NEWS

DOE Analytical Services Program (ASP)

• ASP 2010 Workshop:
  The annual ASP 2011 Workshp, conducted in Pleasanton, California, September 19-23, 2011 was a huge success. Over 130 attendees participated in providing a variety of informative presentations, training sessions, and feedback and lessons learned discussions. Presentations focused upon the Department's proficiency testing program, system planning software tools and field training opportunities, a review and update revisions to the audit checklists, analytical laboratory and waste treatment and disposal managers' prospective on auditing activities, and root cause-effective reviews. In addition to DOE presentations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, and various other private sector talks were presented.
• FY2009 Analytical Services Program (ASP) Report: (Signed ASP Report Memo)
  The eighth annual FY2009 ASP Report was published for distribution in March 2010. The Report provides a background and scope related to Program element components, activities and accomplishments, and FY10 goals and challenges related to the Department of Energy's Consolidated Audit Program, Mixed Analyte Performance Evaluation Program, and the Systematic Planning and Data Assessment Tools and Training Program.
• DoD 2010 Environmental Monitoring and Data Quality Workshop:
  The Manager, Analytical Services Program (ASP) delivered a presentation on the DOECAP analytical laboratory audit results at the DoD 2011 Environmental Monitoring and Data Quality Workshop in Savannah, Georgia, April 12-19, 2011. Both the DOE and DoD are exploring joint audit teams in the conduct of various commercial laboratory audits used by both agencies field operations. In addition, a joint DOE/DoD Analytical Laboratory Manual is being planned that will serve both agencies off-site commercial laboratory auditing programs.
• The National Environmental Laboratories Accreditation Committee Institute (TNI) Interim/Annual Meetings:
  As the DOE's voting representative and member of the TNI Laboratory Accreditation Committee, the Manager, Analytical Services Program attended the interim winter meetings in Chicago, Illinois, (January 25 to January 29, 2010). DOECAP representatives attended the Summer meeting in Washington, D.C. and are members of the EPA Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board as well at the TNI On-site Auditing Committee. TNI national standards effect the implementation of the DOE's consolidated auditing of commercial analytical environmental laboratories and its proficiency testing programs.
• Annual Programmatic/Budgetary Review:
  DOE HSS continues to monitor funding burn-rates and task accomplishments for the DOE Consolidated Audit Program and the Visual Sample Planning components. An HSS oversight visit of the MAPEP proficiency testing program took place at the Radiological Environmental Sciences Laboratory at the Idaho National Laboratory, September 8-9, 2010. Growth in the Department's proficiency testing program is anticipated related to serving National interests for improving analytical laboratories capabilities and defensible data in case of terrorist actions.
• FY2012 DOECAP Audit Schedule:
  The FY 2012 audit schedule has been completed. Twenty-six audits of commercial off-site contracted analytical environmental laboratories and eleven commercial waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities will receive annual qualification audits. The DOECAP eliminates costly redundant audits, otherwise, conducted independently by various field organizations; standardizes audit methodologies, protocols and procedures; and shares lessons learned. It is estimated the Program eliminates the potential for over 100 additional field audits with a cost savings to DOE of over $3.6 Million per year.
• RadWaste Summit:
  The Deputy Manager, DOECAP, delivered a presentation at the RadWaste Summit in Las Vegas, NV., September 8-11, 2011. The focus of the presentation was upon radiological TSDF audit trends at waste vendor facilities, and Priority I finding consequences.
• Annual Site Environmental Report (ASER)/Environmental Monitoring Workshop:
  The Manager, ASP will deliver a DOECAP presentation on commercial off-site waste vendor auditing results and lessons learned at the 2011 ASER/Environmental Monitoring Workshop held at the Argonne National Laboratory, October 26-28, 2010. Annual field manager reviews regarding the disposition of radiological waste to off-site commercial vendors is required per DOE O 435.1, Radiological Waste Disposal. Field managers utilize the DOECAP process to satisfy the DOE Order requirements in ensure DOE waste is being properly treated and disposed, and in compliance with DOE contractual agreement stipulations.
• Mixed Analyte Performance Evaluation Program (MAPEP) Test Series 23/24/25:
  The distribution of proficiency test samples (test session 21) to domestic and international laboratories supporting Departmental field missions, interests, and activities was completed in January 2010; test session 22 was completed June 2010. MAPEP is the only performance evaluation and testing program that provides both radiological and non-radiological constituents (i.e., mixed analytes) in the same proficiency samples. The test samples are in four different medias: water, soil, vegetation and air filters. Test session 23 PT samples to over 120 domestic and international laboratories was distributed in September 2010. Based upon the results of test session 22, the number of domestic analytical laboratories having consecutive proficiency testing failure for certain analytes within certain matrices was reduced, while foreign international laboratories PT failures increased due to gamma analytical methods rather than alpha measurements. Technical assistance to foster PT improvements is underway for all analytical laboratories participating in the Departments' corporate PT program.
• Radiation Measurements Cross Calibration (RMCC) Workshop in Amman, Jordan:
  The ASP Manager attended and delivered a presentation at the annual RMCC workshop in Amman, Jordan, May 16-18, 2011. Ten Middle Eastern laboratories participate in the Department's corporate proficiency testing program, along with the International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) and the Republic of France. The RMCC Project is facilitated by the Sandia National Laboratories and the IAEC. Qatar University and Qatar Petroleum sponsored this year's workshop which drew over 100 participating delegates.
• Visual Sample Planning Training:
  Refer to the web page for information and forthcoming training course opportunities. Training sessions were held in January 2010 at the Argonne National Laboratory; in May 2010 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; and in September 2010 at the ASP 2010 Workshop. Various VSP software projects are underway to support field data collection statistical strategies. A partnership between HSS and the Office of Legacy Management, Grand Junction Field Office, continues to support field needs regarding long-term, legacy management monitoring and surveillance activities.
• ASP Website Links:
  Department of Energy Consolidated Audit Program: https://doecap.oro.doe.gov
  Mixed Analyte Performance Evaluation Program: http://www.inl.gov/resl/mapep
  Visual Sample Planning: http://vsp.pnl.gov
  

Contact: George Detsis at email: george.detsis@hq.doe.gov or phone: 301-903-1488.