Priority Action Report

Geological Materials

Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis

Andrew M. Bowen

February 14, 2017
Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair Andrew Bowen U.S. Postal 

Inspection Service

3 years ambowen@uspis.gov

Vice Chair Brad Lee University of 

Kentucky

4 years brad.lee@uky.edu

Executive 

Secretary

Kim Mooney US Army Criminal 

Investigation Lab

3 years kim.e.mooney.civ@mail.

mil

2
Subcommittee Members

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Bill Schneck Washington State Patrol Crime Lab 4 bill.schneck@wsp.wa.gov

2 Andrew Bowen U.S. Postal Inspection Service 3 ambowen@uspis.gov

3 Kim Mooney US Army Criminal Investigation Lab 3 kim.e.mooney.civ@mail.mil

4 Maureen Bottrell Department of Justice, Federal

Bureau of Investigation

3 maureen.bottrell@ic.fbi.gov

5 Jack Hietpas Penn State University 4 jzh333@psu.edu

6 Brad Lee University of Kentucky 4 brad.lee@uky.edu

7 Skip Palenik Microtrace LLC 3 spalenik@microtracellc.com

8 Marianne Stam California Department of Justice 3 marianne.stam@doj.ca.gov

9 David Szymanski Bentley University 4 dszymanski@bentley.edu

10 Cynthia Zeissler NIST/Dept. of Commerce 3 cynthia.zeissler@nist.gov

11 Martin T. Wells Cornell University 3 martin.t.wells@gmail.com

12 Libby Stern Department of Justice, Federal

Bureau of Investigation

3 libby.stern@ic.fbi.gov 

13 Wayne Isphording Self Employed 3 isphordingw@bellsouth.net 

14 Christopher Bernhardt US Geological Survey 3 cbernhardt@usgs.gov 

3
Subcommittee Affiliates

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Robert Fitzpatrick Centre for Australian Forensic Soil 

Science CAFSS

N/A rob.fitzpatrick@csiro.au

2 Alastair Ruffell Queen's University, Belfast N/A alastairruffell@me.com 

3 Duncan Pirrie Helford Geoscience LLP N/A dpirrie@helfordgeoscience.co.uk 

4
Geological Materials

Develop consensus standards and guidelines 

for the collection and analysis of soils and 

other geological materials; create a 

framework for the interpretation and 

reporting of analytical results; establish 

educational and training requirements for 

forensic practitioners; and foster the 

publication and presentation of research 

within the forensic geosciences community.

5
Summary of Standards/Guidelines 

Priority Actions

Priority OSAC 

Process Working Title of Document

High SDO-200 Standard Guide for the Collection of Soils and Other 

Geological Evidence for Forensic Applications

High SDO-200 Standard Guide for the Forensic Analysis of Soil

Medium SDO-200 Standard Guide for Microscopy of Soil Evidence

Medium SDO-200 Standard Guide for Elemental Analysis of Soil 

Evidence

Medium SDO-200 Standard Guide for X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Soil 

Evidence

6
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document

Document Title: Standard Guide for the Collection of Soils and Other 

Geological Evidence for Forensic Applications

Scope: This guide is designed as a resource for forensic scientists, law 

enforcement personnel, and other professionals whose job responsibilities 

include the collection and preservation of soil evidence at crime scenes.

Objective/rationale: This guide is intended to serve as a resource for the 

development of individual agency procedures regarding the collection of soils 

and other geological evidence for forensic applications. 

Issues/Concerns: No standard currently exists for this process.

7

Task Group Name: Geological Materials Field Testing

Task Group Chair Name: Kim Mooney

Task Group Chair Contact Information: 

kim.e.mooney.civ@mail.mil

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: October 2016
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

•Collection strategies

•Collection tools

•Collection techniques

•Documentation, preservation, packaging, and 

transportation of samples

8
Workshop Held in Fall 2016 at 

CAC/ASTEE Meeting to Evaluate 

Document 

9
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Edit based on workshop 

feedback

SDO-200 Brad Lee

Marianne Stam

April 2017

Evaluate technical merit SDO-200 Marianne Stam

Dave Szymanski

April 2017

Submit to SAC with SDO 

Process Submission Form

SDO-300 Andrew Bowen April 2017

Submit to SDO SDO-700 Andrew Bowen 2017

Priority 1: Standard Guide for the Collection of Soils 

and Other Geological Evidence for Forensic 

Applications

10
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Document

Document Title: Standard Guide for the Forensic Analysis of Soil

Scope: This guide is designed as a resource for forensic scientists, 

researchers, and other professionals whose job responsibilities include the 

analysis of soil evidence in laboratories.

Objective/rationale: This guide is intended to serve as a resource for the 

development of technical procedures regarding the analysis of soils for 

forensic applications. 

Issues/Concerns: No standard currently exists for this process.

