To: Laboratory Managers
From: Chris Crompton, Chair of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
Re: Laboratory Intercalibration
Date: December 15, 2008

You are encouraged to participate in a unique intercalibration study with the members of the Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC).  The SMC is comprised of the 15 lead regulatory and regulated agencies for municipal stormwater NPDES permits throughout southern California.  The SMC is interested in increasing comparability among their monitoring programs in order to facilitate regional assessments of stormwater quality.  Similarly, members of the SMC will be coordinating efforts with the Regional Monitoring Project for the Southern California Bight (www.sccwrp.org).  Therefore, the SMC will be utilizing the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) to lead the intercalibration study by coordinating round-robin testing for a variety of analyses including suspended solids, nutrients, trace metals, organophosphorus pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbons.  The ultimate goal of this collaboration will be to develop performance-based quality assurance and quality control criteria for ongoing stormwater testing throughout the region.  Laboratories that wish to analyze stormwater samples on behalf of SMC member agencies in the future, or participate in regional monitoring, will need to verify that they can meet the performance-based criteria developed as part of this intercalibration effort.

The study will necessitate your cooperation in three main areas.  First, the SMC will request your assistance in refining the study workplan.  Second, we will request that your laboratory analyze the round-robin samples distributed to respective facilities.  This may require at least two or more iterations, depending on the success of each laboratory.  Third, we will request your assistance in developing the performance-based objectives that will be described in our laboratory guidance manual for stormwater testing.  We have enclosed a project Scope of Work for your reference on the details of this study.   The project is expected to begin in February 2009. 

This is a great opportunity for the development of performance-based criteria for regional monitoring.  We look forward to your input and participation.  Please contact Ken Schiff at 714.372.9202 or Ken Schiff by January 15th to add your name to the list of participating laboratories.