ASTM E3344-23
(Guide)Standard Guide for Developing Representative Sediment Background Concentrations at Sediment Sites—Selection of Background Reference Areas
Standard Guide for Developing Representative Sediment Background Concentrations at Sediment Sites—Selection of Background Reference Areas
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Intended Use—This guide may be used by various parties involved in sediment corrective action programs, including regulatory agencies, project sponsors, environmental consultants, toxicologists, risk assessors, site remediation professionals, environmental contractors, and other stakeholders.
4.2 Importance of the CSM—The CSM should be continuously updated and refined to describe the physical properties, chemical composition and occurrence, biologic features, and environmental conditions of the sediment corrective action project (Guide E1689).
4.3 Reference Material—This guide should be used in conjunction with other ASTM guides listed in 2.1 (especially Guides E3242 and E3382); this guide should also be used in conjunction with the material in the References at the end of this guide (including 3). Utilizing these reference materials will direct the user in developing representative sediment background concentrations.
4.4 Flexible Site-Specific Implementation—This guide provides a systematic but flexible framework to accommodate variations in approaches by regulatory agencies and by the user based on project objectives, site complexity, unique site features, regulatory requirements, newly developed guidance, newly published scientific research, changes in regulatory criteria, advances in scientific knowledge and technical capability, and unforeseen circumstances.
4.5 Regulatory Frameworks—This guide is intended to be applicable at a broad range of local, state, tribal, federal (such as CERCLA), or international jurisdictions, each with its own unique regulatory framework. As such, this guide does not provide a detailed discussion of the requirements or guidance associated with any of these regulatory frameworks, nor is it intended to supplant applicable regulations and guidance. The user of this guide will need to be aware of the regulatory requirements and guidance in the jurisdiction where the work is being performed.
4.6 Systematic Project Plan...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide focuses on the selection of sediment background reference areas from aquatic environments for the purpose of developing representative sediment background concentrations. These concentrations are typically used in contaminated sediment corrective actions performed under various regulatory programs, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Although many of the references cited in this guide are CERCLA-oriented, the guide is applicable to remedial actions performed under local, state, tribal, federal, and international cleanup programs. However, this guide does not describe the requirements for each jurisdiction.
1.1.1 The sediment background reference areas chosen using this guide will need to be approved by the regulatory agency having jurisdiction (or they should take no exception to the areas chosen), especially if the representative background sediment concentrations will potentially be used to develop sediment remedial criteria.
1.2 This guide provides a framework to select appropriate sediment background reference areas for the collection of sediment data in the development of representative sediment background concentrations. It is intended to inform, complement, and support, but not supersede, local, state, tribal, federal, or international guidelines.
1.2.1 This guide is designed to apply to contaminated sediment sites where sediment data have been collected and are readily available. Additionally, it assumes that risk assessments have been performed, so that the potential contaminants of concern (PCOCs) that exceed risk-based thresholds have been identified. This guide can be applied at multiple points within the project life cycle (such as site assessment and remedial design).
1.2.2 Furthermore, this guide presumes that the identified risk-based thresholds are low enough to pose corrective action implementation challenges or that th...
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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: E3344 − 23
Standard Guide for
Developing Representative Sediment Background
Concentrations at Sediment Sites—Selection of Background
1
Reference Areas
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3344; 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 1.2.2 Furthermore, this guide presumes that the identified
risk-based thresholds are low enough to pose corrective action
1.1 This guide focuses on the selection of sediment back-
implementation challenges or that the sediment site is subject
ground reference areas from aquatic environments for the
to recontamination from ongoing anthropogenic or natural
purpose of developing representative sediment background
sources (or both) that are not controlled. In either case,
concentrations. These concentrations are typically used in
representative sediment background concentrations are useful
contaminated sediment corrective actions performed under
for determining the extent of corrective remedial actions (when
various regulatory programs, including the Comprehensive
used as remedial goals), evaluating risks posed by representa-
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
tive background concentrations, and establishing appropriate
(CERCLA). Although many of the references cited in this
post-remedial monitoring plans.
guide are CERCLA-oriented, the guide is applicable to reme-
1.2.3 A case study for selecting a background reference area
dial actions performed under local, state, tribal, federal, and
using a tiered decision analysis approach is presented in
international cleanup programs. However, this guide does not
Appendix X1. It compares various characteristics of a hypo-
describe the requirements for each jurisdiction.
