 

DRAFT

ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING,

ANALYSIS and RESULTS: PROJECT

Standard No.: EX000002.2

July 10, 2009

	

This standard has been produced through the

Exchange Network Leadership Council (ENLC).

The Exchange Network Leadership Council (ENLC) is a partnership among US
EPA, States and Tribal partners to promote the efficient sharing of
environmental information through the efficient management of the
Exchange Network development and adoption of data standards. More
information about is available at www.exchangenetwork.net/standards 
HYPERLINK "http://"   .



Foreword

The Exchange Network Leadership Council (ENLC) is a partnership among US
EPA, States and Tribal partners to develop and agree upon data standards
for environmental information collection and exchange.  The Council
seeks to promote efficient sharing of environmental information between
State, US EPA and Tribal partners through the development of data
standards.  More information about data standards is available at
http://www.exchangenetwork.net/standards.

.

1.0	INTRODUCTION

Environmental information is a key tool in the effective management of
our environmental resources and human health conditions.  As a result,
much effort goes into data acquisition, management, maintenance,
exchange, and oversight.  Greater access is the goal of many data
consumers, and data managers. Providers invest significant resources
meeting their requirements. In response, many data providers are
improving access as they post usable copies of their environmental
information on the web.  These efforts are a vast improvement over
previous conditions; however, there is a growing desire and need to both
provide and receive data in a clearly defined and a uniform way.  Data
from multiple sources can then be aggregated and used without the
inherent variations that exist between data sets across agencies. 

1.1	Scope

This standard provides data elements and describes data groupings that
are used to catalogue and exchange project information. The
Environmental Sampling, Analysis and Results: Project data standard also
identifies descriptors for environmental data project activities. 

1.2	Revision History

Date	Version	Description

January 6, 2006	EX000002.1	Initial Environmental Data Standards Council
Adoption

July 22, 2008	EX000002.2	Modification of data standard to incorporate
additional water quality data elements. 









1.3	References to Other Data Standards

This standard relies on other standards to make it complete and provide
the necessary support.  Users should consider the Normative Standards
(references), noted below, integral to this standard. These include:

Attached Binary Object [EX000006.1] Data Standard

Bibliographic Reference [EX000007.1] Data Standard

Contact Information [EX000019.2] Data Standard

Facility Site Identification [EX000020.2] Data Standard

Representation of Date and Time [EX000013.1] Data Standard

1.4	Terms and Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions
apply.

Term	Definition

Project	An environmental data collection effort that has a stated
purpose and puts a series of samples/results into a meaningful context.

1.5	Implementation

Users are encouraged to use the XML registry housed on the Exchange
Network Web site to download schema components for the construction of
XML schema flows ( HYPERLINK "http://www.exchangenetwork.net/"
http://www.exchangenetwork.net ).  

1.6	Document Structure

The structure of this document is briefly described below:

Section 2.0 Diagram, illustrates the principal data groupings contained
within this standard.  

Section 3.0 ESAR: Project Data Standard Table provides information on
the high level, intermediate and elemental Project data groupings. 
Where applicable, for each level of this data standard a definition, XML
tag, note(s), example list of values and format are provided. The format
column may list the number of characters for the associated data
element, where “A” specifies alphanumeric, “N” designates
numeric, and date and time reference the Representation of Date and Time
Standard. The format column may include the number of characters for the
associated data element, where “A” specifies alphanumeric, “N”
designates numeric, “G” and “D” are used for grouping and
date/time.

Data Element Numbering: For purposes of clarity and to enhance
understanding of data standard hierarchy and relationships, each data
group is numerically classified from the primary to the elemental level.

Code and Identifier Metadata: Metadata, defined here as data about data
or data elements, includes their descriptions and/or any needed context
setting information required to identify the origin, conditions of use,
interpretation, or understanding  the information being exchanged or
transferred.  (Adapted from ISO/IEC 2382-17:1999 Information Technology
Vocabulary—Part 17: Databases 17.06.05 metadata).  Based on the
business need, additional metadata may be required to sufficiently
describe an identifier or a code. A note regarding this additional
metadata is included in the notes column for identifier and code
elements. Additional metadata for identifiers may include:

Identifier Context, which identifies the source or data system that
created or defined the identifier

Additional metadata for codes may include: 

Code List Identifier, which is a standardized reference to the context
or source of the set of codes

Code List Version Identifier, which identifies the particular version of
the set of codes.

