U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory April 23, 2008 Mission Briefing

Agency Organizational Chart

Information Technology Jim Steverson Analytical Services David Reppert Support Services Will Lanier Methods Research & Development Jeff McCoy Safety, Health, Environmental Compliance Carlos Arozarena Business Development Team Donna Damrau Quality Assurance Douglas Stevenson Administrative Patricia Johnson Chief’s Office Chief, Greg Mohrman Asst. Chief, Merle Shockey

Three Primary Mission Areas:  Research and Development of new analytical methods  Analytical services for chemical, radiological and biological analyses  National Field Supply Service

What the NWQL does…  Analytical chemistry and biological taxonomic services  Analytical methods development and implementation  Analytical consulting and special projects  Primary focus: water, sediments, invertebrates  Sample loading:  Roughly 35,000 samples/yr (equates to approx. 125,000 containers)  Approx. 1,300,000 data points for individual compounds, elements and invertebrates  Provide high-quality supplies to support field sample collection, preservation and transport

Technical Excellence  National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP)  Low-level analyses in water and associated matrices from across the nation  Unique databases for pesticides and degradation products that are sought by other agencies, including the EPA  Leadership in low-level emerging contaminants  R&D to full-scale capacity  Analytical consulting for project/program enhancement  Non-regulatory science  Scientific integrity and ethics focus

Management and Operations Excellence  Fee-for-Service coupled with a Working Capital Fund  Pricing model  Business aspects including technical, customer, and staffing considerations  Web-based customer tools including:  Customer web-accessible sample status page  Same day electronic sample receipt acknowledgement  Use of contract laboratory support

NWQL customers…  USGS Water Science Centers  Cooperative Water Program (states)  National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA)  Toxics Hydrology Program  USGS BRD  USEPA  USFWS  USNPS  Department of Defense Earth Science Program  CRADA and TAA with private industry partners

Method Development at the NWQL

NWQL particulars…  Approximately 130 Federal personnel including perms, terms and students  Approximately 13 contractor personnel  Facility leased from GSA

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory April 23, 2008 Mission Briefing