11

Task Group Name: Soil Analysis Guideline Task Group

Task Group Chair Name: Andrew Bowen

Task Group Chair Contact Information: 

AMBowen@uspis.gov

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: August 2016
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

•Sample description

•Alternative sample processing methods

•Alternative instrumental methods

•Minimum standards for analytical schemes, 

methods, and interpretation

12
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated 

Completion Date

Draft document SDO-200 Task Group January 2018

Determine means to test 

whether fit-for-purpose

SDO-200 Task Group TBD

Submit to SAC with SDO 

Process Submission Form

SDO-300 Task Group TBD

Priority 2: Standard Guide for the Forensic Analysis of Soil

13
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Document

Document Title: Standard Guide for Microscopy of Soil Evidence

Scope: This guide is designed as a resource for forensic scientists, 

researchers, and other professionals whose job responsibilities include the 

analysis of soil evidence in laboratories.

Objective/rationale: This guide is intended to serve as a resource for the 

development of technical procedures regarding the analysis of soils for 

forensic applications. 

Issues/Concerns: No standard currently exists for this process.

Task Group Name: Geological Materials Microscopy

Task Group Chair Name: Bill Schneck

Task Group Chair Contact Information: 

Bill.Schneck@wsp.wa.gov

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: August 2016

14
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

•Sample preparation for microscopy of soil 

evidence

•Alternative microscopical analysis methods

•Minimum standards for microscopy analytical 

schemes, methods, and interpretation

15
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Draft document SDO-200 Task Group January 2018

Determine means to test 

whether fit-for-purpose

SDO-200 Task Group TBD

Submit to SAC with SDO 

Process Submission Form

SDO-300 Task Group TBD

Priority 3: Standard Guide for Microscopy of Soil 

Evidence

16
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 4 Document

Document Title: Standard Guide for Elemental Analysis of Soil Evidence

Scope: This guide is designed as a resource for forensic scientists, 

researchers, and other professionals whose job responsibilities include the 

analysis of soil evidence in laboratories.

Objective/rationale: This guide is intended to serve as a resource for the 

development of technical procedures regarding the analysis of soils for 

forensic applications. 

Issues/Concerns: No standard currently exists for this process.

Task Group Name: Geological Materials Elemental Analysis

Task Group Chair Name: Jack Hietpas

Task Group Chair Contact Information: jzh333@psu.edu

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: August 2016

17
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 4 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

•Sample preparation for elemental analysis of 

soil evidence

•Alternative elemental analysis methods

•Minimum standards for elemental analysis 

schemes, methods, and interpretation

18
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Draft document SDO-200 Task Group January 2018

Determine means to test 

whether fit-for-purpose

SDO-200 Task Group TBD

Submit to SAC with SDO 

Process Submission Form

SDO-300 Task Group TBD

Priority 4: Standard Guide for Elemental 

Analysis of Soil Evidence

19
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 5 Document

Document Title: Standard Guide for X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Soil 

Evidence

Scope: This guide is designed as a resource for forensic scientists, 

researchers, and other professionals whose job responsibilities include the 

analysis of soil evidence in laboratories.

Objective/rationale: This guide is intended to serve as a resource for the 

development of technical procedures regarding the analysis of soils for 

forensic applications. 

Issues/Concerns: No standard currently exists for this process.

Task Group Name: Geological Materials XRD

Task Group Chair Name: Robert Fitzpatrick

Task Group Chair Contact Information: rob.fitzpatrick@csiro.au

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: August 2016

20
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 5 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

•Sample preparation for x-ray diffraction 

analysis of soil evidence

•Alternative x-ray diffraction analysis methods

•Minimum standards for x-ray diffraction 

analytical schemes, methods, and 

interpretation

21
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Draft document SDO-200 Task Group January 2018

Determine means to test 

whether fit-for-purpose

SDO-200 Task Group TBD

Submit to SAC with SDO 

Process Submission Form

SDO-300 Task Group TBD

Priority 5: Standard Guide for X-Ray Diffraction 

Analysis of Soil Evidence

22
Summary of Standards/Guidelines 

Priority Actions

Priority OSAC 

Process Working Title of Document

High SDO-200 Standard Guide for the Collection of Soils and Other 

Geological Evidence for Forensic Applications

High SDO-200 Standard Guide for the Forensic Analysis of Soil

Medium SDO-200 Standard Guide for Microscopy of Soil Evidence

Medium SDO-200 Standard Guide for Elemental Analysis of Soil 

Evidence

Medium SDO-200 Standard Guide for X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Soil 

Evidence

23
Standards/Guidelines Reviewed For 

Technical Merit

Title Developing 

Organization Status*

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., RA 

100)

Standard Guide for the Collection of 

Soils and Other Geological Evidence for 

Forensic Applications

Geological 

Materials 

Subcommittee

Still Evaluating SDO-200

24
Research & Development Needs Identified

• Research is needed to determine whether it is 

possible to anticipate scales of compositional 

heterogeneity of surface soils across a particular 

region. 

• Research is needed to investigate the effects of 

different variables on the relative abundance of 

soil components after transfer. 

• Development and evaluation of quantitative 

methods of soil analysis for forensic 

comparisons.

25
Priority Action Report

Geological Materials

Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis

Andrew M. Bowen

February 14, 2017
27