ASTM D6235-04

Standard Practice for Expedited Site Characterization of Vadose Zone and Ground Water Contamination at Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites

SCOPE
1.1 Applicability of the ECS Process-This practice covers a process for expedited site characterization (ESC) of hazardous waste contaminated sites to identify vadose zone, ground water and other relevant contaminant migration pathways and determine the distribution, concentration, and fate of contaminants for the purpose of providing an ESC client, regulatory authority and stakeholders with the necessary information to choose a course of action. Generally, the process is applicable to larger-scale projects, such as CERCLA (Superfund) remedial investigations and RCRA facility investigations. The ESC process is also applicable to other contaminated sites where the ESC process can be reasonably expected to reduce the time and cost of site characterization compared to alternative approaches. The ESC process has been applied successfully at a variey of sites in different states and EPA regions. (See Table X1.1). It typically achieves significant cost and schedule savings compared to traditional site characterization (See X1.2 and X1.3).
1.2 Features of the ESC Process-The ESC process operates within the framework of existing regulatory programs. It focuses on collecting only the information required to meet characterization objectives and on ensuring that characterization ceases as soon as the objectives are met. Central to the ESC process is the use of judgement-based sampling and measurement to characterize vadose zone and ground water contamination in a limited number of field mobilizations by an integrated multidisciplinary team, led by a technical leader and operating within the framework of a dynamic work plan that gives him or her the flexibility of responsibility to select the type and location of measurements needed to optimize data collection activities. Table 1 identifies other essential features of the ESC process, and Fig. 1 presents a flow diagram for the entire ESC process.
1.3 Investigation Methods-The process described in this practice is based on good scientific practice but is not tied to any particular regulatory program, site investigation method or technique, chemical analysis method, statistical analysis method, risk analysis method, or computer modeling code. Appropriate investigation techniques in an ESC project are highly site specific and are selected and modified base upon the professional judgement of the core technical team (in particular the technical team leader). Whenever feasible, non-invasive and minimally invasive methods are used, as discussed in Appendix X3. Appropriate chemical analysis methods are equally site specific. Analyses may be conducted in the field or laboratory, depending on data quality requirements, required turnaround time, and costs.
1.4 Sites Generally Not Appropriate for the ESC Process-Generally, the ESC process is not applicable to: small petroleum release sites, real estate property transactions that require no more than a Phase I ESA, sites where contamination is limited to the near surface or there is no basis for suspecting that contaminant movement through the vadose zone and ground water is a matter of concern, sites where the cost of remedial action is likely to be less than the cost of site characterization, or sites where existing statutes or regulations prohibit the use of essential features of the ESC process.
1.5 Other Potentially Applicable ASTM Standards for Site Characterization-Guide E 1912 addresses accelerated site characterization (ASC) for petroleum release sites, and Guide E 1739 addresses use of the risk-based corrective action (RBCA) process at petroleum release sites. Section X1.5.1 describes the ASC process, and X1.5.2 discusses the relationship between ESC and the RBCA process. Practices E 1527 and E 1528 and Guide E 1903 address real estate property transactions, and X1.5.3 discusses the relationship between the ESC process and investigations for real estate property transactions. Classification D 5746 addresses environme...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2003
• ICS: 13.030.99 - Other standards related to wastes
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.01 - Surface and Subsurface Investigation

