When is a collection plan developed?

• A. Immediately prior to collection operations
• B. During planning phase
• C. After collection
• D. At the conclusion

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a collection plan should be developed immediately prior to collection operations so it aligns with the real conditions you’ll face on site. This timing lets you tailor procedures for how samples will be collected, preserved, labeled, and transported, while also enforcing safety and chain-of-custody requirements. By finalizing the plan right before you start collecting, you can incorporate current hazards, equipment status, access limits, weather, and any new priorities from reconnaissance or updated information. If you wait until the planning phase, conditions can change and the plan may become outdated; if you wait until after collection, you’ve missed guiding the collection itself; if you set it at the conclusion, it serves no practical purpose for the collection process.