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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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ASSURING DATA QUALITY

AT U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY LABORATORIES

Committee to Review the U.S. Geological Survey’s Laboratories

Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

Division on Earth and Life Studies

A Consensus Study Report of

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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, DC
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

This activity was supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Award No. G17AC00245. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-49562-2
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-49562-8
Digital Object Identifier: http://doi.org/10.17226/25524

Additional copies of this publication are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu.

Copyright 2019 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. http://doi.org/ 10.17226/25524.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Consensus Study Reports published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine document the evidence-based consensus on the study’s statement of task by an authoring committee of experts. Reports typically include findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on information gathered by the committee and the committee’s deliberations. Each report has been subjected to a rigorous and independent peer-review process and it represents the position of the National Academies on the statement of task.

Proceedings published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine chronicle the presentations and discussions at a workshop, symposium, or other event convened by the National Academies. The statements and opinions contained in proceedings are those of the participants and are not endorsed by other participants, the planning committee, or the National Academies.

For information about other products and activities of the National Academies, please visit www.nationalacademies.org/about/whatwedo.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY’S LABORATORIES

WILLIAM A. HOPKINS, Chair, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg

SUSAN L. BRANTLEY (NAS), The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

REBECCA DAVIES, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

DON DePAOLO (NAS), University of California, Berkeley, emeritus

ANDY EATON, Eurofins Eaton Analytical, LLC, Monrovia, California

ROBERT FLEISCHER, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

MADELINE GOTKOWITZ, Montana Tech of The University of Montana, Butte

DENNIS (CHUNQING) JIANG, Geological Survey of Canada, Calgary

DAMIAN SHEA, North Carolina State University, Raleigh

WENLU ZHU, University of Maryland, College Park

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine staff

ANNE LINN, Study Director, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

DEBORAH GLICKSON, Senior Program Officer, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

ERIC EDKIN, Program Coordinator, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES

ISABEL P. MONTAÑEZ, Chair, University of California, Davis

ESTELLA A. ATEKWANA, University of Delaware, Newark

THORSTEN W. BECKER, The University of Texas at Austin

BRENDA B. BOWEN, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City

CHRISTOPHER (SCOTT) CAMERON, Geological Consulting, LLC, Houston, Texas

NELIA W. DUNBAR, New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Socorro

RODNEY C. EWING (NAE), Stanford University, California

WILLIAM C. HAMMOND, University of Nevada, Reno

CAROL P. HARDEN, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

ROBERT L. KLEINBERG (NAE), Institute for Sustainable Energy, Boston University, Massachusetts

THORNE LAY (NAS), University of California, Santa Cruz

ZELMA MAINE-JACKSON, Washington State Department of Ecology, Richland

MICHAEL MANGA (NAS), University of California, Berkeley

MARTIN W. MCCANN, Stanford University, California

JEFFREY N. RUBIN

JAMES A. SLUTZ, National Petroleum Council, Washington, District of Columbia

SHAOWEN WANG, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

ELIZABETH J. WILSON, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Staff

ELIZABETH EIDE, Director

ANNE LINN, Scholar

DEBORAH GLICKSON, Senior Staff Officer

SAMMANTHA MAGSINO, Senior Staff Officer

NICHOLAS ROGERS, Financial Business Partner

COURTNEY DEVANE, Administrative Coordinator

ERIC EDKIN, Program Coordinator

RAYMOND (REMY) CHAPPETTA, Senior Program Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Acknowledgments

This Consensus Report was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published report as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for quality, objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process.

We thank the following individuals for their review of this report:

Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the content of the report nor did they see the final draft before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Paul Gilman, Covanta Energy Corporation, and Michael Ladisch, Purdue University. They were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with the standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content rests entirely with the rapporteur and the National Academies.

Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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The committee would like to thank the following individuals who shared their expertise with the committee through presentations and discussion: Jordan Adelson, U.S. Navy; Ana Banica, Geological Survey of Norway; Kenna Butler, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Majid El Mossaoui, French Geological Survey; Graham Hagen-Peter, Geological Survey of Norway; Lora Johnson, Environmental Protection Agency; Teresa Kirschling, USGS; Phillipe Négrel, French Geological Survey; Torkil Rohr, Geological Survey of Norway; Marcella Sarzotti-Kelsoe, Duke University Medical Center; Ken Skipper, USGS; Conrad Quinn, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Terry Wade, Texas A&M University; and William Werkheiser, U.S. Department of Interior. The committee also appreciates the USGS managers (particularly Kenna Butler), who provided background information and answered numerous questions, and the USGS laboratory staff, who were welcoming and candid during the committee site visits. Finally, the committee thanks the National Academies staff, particularly Anne Linn, who did a tremendous job steering and supporting the committee through the study.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Assuring Data Quality at U.S. Geological Survey Laboratories. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25524.
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) mission is to provide reliable and impartial scientific information to understand Earth, minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters, and manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources. Data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination are central to everything the USGS does. Among other activities, the USGS operates some 250 laboratories across the country to analyze physical and biological samples, including water, sediment, rock, plants, invertebrates, fish, and wildlife. The data generated in the laboratories help answer pressing scientific and societal questions or support regulation, resource management, or commercial applications.

At the request of the USGS, this study reviews a representative sample of USGS laboratories to examine quality management systems and other approaches for assuring the quality of laboratory results and recommends best practices and procedures for USGS laboratories.

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