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Characterization and Monitoring
The Characterization and Monitoring Branch (CMB) consists of a diversified
group of scientists and support personnel. CMB supports the EPA's mission
by providing research, development, and expertise across a wide range
of disciplines focusing on technologies (equipment and techniques) that contribute to cost effective environmental data acquisition
and interpretation required to address environmental issues. The broad
scope of this mission encompasses all stages of the experimental and measurement
process including:
- sampling design optimization
- sampling and sub-sampling equipment and techniques
- field and laboratory analytical methods
- quality assurance and control procedures
- statistical data analysis and estimation methods
optimal decision-making procedures
geophysical analysis
These efforts focus on the measurement and evaluation of contamination in various media, with current emphasis on soils, sediments, and ground
water.
In addition to the basic and applied research programs described, CMB, under the Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) program, actively seeks out new technologies to evaluate their performance under the most realistic conditions possible with the goal of providing a non-biased assessment of each technology's capability. CMB also provides Superfund support to EPA's Remedial Project Managers (RPMs) and On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) through the Superfund Technical Support Center (TSC) for Monitoring and Site Characterization.
The diversity
of expertise available through our TSC allows us to work with the RPMs
and OSCs throughout a site characterization event from planning and design
through analysis and data interpretation.
In addition to research and development activities, we manage the following programs:
Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE)
Technology Support Center (TSC)