Branch of Quality Systems To: "E - All WRD Employees" from: "Janice R Ward, Acting Chief, OWQ, Reston, VA" Subject: Branch of Quality Systems Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 07:55:52 -0500 The Branch of Quality Systems (BQS), formerly under the auspices of the Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Technical Support, is now part of the Office of Water Quality (OWQ), a realignment made after a careful review of the functions and activities of the BQS. The OWQ welcomes the inclusion of the BQS. The focus of the five projects that comprise the BQS is water quality, and BQS will enhance OWQ's ability to provide leadership in quality assurance for the collection, handling, and analysis of water samples. The immediate goals of BQS for fiscal year 1998 are to: 1. Work cooperatively with OWQ and various Division programs to provide leadership and direction for the rapidly changing field of quality assurance in support of the Division's water-quality programs. 2. Effectively and efficiently design, document, and conduct existing and new quality-assurance projects as needed. 3. Re-establish the review of analytical production laboratories that produce data for the U.S. Geological Survey. Although BQS projects are primarily focused on water quality, the talents and capabilities of the BQS staff are available to assist the Offices of Ground Water and Surface Water in their quality-assurance/quality control efforts. LeRoy Schroder is the Acting Chief of the BQS and may be contacted at schroder@usgs.gov and 303/236-1870 x313. The BQS staff is listed on page 103 of the 1997 Water Resources Division directory.