Code List Version Agency Identifier, which identifies the agency
responsible for maintaining the set of codes

Code List Name, which describes the corresponding name for which the
code represents  

Appendix A ESAR: Project Data Structure Diagram, illustrates the
hierarchical classification of the Project data standard. This diagram
enables business and technical users of this standard to quickly
understand its general content and complexity.  Appendix B, lists the
references for the ESAR Project Document.

2.0 	ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING, ANALYSIS, AND RESULTS: PROJECT DIAGRAM

This diagram specifies the major data groups that may be used to
identify the characteristics and /or to catalog an Environmental
Sampling, Analysis, and Results: Project.  

3.0	ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING, ANALYSIS, AND RESULTS: PROJECT DATA
STANDARD TABLE

1.0	Project Point of Contact 

Definition:	Identifies the organization(s) and/or person(s) related to
the project.  Identifies the organization or person with knowledge of
the project and who can assist the public in finding additional
information about a given project. It may be the project lead, the
principle investigator, project staff, or a grant officer.  

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:		None.

	XML Tag:	ProjectPointOfContact

Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

1.1 Project Contact 	Identifies the initial organization or person
responsible for the data collection.	Note: Refer to the Contact
Information [EX000019.2] Data Standard.

The following items are expected to define the project Entity/Person
information: 

Individual Full Name, 

Individual Identifier,

Individual Identifier Type,

Organization Formal Name, 

Affiliation Type, 

Mailing Address, 

Supplemental Address Text, 

Mailing Address City Name, 

Mailing Address State Name, 

Mailing Address State Code, 

Mailing Address Country Name, 

Mailing Address Country Code,  	G	ProjectContact



Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

1.1 Project Contact (cont.)

Mailing Address Zip Code/International Postal Code, 

Telephone Number, 

Telephone Number Type Name, 

Electronic Address Text, 

Electronic Address Type Name.



1.2 Project Client Contact 	Identifies the initial organization or
person requesting the data collection.	Note: Refer to the Contact
Information [EX000019.2] Data Standard.

The following items are expected to define the project Entity/Person
information: 

Individual Full Name, 

Individual Identifier,

Individual Identifier Type,

Organization Formal Name, 

Affiliation Type, 

Mailing Address, 

Supplemental Address Text, 

Mailing Address City Name, 

Mailing Address State Name, 

Mailing Address State Code, 

Mailing Address Country Name, 

Mailing Address Country Code,  

Mailing Address Zip Code/International Postal Code, 

Telephone Number, 

Telephone Number Type Name,	G	ProjectClientContact



Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

1.2 Project Client Contact (cont.)

Electronic Address Text, 

Electronic Address Type Name. 





2.0	Project Identification 

	Definition:	Data elements relating to the identification of a project. 

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:		None.

	XML Tag:	ProjectIdentification

Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

2.1 Project Identifier	A designator used to uniquely identify the
project to organizations sharing data.	Note: Based on the business need,
additional metadata may be required to sufficiently describe an
identifier. This additional metadata is described in section 1.6.d in
the Introduction.

Precise meaning will be agreed upon during development of the Trading
Partner Agreement for the Exchange Network.	A	ProjectIdentifier

2.2 Project Name 

	The name assigned to the Project by the project leader or principal
investigator.	Example List of Values:

Central Columbia Basin GWMA – Nitrate Characterization Study 	A
ProjectName

2.3 Project Environmental Interest Name	The environmental permits and
regulatory programs that apply to the project.	Example List of Values:

Section 106 Grant

Section 105 Grant

NPDES Permit

Superfund Site

Remedial Investigation	A	ProjectEnvironmentalInterestName



3.0	Project Duration 

	Definition:	Data elements relating to the length and status of a
project. 

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:		The Representation of Date and Time [EX000013.1] Data Standard
will apply anytime a date is reported.

	XML Tag:	ProjectDuration

Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

3.1 Project Start Date	The calendar date on which a project began.
Reported as 4-digit year, 2-digit month, and 2-digit day.	D
ProjectStartDate

3.2 Project End Date	The calendar date on which a project ended; may be
after actual field activities have ended.	Reported as 4-digit year,
2-digit month, and 2-digit day.	D	ProjectEndDate

3.3 Project Duration Text	Planned length or duration of the project
activity.	Example List of Values:

Five Years

1 Year Study

Irrigation Season

On-going Monitoring

Low Flow Period (May-October)	A	ProjectDurationText

3.4 Project Status Text	Description of the current state of the Project.
Example List of Values:

ACTIVE: The project is currently active with field activities and/or
data entry.

