Project Planning Process AN OVERVIEW Of CHAPTER 2

1. Project Planning ProcessAN OVERVIEW Of CHAPTER 2 Presented to the EPA SAB April 23, 2002 Catherine S. Klusek U.S. Department of Energy

2. Directed Planning • MARLAP uses the term direct planning to emphasize that the planning process, in addition to having a framework or structure (i.e., it is systematic), focused on defining data needed to achieve an informed decision for a specific project.

3. Importance of Planning • A framework for organizing complex issues • Promotes communication among stakeholders, decision makers and technical experts – at the beginning and throughout the project • Focus on collection of only those data needed to address the problem and support defensible decisions • Provides a link between decision maker’s needs and field/laboratory capabilities

4. Which Planning Process? • MARLAP does not endorse any one planning process. • Use a graded approach – sophistication and resources in line with complexity of the project Appendix A: Planning Approaches Appendix B: EPA’s Data Quality Objectives Process (G-4, 2000)

5. Expectations • Define the problem that requires resolution in terms of well-defined achievable objectives • The type, quantity and quality of data needed to resolve the problem is developed into a cost-effective technically sound sampling and analysis design • Balance tolerance for uncertainty with available resources

6. Outputs of Planning Process • Alternative actions and logic to choose among them (decision rule) • Determined if new data needs to be collected • Define appropriate data (MQOs) • Identified key analytical planning issues • Developed information for the Laboratory (Analytical Protocol Specifications) • Address the performance measures to be used to assess the data for technical defensibility

7. Key Recommendation • Promote the use directed (or systematic) project planning processes • Promote the involvement of radioanalytical specialist as part of an integrated project team • Planning process rationale should be documented and integrated with the implementation and assessment phases of the project

8. Project Planning DocumentsAN OVERVIEW Of CHAPTER 4 Presented to the EPA SAB April 23, 2002 Catherine S. Klusek U.S. Department of Energy

9. Project Plan Documents • Blueprint to achieve the expectations of the planners • Dynamic documents, used and updated over the life cycle of the project

10. Which Document Format? • MARLAP does not endorse any one document format • Use a graded approach – sophistication and resources in line with complexity of the project • Focus on Content Appendix D: Content of EPA’s Quality Assurance Project Plans (G-5, 1998)

11. Importance of Project Plan Documents • Document project description and objectives • Document decisions and assumptions made during planning • Describe technical activities that must be implemented including necessary QA/QC • Document the performance measures to be used to assess the data for technical defensibility Table 4.2 Links output of directed planning process and project plan documents

12. Key Recommendations • Use graded approach • Have a primary integrating project plan that includes other documents by citation or as appendices • Project plan documents should address the life-cycle of the project – planning, implementation and assessment