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Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Data quality objectives in environmental research planning
A R Batterman1, S L Batterman, K M Jensen
1US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA. batterman.allan@epa.gov
Abstract:
This paper presents highlights of a Data Quality Objectives course relating the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) seven step research planning process to research efforts at the U.S. EPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, in Duluth, Minnesota. Introductory materials were derived from "Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process, EPA QA/G-4." Case studies illustrate decisions that were made during the systematic planning process and subsequent experimentation. This paper demonstrates how the Data Quality Objectives Process clearly links research goals and objectives with the final product. Application of the process to environmental research ensures that environmental research data are of known, credible, defensible and usable quality.
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