and
biological taxonomic services 3. National Field Supply Service
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Methods Research & Development Analytical Methods Research
& Development New analytes and matrices of interest New
technology import National reconnaissance Sampling Preservation
Scale up for production Method problem solving Publications
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Analytical Services Chemical, Radiological and Biological
analyses High quality, long-term data sets In-house capability,
including taxonomic expertise Other USGS laboratories (Menlo,
Reston, GD) Contract laboratories General analytical support (broad
spectrum, compliance monitoring., other matrices including air)
Test America (Radionuclides, e.g., Polonium-210) Univ. of Miami -
Tritium
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National Field Supply Service Complete line of field supply
needs Initial quality assurance done on field supplies for
compliance. Subsequent lot testing Purchased by field personnel
though the One-Stop system Research testing and problem
resolution
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Quality Quality NELAC Accreditation Environment Canada Testing
Individual State accreditations BQS Performance Samples Internal
audits and surveillances Annual management reviews
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Safety Health & Environment CISPRO Specialized chemical
tracking system Fully RCRA compliant and State of Colorado audited
Employee, management, and contractor safety focus Medical
Surveillance Program through PHS Metropolitan Wastewater
Reclamation District discharge permit Platinum Award for 5-years of
100% compliance (2005-2009) Continued compliance with 2011, 2012
and 2013 Gold Awards USGS-NWQL is no longer considered a
Significant Industrial User as defined at 40 CFR 403, and Waste
Water Permit No 160-2 was allowed to expire in 2014.