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U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1098

U.S. Geological Survey Protocol for Sample Collection in Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico, 2010

Sampling Methods for Water, Sediment, Benthic Invertebrates, and Microorganisms in Coastal Environments

By Franceska D. Wilde and Stanley C. Skrobialowski

Posted April 28, 2011

This preliminary copy of Open-File Report (OFR) 2011-1098 is being released pending final editorial changes. The content of this preliminary copy has been approved for public release by USGS. This document supersedes USGS OFR 2010-1191.

When the final version of OFR 2011-1098 is available online in the USGS publications warehouse, this preliminary copy will be removed.

Download

Download the preliminary copy of OFR 2011-1098 [4.4MB PDF].

Contents

1.0 Post-Landfall Sampling Protocol

2.0 Preparations for Sampling at Oil-Contaminated Sites

2.1  Communication with Incident Command

2.2  Training and Safety

2.3  Equipment and Supplies

2.4  Prepare for Field Deployment

2.5  Initial Onsite Preparations

3.0 Safety in Field Activities

3.1  Health and Safety Plans

3.2  Training

3.2.1 HazWOper and British Petroleum Training

3.2.2. Motorboat Operation

3.2.3 Water-Quality Field-Methods Training

3.3 Air Monitoring

3.3.1 Air-Quality Monitoring Equipment

3.3.2 Air Quality: Exposure Criteria and Actions

3.4  Personal Protective Equipment

3.5  Health Monitoring: Exposure and Heat Stress

3.6  Points of Contact

3.6.1 Incident Command Operations, Safety Officers, and Other Resources

3.6.2 Waste Disposal and Other Environmental Issues

3.6.3 Watercraft Decontamination and Vessels of Opportunity (see Section 4.2)

3.6.4 Accident Reporting

4.0 Site Setup and Decontamination

4.1  Work Zones

4.2  Decontamination Procedures

4.2.1 Cleaning Agents

4.2.2 Contaminant Reduction Zone (CRZ): Five-Station Equipment-Decontamination Procedure

4.2.3 Post-Decontamination Procedures

4.2.4 Equipment

5.0 Multiparameter Sondes: Preparation, Deployment, and Cleaning Procedures

5.1  Sonde Preparation

5.2  Methods for Sonde Deployment

5.2.1 Direct-Dip (Sorbent-Sweep) Method

5.2.2 Plastic Bag Method

5.2.3 PVC Tube Method

5.3  Instrument Decontamination

5.3.1 Cleaning Procedure

5.3.2 Decline in Sensor Sensitivity

5.4  Materials and Supplies for Sonde and Sensors Cleaning and Preparation

6.0 Collection of Field Measurements and Water Samples

6.1  Objectives and Method Overview

6.2  Equipment and Supplies

6.3  Sampling Location

6.4  Step-By-Step Procedures

6.4.1 Preparation and Order of Sample Collection

6.4.2 Peristaltic Pump Method

6.4.3  Direct-Dip Method

6.5  Quality Control for Water Samples

6.5.1 Blank Samples

6.5.2 Replicate Samples and Matrix Spikes

6.6  Sample Handling and Storage

6.7  Addendum: Disposable-Bailer Sampling Method

7.0 Sediment Samples

7.1  Objectives and Method Overview and Preparations

7.2  Equipment and Supplies

7.3  Site Process and Order of Sample Collection

7.3.1 Initial Site Process

7.3.2 Order of Sample Collection

7.4  Step-By-Step Procedures

7.4.1 Tar-Ball Sample Collection

7.4.2 Benthic Invertebrate Sample Collection

7.4.3 Bulk Sample Collection

7.4.4 Wrap-Up Procedures

7.5  Collection of Quality-Control Samples

7.5.1 Equipment Blanks

7.5.2 Replicate Samples

8.0 Chain of Custody and Documentation Requirements: Labeling, Packaging, and Shipping

8.1  Method Summary

8.2  Field Procedures

8.2.1 Field Logbooks and Other Documentation

8.2.2 Labeling Sample Containers

9.0 Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Field Sampling

9.1  Quality-Assurance Requirements

9.2  Summary of Quality-Control Sampling for the USGS Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

9.2.1  Frequency and Distribution

9.2.2 QC Sample Types

9.3  Definitions and Description of Typical Quality-Control Sample Types

9.3.1 Field Replicates

9.3.2 Matrix Spikes

9.3.3 Field Blanks

9.3.4 Equipment Blanks

9.3.5 Source-Solution, Temperature, and Trip Blanks

10.0  Selected References

11.0  Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Chemical Symbols

For more information

For additional information, please contact the U.S. Geological Survey Office of Water Quality using our online feedback form, by phone, or by mail:

Phone: (703) 648-6862

Mail:
USGS Office of Water Quality
412 National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192