TRAINING--Certification Training for Sediment Laboratories

In Reply Refer To:                               August 14, 1991
Mail-Stop 415



OFFICE OF SURFACE WATER TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 91.11

SUBJECT:  TRAINING--Certification Training for Sediment
                    Laboratories

The Office of Surface Water is implementing several quality-
assurance requirements for sediment data-related activities within 
WRD.  This Office's Sediment Action Committee has presented a 
series of recommendations for upgrading quality assurance for the 
laboratories providing WRD with sediment-analytical services.  It 
is our intention to quality assure these laboratories by 
immediately implementing the following:

     1)  training in laboratory operational procedures,
     2)  review of the lab facilities and operations,
     3)  adoption of lab QA plans, and
     4)  successful participation in a standard reference-sample
         program.

Our goal is to achieve certification during 1992 of all sediment 
laboratories that intend to continue operations in 1993.  
Completion of the certification requirements will be required for a 
sediment laboratory to process samples for publication of 1993 
water-year data.

This memorandum announces training for sediment laboratory 
operations.  In order for a laboratory to meet the first step of 
certification, the individual from each District or contract 
facility who is responsible for the continuing quality of 
laboratory results should attend WRD's forthcoming sediment 
laboratory operation training.  Upon successful completion of this 
training, these employees will be authorized to train operators in 
their home laboratory.  

Nick Melcher, Iowa District Chief, has agreed to provide the use of 
the Iowa District Sediment Laboratory for September 17-19, 1991, to 
complete the planned training.  The schedule follows:

Tuesday, September 17th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
--Suspended-sediment concentration determinations,

Wednesday, September 18th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
--Suspended-sediment concentration determinations (cont.),

Thursday, September 19th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
--Particle-size analyses.

Please note that those laboratories that DO NOT perform, or do not 
plan to perform, particle-size analyses will complete their 
required training on Wednesday, September 18th.  Those labs that do 
perform particle-size analyses will require an additional day, 
September 19th, for training in that activity.

A block of rooms has been reserved under "USGS" at the Best Western 
Westfield Inn, 1895 27th Avenue, Coraville, Iowa, (319) 354-7770.  
Attendees should call the hotel to reserve a room no later than 
September 6, 1991.  Attendees should also notify John George and 
Nick Melcher by September 6th of their intentions to attend this 
training.




                                   Charles W. Boning
                                   Chief, Office of Surface Water

WRD DISTRIBUTION:  A, B, FO, PO