Updates to Environmental Sampling and Analytical Methods (ESAM) Program

The Environmental Sampling and Analytical Methods (ESAM) program page is updated periodically to incorporate tool enhancements, new tools, and new documents. The table below provides information regarding the additional changes that were incorporated to the program webpage.

Date	Update	Summary
September 2022	Emergency Response Slides/Webinar presented September 14, 2022. Link to presentation: Homeland Security Research Program’s (HSRP) Environmental Sampling and Analytical Methods (ESAM) Program Link to the webinar: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response-research/facilitating-coordinated-response-field-lab-esam-program-webinar	Presentation that provides a concise overview of the ESAM program and the newly added/update resources in SAM 2022.
March 2023	Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) 2022 Methods Query Tool https://www.epa.gov/esam/selected-analytical-methods-environmental-remediation-and-recovery-sam	SAM METHOD QUERY TOOL UPDATE A query tool that permits searches for methods based on analyte of concern, sample matrix type, or the capabilities of laboratories is located on the SAM website. The site also has full documentation of publicly available laboratory methods. Recent updates to the SAM query tool include: Updated all query tools to align with the information and organization in SAM 2022. Chemistry, pathogen and biotoxin method usability tiers are now included in the query results and are also provided in the SAM Chemical, Biotoxin, and Pathogen appendix tables. [SAM does not apply similar usability tiers to radiochemistry methods.] A note was added on each query page that the method usability tiers are included in the query results and are also provided in the SAM Appendix. The query tools menu for chemistry, pathogens and biotoxins have been updated to reflect their organization in the SAM document and include assigned tiers in the results. Pathogen query Added phase search criteria for site characterization and post-decon. Biotoxin query Removed method search selection option and method publisher search. Simplified CAS RN search option. Chemistry query Removed the method publisher search. Reorganized search criteria based on two queries (one to search by analyte, which provides tiers in the resulting tables, and another to search by method, which does not provide tiers). View all updates to the SAM document on the SAM Revision Tracking page
August 2023	August 2023 Sample Collection Information Documents (SCID) Query Tool	This tool has been updated to provide general information for the collection of samples to be analyzed for chemicals, radiochemicals, pathogens, and biotoxins using methods and procedures listed in the Standardized Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) 2022. The tool provides summary information regarding sample containers, preservation, sample size, packaging, and holding times. Revisions include: Updated chemistry, radiochemistry, pathogen, and biotoxin SCID queries to align with the information in the Sample Collection Information Documents (SCID) 2022, which included addition of analytes and revision of sample type names. Transferred SCID data into the SAM Data Management System (DMS) to contain all information in a single database supporting the SAM and SCID queries. “Notes” field appears by default in the results tables for radiochemicals, pathogens, and biotoxins.

Date

Update

Summary

September 2022

Emergency Response Slides/Webinar presented September 14, 2022.

Link to presentation: Homeland Security Research Program’s (HSRP) Environmental Sampling and Analytical Methods (ESAM) Program

Link to the webinar: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response-research/facilitating-coordinated-response-field-lab-esam-program-webinar

Presentation that provides a concise overview of the ESAM program and the newly added/update resources in SAM 2022.

March 2023

Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) 2022 Methods Query Tool

https://www.epa.gov/esam/selected-analytical-methods-environmental-remediation-and-recovery-sam

SAM METHOD QUERY TOOL UPDATE
A query tool that permits searches for methods based on analyte of concern, sample matrix type, or the capabilities of laboratories is located on the SAM website. The site also has full documentation of publicly available laboratory methods. Recent updates to the SAM query tool include:

Updated all query tools to align with the information and organization in SAM 2022.
Chemistry, pathogen and biotoxin method usability tiers are now included in the query results and are also provided in the SAM Chemical, Biotoxin, and Pathogen appendix tables. [SAM does not apply similar usability tiers to radiochemistry methods.] A note was added on each query page that the method usability tiers are included in the query results and are also provided in the SAM Appendix.
The query tools menu for chemistry, pathogens and biotoxins have been updated to reflect their organization in the SAM document and include assigned tiers in the results.
Pathogen query
- Added phase search criteria for site characterization and post-decon.
Biotoxin query
- Removed method search selection option and method publisher search.
- Simplified CAS RN search option.
Chemistry query
- Removed the method publisher search.
- Reorganized search criteria based on two queries (one to search by analyte, which provides tiers in the resulting tables, and another to search by method, which does not provide tiers).

View all updates to the SAM document on the SAM Revision Tracking page

August 2023

August 2023 Sample Collection Information Documents (SCID) Query Tool

This tool has been updated to provide general information for the collection of samples to be analyzed for chemicals, radiochemicals, pathogens, and biotoxins using methods and procedures listed in the Standardized Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) 2022. The tool provides summary information regarding sample containers, preservation, sample size, packaging, and holding times.

Revisions include:

Updated chemistry, radiochemistry, pathogen, and biotoxin SCID queries to align with the information in the Sample Collection Information Documents (SCID) 2022, which included addition of analytes and revision of sample type names.
Transferred SCID data into the SAM Data Management System (DMS) to contain all information in a single database supporting the SAM and SCID queries.
“Notes” field appears by default in the results tables for radiochemicals, pathogens, and biotoxins.