SITE INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE

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is poured into the sampling equipment and from there into sampling containers. These containers are preserved, documented and analyzed in exactly the same manner as those containers holding samples of waste fluid. 2. Field Blanks This type of sample should be collected when equipment decontamination is unnecessary and when a sample collection vessel will not be used. The field sample should be taken at the sampling point. The sample consists of the appropriate (certified metal-free or organic-free) water to which the same quantity of preservative is added as is added to the field samples. These samples provide a check on any contamination of chemical preservatives. 3. Trip Blanks Trip blanks are used to detect contamination or cross-contamination which may have occurred during sample handling and transportation These blanks must be prepared prior to the sampling effort and will accompany sample containers used during sampling and in the transport cooler. The trip blanks consist of certified metal-free, organic-free water and will be analyzed by a certified laboratory at the time the other samples are analyzed. 4. Replicate Samples Replicate sampling is used to determine consistency in both sampling procedures and analytical methods. In general, replicate samples must be obtained at one out of every ten sampling points, and at least one replicate sample must be obtained if there are less than ten sampling points. To collect these samples, fluid is obtained from a sampling point and split between two identical containers. Both containers undergo the same method of analysis at the laboratory. In addition, split samples and spiked samples are used for QA/QC purposes. These can be briefly described as follows: 5. Split Samples A split sample is divided into two containers for analysis by separate laboratories. The purpose of this type of sample is to independently confirm laboratory results. 21