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See: Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) - 2017.

SAM provides a list of methods to be used in analyzing environmental samples for chemical contaminants during remediation activities that result from a contamination incident. Methods are listed for each analyte and for each sample type that potentially may need to be measured and analyzed. In some cases, procedures from peer-reviewed journal articles or provisional methods are listed for those analyte-sample type combinations where validated methods are unavailable. In these instances, the best available procedure was selected based on its environmental application and on data quality objectives (DQOs).

The fitness of a method for an intended use is related to site-specific DQOs for a particular environmental remediation activity. These selected chemical methods have been assigned tiers (below) to indicate a level of method usability for the specific analyte and sample type. The assigned tiers reflect the conservative view for DQOs involving timely implementation of methods for analysis of a high number of samples (such that multiple laboratories are necessary), low limits of identification and quantification, and appropriate QC.

Method-specific usability tiers are provided in SAM Appendix A. See: SAM 2017 Appendix A: Selected Chemical Methods.

Tier I: Analyte/sample type is a target of the method(s). Data are available for all aspects of method performance and QC measures supporting its use for analysis of environmental samples following a contamination event. Evaluation and/or use of the method(s) in multiple laboratories indicate that the method can be implemented with no additional modifications for the analyte/sample type.

Tier II: (1) The analyte/sample type is a target of the method(s) and the method(s) has been evaluated for the analyte/sample type by one or more laboratories, or (2) the analyte/sample type is not a target of the method(s), but the method has been used by laboratories to address the analyte/sample type. In either case, available data and/or information indicate that modifications will likely be needed for use of the method(s) to address the analyte/sample type (e.g., due to potential interferences, alternate matrices, the need to address different DQOs).

Tier III: The analyte/sample type is not a target of the method(s), and/or no reliable data supporting the method's fitness for its intended use are available. Data from other analytes or sample types, however, suggest that the method(s), with significant modification, may be applicable.

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