ASTM E2600-22

Standard Guide for Vapor Encroachment Screening on Property Involved in Real Estate Transactions

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Uses—This guide is intended for use on a voluntary basis by parties who wish to conduct a VES on a parcel of real estate to determine if a VEC is identified for the TP (that is, the presence or likely presence of COC vapors in the vadose zone of the TP caused by the release of vapors from contaminated soil and/or groundwater either on or near the TP as identified by the Tier 1 or Tier 2 procedures in this guide). The process defined in this guide is a screening process that requires information similar to information generally collected as part of an E1527 Phase I ESA as well as additional information described in subsection 5.3 and Section 8 of this guide. If a VEC is identified by this screening process, the user may conduct further investigation. This guide, however, defines a procedure for determining in connection with a property involved in a real estate transaction whether a VEC exists or does not exist. A “VEC exists” determination is appropriate, for example, when there is known COC contamination in, at or on the TP, such as may be the case when COC-contaminated groundwater exists in the subsurface of the TP. A “VEC does not exist” determination is appropriate, for example, when subsurface sampling has confirmed that COC’s are not present. The guide can be applied to property with existing structures, property with structures that will be substantially rehabilitated, property without existing structures but having planned structures (for example, property in development), or property without existing structures and with no planned structures (for example, undeveloped property with no planned development).  
4.2 Clarifications on Use:  
4.2.1 Use in Conjunction with E1527 Phase I ESA—This practice, when used in conjunction with E1527 Phase I ESA, may assist the user and environmental professional in developing information about VECs associated with a TP. This guide has utility for a wide range of persons, including those who may not be involved in a r...
SCOPE
1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this guide is to provide practical guidance and a useful process for conducting a vapor encroachment screen (VES) on a property parcel involved in a real estate transaction in the United States of America with respect to chemicals of concern (COC) that may migrate as vapors into the vadose zone of a property as a result of contaminated soil and/or groundwater on or near the property. This guide may be used in conjunction with E1527 but does not alter or in any way define the scope of that practice. In addition, performance of this guide is not a requirement of and does not constitute, expand, or in any way define “all appropriate inquiry” as defined and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the regulations there under, including 40 CFR Sec. 312.11.  
1.1.1 Vapor Encroachment Condition (VEC)—The goal of conducting a VES, as established by this guide, on a parcel of property is to identify a vapor encroachment condition (VEC), which is the presence or likely presence of COC vapors in the vadose zone of the target property (TP) caused by the release of vapors from contaminated soil and/or groundwater either on or near the TP as identified by Tier 1 (see Section 8) or Tier 2 (see Section 9) procedures.  
1.1.2 Federal, State, and Local Environmental Laws—This guide does not address requirements of any federal, state, or local laws with respect to vapor intrusion. Users are cautioned that federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or policy may impose vapor encroachment screening or vapor intrusion assessment obligations that are beyond the scope of this guide (information is provided in Appendix X5 and Appendix X9). Users should also be aware that there may be other legal obligations, for example, disclosure, with regard to COC or COC vapors discovered on the TP that are not address...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2022
• ICS: 91.010.10 - Legal aspects
• Technical Committee: E50 - Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action
• Drafting Committee: E50.02 - Real Estate Assessment and Management