COMPLETED: The project has been completed.  All data has been collected
and a Quality Assurance (QA) review has been completed.

	A	ProjectStatusText

3.4 Project Status Text (cont.)

DATA COMPLETED: All study data has been collected, but a QA review has
not yet been completed for the project. Data should be considered
preliminary.



3.5 Project Status Date	Date indicating when the Project Status was
determined.	Reference the Representation of Date and Time [EX000013.1]
Data Standard Reported as 4-digit year, 2-digit month, and 2-digit day.
D	ProjectStatusDate



4.0	Project Reason 

	Definition:	The explanation of or justification for the project. 

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:		None.

	XML Tag:	ProjectReason

Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

4.1 Project Purpose Text	A summary description of the purpose of, or the
hypothesis to be tested by the project. 	Note: The Project Purpose
should include the reason(s) for initiating the project plus its goals
and expectations. This data field should also be used to describe any
relationship that this project has with other activities.

Example: 

The purpose of the study is to characterize the baseline concentration
and three dimensional distribution of nitrate in groundwater in the
Central Columbia Basin (Grant, Adams, and Franklin counties).	A
ProjectPurposeText

Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

4.2 Project Objective Text	Summary of the objectives to be accomplished
by the project.	Example:  Collect sufficient information to determine
permit compliance with a 95% level of confidence.	A	ProjectObjectiveText

4.3 Sampling Design Type Name	A name used to identify the type of
sampling design employed for this project to ensure that sampling
activities can support project objectives.	Example List of Values:

Stratified random sampling

Systematic random sampling

Cluster sampling

Grid	A	SamplingDesignTypeName

4.4 Project Outcome Description Text	A brief summary of the results of
the project. 	Note: The fully detailed project report may be referenced
by attaching the relevant bibliographic citation to the project.

Examples: 

Final report describing the study findings and QA evaluation: USGS
Water-Resources Investigation.

Rpt. 99-4288; Summary of Nitrate Concentrations in Ground Water of
Adams, Franklin and Grant Counties, Washington, Fall 1998 – A Baseline
for Future Trend Analysis.	A	ProjectOutcomeDescriptionText



5.0	Data Collection Area 

	Definition:	The geographic area for a project. 

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:		Multiple areas may exist for a project.

	XML Tag:	DataCollectionArea

Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

5.1 Data Collection Area Name	The common name assigned to the geographic
area of interest.  	Example List of Values:

1560 (CHATTANOOGA, TN-GA)

07 (BOS-WOR-LAW, MA-NH-ME-CT)

Central Columbia Basin GWMA

Area 51

Rocky Flats Arsenal	A	DataCollectionAreaName

5.2 Data Collection Area Description Text	A general description of the
geographic boundaries or spatial area being studied through the
monitoring activities conducted as part of the project.	Examples:

Central Columbia Basin Groundwater Management Area (GWMA) - Includes All
of Grant, Adams, and Franklin Counties

All sites within the Akron, Ohio City Limits

Potomac River from Lincoln Memorial Downstream to Wilson Bridge	A
DataCollectionAreaDescriptionText

5.3 Data Collection Area Type Name	The predominant focus or frame of
reference for the project area.

	Multiple selections may be present.

Example List of Values:

MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)

AQCR (Air Quality Control Region)

Aquifer

Estuary

Watershed

Airshed

Reservoir

Soil

Sediment

Landfill

Drums

Man-made Materials

1st through 3rd Order Streams

Streams Capable of Supporting Coho Salmon Spawning and Rearing	A
DataCollectionAreaTypeName

6.0	Data Collection Facility Site identification 

	Definition:	Basic identification information for a facility site of the
project. 

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:		Refer to the Facility Site [EX000020.2] Data Standard.

				The following items may be needed:

				US EPA or State facility registry identifier

				Geographic address

				Geopolitical descriptors

				May also include:

					Locality name

				County or State FIPS codes

				Tribal name

				Geographic coordinates of latitude/longitude

				Note: Based on the business need, additional metadata may be
required to sufficiently describe an identifier. This 					additional
metadata is described in section 1.6.d. in the Introduction.

	XML Tag:	DataCollectionFacilitySiteIdentification

7.0	Data Collection Quality 

	Definition:	The quality components for a project. 

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:		None.

