Abstract: A Brownfields investment vehicle, and a system and method for investing in Brownfields-related projects are provided that are capable of supporting all aspects of a Brownfields remediation/development/redevelopment project, while shielding investors from environmental liability. The Brownfields fund makes, for example, non-recourse, participating capital investments or Brownfields Value Contracts (“BVC”) to a number of “special purpose vehicles” for specific Brownfields projects according to fund investment criteria determined by a fund manager. An investor's risk of incurring environmental liability is substantially reduced by providing that the Brownfields fund is completely passive with respect to the Brownfields project, taking no security or mortgage interest in the Brownfields.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer implemented method for automating the selection of an analytical statistical quality control (QC) procedure. Inputs of a quality requirement and observed performance characteristics of a method of measurement are initially provided, together with a database of theoretical operating characteristics of statistical QC procedures. An appropriate quality-planning algorithm (either analytical or clinical) which relates the quality requirement, the observed performance characteristics of the method of measurement, and the theoretical operating characteristics of statistical QC procedures is also provided. Using predetermined QC selection criteria and selection logic, a computer is programmed to automatically choosing, based on the quality requirement, observed method performance, and operating characteristic of candidate QC procedures, a subset of control rules and numbers of control measurements which satisfy selection criteria and selection logic.