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-_'H T~ _ :i'1~_UJ': -_
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<br />
<br />Advantages, Pitfalls
<br />In Choosing Labs
<br />Bl Richard F. ~rna, PhD, and Rene P. Tatro
<br />rl N'ell-rrnfrlerl,
<br />enaenofcerl
<br />minlpric :mjf is
<br />one dcnmrtr rhnl
<br />l11rl1ratC.Y (If l'
<br />vuiiry nj u
<br />lnnorntun'. Plwro
<br />(~r rr,ghrl ~rourrrsy
<br />LuncaSttlr
<br />LuLoraroriet.
<br />.iirhnrd F. Srnq YhO,u
<br />;'rTdpO of .SnllNnl
<br />,''rrcumn Anailri[al Ire in
<br />Nnrnnq, C~li~ Rene i.
<br />:ano it an siornrr •nd
<br />ilriln, Elummi Whm and
<br />'dUUGJjr m .1luninr:.
<br />~ariJ
<br />•2
<br />eliable chemi-
<br />cal analysis of
<br />soil, water
<br />a.:;l u.r ;am•
<br />pies is fundamental co
<br />etrorts to protect and restore
<br />the emironmcnt. Without
<br />such darn, it is imposslhle to
<br />define the aced for, design a
<br />plan for and assign ]egxl
<br />responsibility for remcdie•
<br />lion of a contaminotad silo
<br />or monitoring an industrial
<br />discharge.
<br />The high casts associated
<br />with enttiranmentnl prob-
<br />lems - invesngatian, reme-
<br />diation, aisposal, civil and
<br />criminsl penalties, insul'-
<br />ance, the recurrence of
<br />unnecessary legal expenase
<br />- increase the likelihood
<br />for conflict among potentialh~ rs=o•ma'~le ?saes. !.-
<br />well as ngencios charged wiih ;; •~r.::::^ :Le an'.°::•:.-
<br />ment. Often, theso connicta ~,- -oircc 'ee ~:::
<br />through nrbilratiml, admin:; r.::::-cii..,r•r.z
<br />lawsuit. 1b be admissible any i..-:, ua~ ,r. .: _-
<br />environmentally relncod tints x ::' ~ ,::ma~•
<br />Erroneous laboratory tiers :es'.:.[ ::+ ,:°~ ~:.~..
<br />wasted effort. If dote from 't:- .,,.•~: ~tvar. ~,r-
<br />inaccuratc, ton much or too lit:!- +n cr ..~. - c
<br />n site. 1be much cicanup mr:.c: :c:,~~~~•-~-~+•, .- .
<br />1bo little cleanup moy expo,. -, ,.. ,
<br />action in the furore since the ~:'.-.~ r ,:. ~: ~'---
<br />responsihility for all waste trot: .~.~,~r.um.::'..
<br />inaceurste laboratory darn ma:: .. .n ~: ~ :: .. .
<br />for disposal being deposited [~;~ r:n .pr,,, ~.,~:•
<br />Some regulations rcgwrr i. r. ...
<br />analytical data. Inaccurate n,r... . ,
<br />emissions levels or eoneenn';,i~,.: .. ... .
<br />subsmnces than are serest::
<br />may instigate unjustified
<br />governmentol inspections nr
<br />enforcemnnl actions. Such
<br />:nfOItnatlon (d9n CUnld Oe In15-
<br />used to form the basis fur nn
<br />otherwise utisupparlable citi-
<br />zetts'suit.
<br />Although environmental
<br />analysis is :mature science,
<br />definitions of whet is "rellnbla"
<br />or "accurate" differ depending
<br />on an xge»c}'s chosen Qualii}•
<br />Assistance/(Zunlity Control
<br />fq,vgC) xtandarda, oa what is
<br />available in emerging cutting
<br />edge methodtlogies, and on the
<br />legs] scandarl of admissibility,
<br />Thus, in defending t!tc accu-
<br />racy of laburtitory results, par-
<br />ties to a aonnict must under-
<br />stand how to ovaluate the
<br />sometimes tmbigunus ergu-
<br />men-; presealed to sunnort a pnrttcalar parspoeive.
<br />ousmee5es, property owners, regulalors, enforcers
<br />and Insurers are all among the groups that interpret
<br />_ ~aeicular sal of laboratory data. 7)'picnlly, how-
<br />~;•, ~~~. [:irsr data user hire a constiltt+nt cn heip them
<br />i-c:,~n6crate nr achieve compliance wild regulations,
<br />,.. r. ~,[ is :he corsultnnt rather that the facility who
<br />~,cs a I,yhocstory directly.
<br />' ?, ac:~Ir•~•r cmnpliance, a consulant may need to
<br />~,ar o aur..ber of subcontractors wi:n provide specisl-
<br />,.._ services such as well drilling and well develop-
<br />:urti. analysis of soil cares, analyss of graundweter
<br />.ac:pies, phcsical removal ur tlentmcnt of tun-
<br />.~,:~.inaccd soi! or water and trot}ulg of hazardous
<br />:,:.m ::'he;hrr the consultant directly supen'iaea
<br />u~ ~ai[rx°ors or nat. the consultant to reannnsi•
<br />,: ins actions of the laboratory it ~c!ects to
<br />.. rr '+,.a aces.
<br />eon nn urd nn pa,e dI
<br />HNVIRONA~ENT.~L ['Rr,TtCl lON
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