This Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAP) is designed to provide general coverage of a broad range of quality assurance issues in support of activities associated with site investigations, evaluations, and studies at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

The purpose of this SOP is to ensure the safety and integrity of water and sediment samples that are transferred from the one location (ie. field) to another (ie. laboratory) for testing.

The primary objective of this supplemental investigation for the BRAC EE is to evaluate four facility-wide Areas Requiring Environmental Evaluation (AREE) as outlined in the Enhanced Preliminary Assessment, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, April 1992. USATHAMA. The following AREEs will be evaluated: Maintenance and Waste Accumulation Areas; Transformers; Past Spill Site; and Previously Removed Underground Storage Tanks.

Personnel involved in remedial investigations and field sampling at sites where hazardous substances (hazardous materials, and wastes) are present may be potentially exposed to a wide variety of chemical, physical, environmental, biological, and ergonomic hazards, including: Inhalation of toxic airborne contaminants; Skin contact with contaminated soil and water; Presence of flammable/combustible vapors; Oxygen-deficient atmospheres; Unexploded ordnance; Heat stress due to protective clothing and environmental conditions; Etiologic agents and biological hazards; and Physical hazards inherent to field operations (e.g., working near heavy equipment, slips, trips, falls). Thus, adequate planning is essential prior to performing work at sites containing hazardous substances in order to minimize the risk of employee injury or illness. Field investigation tasks to be performed by Arthur D. Little at Fort Devens include the following: Geophysical surveys; Unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance; * Test pit excavation; Surface water and sediment sampling; Surficial soil sampling; Concrete and asphalt sampling; Soil borings; Ground water sampling; Building wipe sampling. More detailed description of these activities are provided in the site-specific HASPs included in the supplements to the HASP, as well as in the Work Plans and the Quality Assurance Project Plan for Fort Devens.