	XML Tag:	DataCollectionQuality

Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

7.1 Data Collection Quality Assurance Plan Indicator	An indicator (Y/N)
of the existence of a Quality Assurance Plan for the project.	List of
Permitted Values:

Y – yes

N – no	A	DataCollectionQualityAssurancePlanIndicator



Data Element Name	Data Element Definitions	Notes	Format	XML Tags

7.2 Data Collection Quality Assurance Plan Description Text	A summary of
the Quality Assurance Plan approved for the project.	Note: This plan may
be a QAPP required by US EPA, a quality assurance plan required by a
state or other quality assurance plan.	A
DataCollectionQualityAssurancePlanDescriptionText

7.3 Data Collection Quality Assurance Plan Date	The date of the quality
assurance objectives document that relates to the data being collected.
Reported as 4-digit year, 2-digit month, and 2-digit day.	D
DataCollectionQualityAssurancePlanDate

7.4 Sample Collector Certification Text	Text providing any certification
obtained or experience level of personnel sampling for the project.
Note: For example, this could identify agency-trained or certified
personnel.	A	SampleCollectorCertificationText

8.0	Project Reference 

	Definition:	References, either directly as electronic attachments or as
a bibliographic reference, documents, images, maps, photos, 			
laboratory materials, geospatial coverages, and other objects within the
data submission that pertain to the project.

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:		Multiple objects may be attached to the data submission for
each project included in the submission.  May attach US EPA

 Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), state or lab quality assurance
plan and/or Sampling Analysis Plan (SAP)

	XML Tag:	ProjectReference

9.0	Project Attached Binary Object 

	Definition:	References electronic attachments to the project, including
documents, images, maps, photos, laboratory materials,

			geospatial coverage, and other objects.

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:		Reference the Attached Binary Object [EX000006.1] Data
Standard.  May attach US EPA Quality Assurance Project 

			Plan (QAPP), state or lab quality assurance plan and/or Sampling
Analysis Plan (SAP)

	XML Tag:	ProjectAttachedBinaryObject

10.0	Project Bibliographic Reference 

	Definition:	Catalog information describing associated project
resources, including documents, images, maps, photos, laboratory 			
materials, geospatial coverages, and other objects.

	Relationship:	None.

	Notes:	Reference the Bibliographic Reference [EX000007.1] Data
Standard.  May reference US EPA Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP),
state or lab quality assurance plan and/or Sampling Analysis Plan (SAP)

	XML Tag:	ProjectBibliographicReference

Appendix A

Environmental Sampling, Analysis, and Results: Project Data Structure
Diagram 



Appendix B

References

ISO/IEC 2382-17:1999 Information Technology Vocabulary—Part 17:
Databases 17.06.

 PAGE   

	Environmental Sampling, Analysis and Results: Project Data Standard

Std No.: EX000002.2

June 28, 2005		Page   PAGE  1  

July 22, 2008		Page   PAGE  4 

	Environmental Sampling, Analysis and Results: Project Data Standard

Std No.: EX000002.2

July 22, 2008		Page   PAGE  16  

Environmental Sampling, Analysis and Results

 Project

Data Standard

10.0 Project Bibliographic Reference

9.0 Project Attached Binary Object

7.0 Data Collection Quality

6.0 Data Collection Facility Site Identification

5.0 Data Collection Area

8.0 Project Reference

1.0 Project Point of Contact

2.0 Project Identification

3.0 Project Duration

4.0 Project Reason

Environmental Sampling, Analysis and Results: 

 Project

Data Standard

4.0 Project Reason 

4.1 Project Purpose Text

4.2 Project Objective Text

4.3 Sampling Design Type Name

4.4 Project Outcome Description Text

2.0 Project Identification 

2.1 Project Identifier

2.2 Project Name 

2.3 Project Environmental Interest Name

10 Project Bibliographic Reference 

9.0 Project Attached Binary Object 

8.0 Project Reference 

7.0 Data Collection Quality 

7.1 Data Collection Quality Assurance Plan Indicator

7.2 Data Collection Quality Assurance Plan Description Text

7.3 Data Collection Quality Assurance Plan Date

7.4 Sample Collector Certification Text

5.0 Data Collection Area 

5.1 Data Collection Area Name

5.2 Data Collection Area Description Text

5.3 Data Collection Area Type Name

3.0 Project Duration 

3.1 Project Start Date

3.2 Project End Date

3.3 Project Duration Text

3.4 Project Status Text

3.5 Project Status Date

1.0 Project Point of Contact 

1.1 Project Contact 

1.2 Project Client Contact 

6.0 Data Collection Facility Site Identification 

