Many environmental projects and programs require that a laboratory provide a CLP-Like Level IV analytical data package for data reporting. A Level IV data package is a comprehensive report that allows a data validator to evaluate analytical data and determine usability, including analytical data results, quality control, and sample handling information. Level IV data packages are typically used for data validation purposes following the U.S. EPA’s National Functional Guidelines (NFG) for Data Review.  

EPA 1311 or EPA 1312?  TCLP or SPLP?  When selecting the appropriate leaching procedure, it basically boils down to one key question.  What type of environmental project is the leaching procedure supporting? The Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) is performed as a waste characterization method to support waste disposal efforts for RCRA-listed compounds and elements. The Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP) method is very similar to TCLP, but its project applicability differs significantly.  SPLP is generally specific to soil samples and is performed to determine the potential of contaminants present in soil to leach into groundwater. 

An effective analytical method for determining the amount of cyanide in water and solid samples is Available Cyanide using method OIA 1677 by Ligand Exchange and Flow Injection Analysis.  OIA 1677 for Available Cyanide analysis is a U.S. EPA-approved method for samples collected and analyzed in support of the Clean Water Act (CWA) , Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and CERCLA/SARA (Superfund).Water samples collected for Available Cyanide require sample pretreatment in the field to remove potential interferences from sulfide.

t’s been 46 years since the Clean Water Act (CWA) was established by Congress in 1972.  The CWA, the primary federal law governing water pollution, regulates the wastewater discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States and also establishes water quality standards for the country’s surface waters.  The launch of the CWA made it illegal to discharge into navigable waters any pollutant without a permit.  The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was created as the permitting tool for regulating discharges. 

The synthetic industrial chemical 1,4-dioxane is an emerging contaminant that the U.S. EPA considers to be a likely human carcinogenic compound.  Found in groundwater at sites throughout the country, 1,4-dioxane presents a challenge to groundwater experts because it is highly mobile and does not readily biodegrade.

Merit Laboratories participates in numerous Proficiency Testing (PT) programs, routinely scoring high marks for quality.  A few of the PT programs in which we participate include Water Pollution (WP), Water Supply (WS), Air & Emissions (AE), NELAC Potable Water, NELAC Non-Potable Water and Hazardous Waste, and Phenova Soil and Hazardous Waste.  Over the last five years, we have averaged 98.2% for all PT programs.