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SOP-001 Standard Operating Procedure Field Sample Management Page 1 of 4 Revision No. 0 April 2019 Sharpe Army Depot 1.0 Purpose The purpose of this standard operating procedure (SOP) is to demonstrate representative environmental sample data by documenting the management of samples from time of collection through analysis and final disposition. 2.0 Scope This SOP applies to all personnel who collect and/or handle environmental samples. 3.0 Method 3.1 General An essential part of the sampling/analytical portion of any environmental project is demonstrating the integrity of the sample from collection to data reporting. Projects where analytical data are critical to project conclusions demand that accountability of the history of a sample be available to demonstrate that the data are a true representation of the environment. The chain of custody (COC) form is used as evidence in legal proceedings to demonstrate that a sample was not tampered with or altered in any way that may skew the analytical accuracy of the laboratory results. Therefore, it is extremely important that COC forms be complete, accurate, and consistent. • Demonstrating sample integrity and accountability requires strict adherence to the proper use of the following six essential sampling components: • Field Sampling Plans (FSPs); • Sample labels; • Sample logs (i.e., boring, well construction, development, and sampling log sheets); • Sample custody seals; • Field logbooks; and • COC forms. Successful implementation of these components requires a thorough understanding of sample custody requirements. A sample is under an organization’s custody if: • It is in an employee’s physical possession; • It is in view of an employee, after being in their physical possession; • It was in an employee’s physical possession and then locked up so no one could tamper with it; and • It is in a designated and identified secure area, controlled and restricted to authorized personnel (or individuals accompanied by authorized personnel) only. A sample remains in an organization’s custody until relinquished in writing to another person or organization that is authorized to take custody of the sample.