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6235-98a - Standard Practice for Expedited Site Characterization of Vadose Zone and Ground Water Contamination at Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM D6235-04(2010) - Standard Practice for Expedited Site Characterization of Vadose Zone and Groundwater Contamination at Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites
• Effective Date: 01-May-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D5777-18 - Standard Guide for Using the Seismic Refraction Method for Subsurface Investigation
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2616-09(2020) - Standard Guide for Remedy Selection Integrating Risk-Based Corrective Action and Non-Risk Considerations
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2081-22 - Standard Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D7128-18 - Standard Guide for Using the Seismic-Reflection Method for Shallow Subsurface Investigation
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6429-23 - Standard Guide for Selecting Surface Geophysical Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2531-06(2020) - Standard Guide for Development of Conceptual Site Models and Remediation Strategies for Light Nonaqueous-Phase Liquids Released to the Subsurface
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6432-19 - Standard Guide for Using the Surface Ground Penetrating Radar Method for Subsurface Investigation
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6431-18 - Standard Guide for Using the Direct Current Resistivity Method for Subsurface Site Characterization
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6430-18 - Standard Guide for Using the Gravity Method for Subsurface Site Characterization
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E3358-23a - Standard Guide for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Site Screening and Initial Characterization
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E1689-20 - Standard Guide for Developing Conceptual Site Models for Contaminated Sites
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6820-20 - Standard Guide for Use of the Time Domain Electromagnetic Method for Geophysical Subsurface Site Investigation
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6639-18 - Standard Guide for Using the Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Method for Subsurface Site Characterizations
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D6235 – 04
Standard Practice for
Expedited Site Characterization of Vadose Zone and Ground
Water Contamination at Hazardous Waste Contaminated
1
Sites
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6235; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.2 Features of the ESC Process—The ESC process oper-
ates within the framework of existing regulatory programs. It
1.1 Applicability of the ECS Process—This practice covers
focuses on collecting only the information required to meet
a process for expedited site characterization (ESC) of hazard-
2
characterization objectives and on ensuring that characteriza-
ous waste contaminated sites to identify vadose zone, ground
tion ceases as soon as the objectives are met. Central to the
water and other relevant contaminant migration pathways and
ESC process is the use of judgement-based sampling and
determine the distribution, concentration, and fate of contami-
measurement to characterize vadose zone and ground water
nants for the purpose of providing an ESC client, regulatory
contamination in a limited number of field mobilizations by an
authority, and stakeholders with the necessary information to
3
integrated multidisciplinary team, led by a technical leader and
choose a course of action. Generally, the process is applicable
operating within the framework of a dynamic work plan that
to larger-scale projects, such as CERCLA (Superfund) reme-
4
gives him or her the flexibility of responsibility to select the
dial investigations and RCRA facility investigations. When
type and location of measurements needed to optimize data
used as part of the Superfund response process, this Practice
collection activities. Table 1 identifies other essential features
should be used in conjunction with U.S. EPA’s guidance
of the ESC process, and Fig. 1 presents a flow diagram for the
document titled Using Dynamic Field Activities for On-Site
entire ESC process.
Decision Making: A Guide for Project Managers (37). The
1.3 Investigation Methods—The process described in this
ESC process is also applicable to other contaminated sites
practice is based on good scientific practice but is not tied to
where the ESC process can be reasonably expected to reduce
any particular regulatory program, site investigation method or
the time and cost of site characterization compared to alterna-
technique, chemical analysis method, statistical analysis
tive approaches. The ESC process has been applied success-
method, risk analysis method, or computer modeling code.
fully at a variety of sites in different states and EPA regions.
Appropriate investigation techniques in an ESC project are
(See Table X1.1). It typically achieves significant cost and
highly site specific and are selected and modified based upon
schedule savings compared to traditional site characterization.
5
the professional judgement of the core technical team (in
(See X1.2 and X1.3) .
particular the technical team leader). Whenever feasible, non-
invasive and minimally invasive methods are used, as dis-
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
cussed in Appendix X3. Appropriate chemical analysis meth-
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and
ods are equally site specific.Analyses may be conducted in the
Subsurface Characterization.
field or laboratory, depending on data quality requirements,
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2004. Published February 2004. Originally
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D6235 – 98a. DOI:
required turnaround time, and costs.
10.1520/D6235-04.
1.4 Sites Generally Not Appropriate for the ESC Process—
2
The term hazardous waste in the title is used descriptively. The term also has
Generally, the ESC process is not applicable to: small petro-
specific meanings in the context of different regulatory programs. Expedited site
characterization is also appropriate for radiologically contaminated sites and some leum release sites, real estate property transactions that require
larger petroleum release sites, such as refineries. Section 4.2 further identifies types
no more than a Phase I ESA, sites where contamination is
of contaminated sites where ESC may be appropriate. See Appendix X1 for
limited to the near surface or there is no basis for suspecting
additional background on the ESC process.
3
that contaminant movement through the vadose zone and
The text of this practice emphasizes vadose zone and ground water contami-
nation because these contaminant migration pathways are the most difficult to
g
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