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2600 − 22
Standard Guide for
Vapor Encroachment Screening on Property Involved in
1
Real Estate Transactions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2600; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.1.3 Documentation—The scope of this guide includes
investigation and reporting actions. Sufficient documentation
1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this guide is to provide
of all sources, records, and resources used in the investigation
practical guidance and a useful process for conducting a vapor
procedures that are set out in this guide should be provided in
encroachment screen (VES) on a property parcel involved in a
the VES report (refer to Section 10).
real estate transaction in the United States of America with
respect to chemicals of concern (COC) that may migrate as
1.2 Objectives—Objectives guiding the development of this
vapors into the vadose zone of a property as a result of guide are: (1) to synthesize and put into writing a practical
contaminated soil and/or groundwater on or near the property.
guide for conducting a VES on a property involved in a real
ThisguidemaybeusedinconjunctionwithE1527butdoesnot estate transaction and (2) to provide that the process to screen
alterorinanywaydefinethescopeofthatpractice.Inaddition,
for a VEC is practical and reasonable.
performance of this guide is not a requirement of and does not
1.3 Considerations Outside the Scope—The use of this
constitute, expand, or in any way define “all appropriate
guide is strictly limited to the scope set forth in this section.
inquiry” as defined and approved by the U.S. Environmental
Section 11 of this guide identifies, for informational purposes,
Protection Agency (EPA) under the Comprehensive Environ-
certain tasks (not an all-inclusive list) that may be conducted
mentalResponse,Compensation,andLiabilityAct(CERCLA)
on a property that are beyond the scope of this guide but that
andtheregulationsthereunder,including40CFRSec.312.11.
may warrant consideration by parties to a real estate transac-
1.1.1 Vapor Encroachment Condition (VEC)—The goal of
tion. Whether to include an investigation of any such condi-
conducting a VES, as established by this guide, on a parcel of
tions in the environmental professional’s scope of services
property is to identify a vapor encroachment condition (VEC),
should be evaluated by the user and should be agreed upon
which is the presence or likely presence of COC vapors in the
between the user and environmental professional as additional
vadose zone of the target property (TP) caused by the release
services beyond the scope of this guide before initiation of a
ofvaporsfromcontaminatedsoiland/orgroundwatereitheron
Phase I ESA conducted in conjunction with a VES or initiation
or near the TP as identified by Tier 1 (see Section 8) or Tier 2
of an independent VES.
(see Section 9) procedures.
1.4 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
1.1.2 Federal, State, and Local Environmental Laws—This
regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are
guide does not address requirements of any federal, state, or
mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for
local laws with respect to vapor intrusion. Users are cautioned
information only and are not considered standard.
that federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or policy may
impose vapor encroachment screening or vapor intrusion
1.5 Organization of this Guide—This guide has eleven
assessment obligations that are beyond the scope of this guide
sections and nine appendices. The appendices are included for
(information is provided in Appendix X5 and Appendix X9).
informational purposes and are not part of the procedures
Users should also be aware that there may be other legal
prescribed in this guide.
obligations, for example, disclosure, with regard to COC or
Section 1 contains the scope of the guide.
COCvaporsdiscoveredonthe TPthatarenotaddressedinthis
Section 2 includes the referenced documents.
Section 3 has definitions of terms pertinent to this guide, terms used
guide.ThisASTMpracticedoesnotsupersedeexistingfederal,
in this guide but defined in E1527, and acronyms.
state and local statutes and regulations.
Section 4 is directed at the significance and use of this guide.
Section 5 discusses the relationship between this guide and E1527.
Section 6 describes the user’s responsibilities under this guide.
1
Thisguideisunderthejurisdictio
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2600 − 15 E2600 − 22
Standard Guide for
Vapor Encroachment Screening on Property Involved in
1
Real Estate Transactions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2600; 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
1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this guide is to provide practical guidance and a useful process for conducting a vapor encroachment
screen (VES) on a property parcel involved in a real estate transaction in the United States of America with respect to chemicals
of concern (COC) that may migrate as vapors into the vadose zone of a property as a result of contaminated soil and/or
groundwater on or near the property. This guide may be used in conjunction with Practice E1527 but does not alter or in any way
define the scope of that practice. In addition, performance of this guide is not a requirement of and does not constitute, expand,
or in any way define “all appropriate inquiry” as defined and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the regulations there under,
including 40 CFR Sec. 312.11.
1.1.1 Vapor Encroachment Condition (VEC)—The goal of conducting a VES, as established by this guide, on a parcel of property
is to identify a vapor encroachment condition (VEC), which is the presence or likely presence of COC vapors in the vadose zone
of the target property (TP) caused by the release of vapors from contaminated soil and/or groundwater either on or near the TP
as identified by Tier 1 (see Section 8) or Tier 2 (see Section 9) procedures.
1.1.2 Federal, State, and Local Environmental Laws—This guide does not address requirements of any federal, state, or local laws
with respect to vapor intrusion. Users are cautioned that federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or policy may impose vapor
encroachment screening or vapor intrusion assessment obligations that are beyond the scope of this guide (information is provided
in Appendix X5 and Appendix X9). Users should also be aware that there may be other legal obligations, for example, disclosure,
with regard to COC or COC vapors discovered on the TP that are not addressed in this guide. This ASTM practice does not
supersede existing federal, state and local statutes and regulations.
1.1.3 Documentation—The scope of this guide includes investigation and reporting actions. Sufficient documentation of all
sources, records, and resources used in the investigation procedures that are set out in this guide should be provided in the VES
report (refer to Section 10).
1.2 Objectives—Objectives guiding the development of this guide are: (1) to synthesize and put into writing a practical guide for
conducting a VES on a property involved in a real estate transaction and (2) to provide that the process to screen for a VEC is
practical and reasonable.
1.3 Considerations Outside the Scope—The use of this guide is strictly limited to the scope set forth in this section. Section 11
of this guide identifies, for informational purposes, certain tasks (not an all-inclusive list) that may be conducted on a property that
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2015April 1, 2022. Published December 2015May 2022. Originally approved in 2008. Last previous edition approved in 20102015 as
E2600 – 10.E2600 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/E2600–15.10.1520/E2600–22.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E2600 − 22
are beyond the scope of this guide but that may warrant consideration by parties to a real estate transaction. Whether to include
an investigation of any such conditions in the environmental professional’s scope of services should be evaluated by the user and
should be agreed upon between the user and environmental professional as additional services beyond the scope of this guide
before initiation of a Phase I ESA conducted in conjunction with a VES or initiation of an independent VES.
1.4 Units—The values stat
...