General Guidance in Quality Assurance

(1) At each stage of the site evaluation process the Board shall develop and implement a quality assurance [QA] program designed to ensure data reliability, validity, traceability, retrievability, completeness and technical accuracy. The requirements set forth at 310 CMR 43.42(1) and (2) regarding the application of NuclearRegulatoryCommissionand Department of Energy guidance, shall alsoapplytodevelopment and implementation of a quality assurance program. The scope of the quality assurance program shall be commensurate with the type of data being collected, the scope of the data collection and the analysis required by the Act and the regulations at each respective stage of the site screening process (4.63). (2) The analytical map work performed in the course of site selection shall be conducted by qualified professionals experienced in the use of the GIS, or equivalent system if applicable, and knowledgeable in the field of cartography. The collection and analysis of data performed in support of the site screening and site characterization required shall be conducted by qualified professionals experienced in the respective fields of geology, soil science and soil engineering, hydrology, land use studies, transportation, meteorology environmental engineering, civil engineering, performance assessment, air modeling and monitoring and such other related disciplines as are necessary to select a superior site. All field mapping and surveying shall be conducted by a registered surveyor. (3) The GIS and map work performed shall be done in substantial accordance with professional standards or generally accepted protocols and uniform procedures for the collection, analysis and presentation of mappable data. A detailed procedure for digitizing map data shall be developed to assure uniform performance and documentation of digitizing activities. Software qualityassurance plans shall be developed and implemented to control verification and validation of the software packages being utilized for GIS orequivalent activities. Where data are entered into the GIS or equivalent system after the decision to initiate site selection, the Board shall ensure that records be maintained that, at a minimum, contain the name of person entering the data, the type and source of the data and the date the data were entered. (4) Records of qualifications should be obtained for all persons employed in data gathering and analysis, and said statements of qualifications should be maintained in the Board's files.