Laserfiche WebLink
0 APPENDIX D <br />STATISTICAL ANALYSIS METHODS FOR THE FORWARD LANDFILL <br />Statistical analysis of water quality monitoring data collected at the Forward Landfill was <br />conducted by Geo -Logic Associates (GLA) in accordance with protocols outlined in WDR Order <br />No. R5-2003-0049 issued by the Central Valley RWQCB and Code of Federal Regulations, Title <br />40, Part 258 (40 CFR 258) and California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 27, Section 20415. <br />The statistical analyses were performed with historical statistical algorithms that recognize that <br />groundwater quality data may be correlated through time (in contrast, non -historical statistics rely <br />on the data not being correlated). The statistical analyses described below were performed with <br />the Sanitas statistical software program, which performs user -determined statistical analyses <br />using methods recommended by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) <br />and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). <br />TOLERANCE LIMITS <br />In accordance with WDR Order No. R5-2003-0049, it was determined that an intrawell statistical <br />comparison was most appropriate for all groundwater monitoring wells at the Forward Unit, <br />while interwell statistical comparison were used for DMP wells at the Austin Unit. For the <br />statistical comparisons, the tolerance limits method described in the USEPA's 2009 Unified <br />Guidance Document, "Statistical Analysis of Ground Water Monitoring Data at RCRA <br />Amk Facilities" was used to establish concentration limits (CLs) for the Forward and Austin Units. <br />A tolerance limit is a statistical method used to compare a single observation to a group of <br />observations. For groundwater monitoring, a tolerance limit may be used to make a comparison <br />between background and compliance data. The tolerance limit is calculated to contain all future <br />observations, within a specified confidence. If any future observation exceeds the tolerance <br />limit, this is statistically significant evidence of contamination. For the Forward Unit, intrawell <br />tolerance limits were developed based on a 95% confidence (with a false positive rate of 5 <br />percent) that future observations will fall below the limit. For the Austin Unit DMP wells, <br />interwell tolerance limits were developed based on a 95% confidence (with a false positive rate <br />of 5 percent) that future observations will fall below the limit. Statistical calculations are based <br />on the procedures described in the USEPA's 2009 Unified Guidance Document (USEPA, 2009). <br />The tolerance limit is defined as: <br />PL=X+KS <br />Where, the mean background observations (X) and standard deviation (S) of background <br />observations are calculated for the raw or transformed background data and a one-sided (two- <br />sided for pH) tolerance factor (K) is specified at the 95% confidence level. <br />0 CA2013-0021WppendixDStatadoc D-1 Geo -Logic Associates <br />