thetical sediment site associated with a former upland manu-
1.1.1 The sediment background reference areas chosen
factured gas plant (MGP) facility to three candidate back-
using this guide will need to be approved by the regulatory
ground reference areas and identifies the background reference
agency having jurisdiction (or they should take no exception to
area that best satisfies the decision analysis objectives.
the areas chosen), especially if the representative background
sediment concentrations will potentially be used to develop
1.3 Methodologies used to develop representative back-
sediment remedial criteria.
ground concentrations at contaminated sediment sites are not
discussed in this guide—refer to Guide E3242 for a discussion
1.2 This guide provides a framework to select appropriate
of these methodologies.
sediment background reference areas for the collection of
sediment data in the development of representative sediment
1.4 Related ASTM Standards—This guide is related to
background concentrations. It is intended to inform,
Guide E3382, which provides the overarching framework for
complement, and support, but not supersede, local, state, tribal,
the development of representative background concentrations
federal, or international guidelines.
at contaminated sediment sites, including Conceptual Site
1.2.1 This guide is designed to apply to contaminated
Model (CSM) considerations. This guide is also related to
sediment sites where sediment data have been collected and are
Guide E3242, which provides a detailed framework for devel-
readily available. Additionally, it assumes that risk assessments
oping representative sediment background concentrations, in-
have been performed, so that the potential contaminants of
cluding statistical and geochemical considerations as well as
concern (PCOCs) that exceed risk-based thresholds have been
background threshold values. This guide is also related to
identified. This guide can be applied at multiple points within
Guide E3164, which addresses corrective action monitoring
the project life cycle (such as site assessment and remedial
before, during, and after sediment remediation activities, as
design).
well as Guide E3163, which concerns sediment sampling and
analytical techniques used during sediment corrective action
projects. Guide D4823, which concerns sediment core
sampling, is also related to this guide.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental
Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil-
1.4.1 Specifically, this guide is intended to be used under the
ity of Subcommittee E50.04 on Corrective Action.
overarching framework of G
...
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: E3344 − 22 E3344 − 23
Standard Guide for
Selection of Background Reference Areas for Determination
of Representative Sediment Background
ConcentrationsDeveloping Representative Sediment
Background Concentrations at Sediment Sites—Selection of
1
Background Reference Areas
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3344; 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 This guide focuses on the selection of sediment background reference areas from aquatic environments for the purpose of
determiningdeveloping representative sediment background concentrations. These concentrations are typically used in contami-
nated sediment corrective actions performed under various regulatory programs, including the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Although many of the references cited in this guide are CERCLA oriented,
CERCLA-oriented, the guide is applicable to remedial actions performed under local, state, tribal, federal, and international
cleanup programs. However, this guide does not describe the requirements for each jurisdiction.
1.1.1 The sediment background reference areas chosen using this guide will need to be approved by the regulatory agency having
jurisdiction (or they should take no exception to the areas chosen), especially if the representative background sediment
concentrations will potentially be used to develop sediment remedial criteria.
1.2 This guide provides a framework to select appropriate sediment background reference areas for the collection of sediment data
in the determinationdevelopment of representative sediment background concentrations. It is intended to inform, complement, and
support, but not supersede, local, state, tribal, federal, or international guidelines.
1.2.1 This guide is designed to apply to contaminated sediment sites where sediment data have been collected and are readily
available. Additionally, it assumes that risk assessments have been performed, so that the potential contaminants of concern
(PCOCs) that exceed risk-based thresholds have been identified. This guide can be applied at multiple points within the project
life cycle (such as site assessment and remedial design).
1.2.2 Furthermore, this guide presumes that the identified risk-based thresholds are low enough to pose corrective action
implementation challenges or that the sediment site is subject to recontamination from ongoing anthropogenic or natural sources
(or both) that are not controlled. In either case, representative sediment background concentrations are useful for determining the
extent of corrective remedial actions (when used as remedial goals), evaluating risks posed by representative background
concentrations, and establishing appropriate post-remedial monitoring plans.
1.2.3 A case study for selecting a background reference area using a tiered decision analysis approach is presented in Appendix
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 E50.04 on Corrective Action.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2022Sept. 1, 2023. Published September 2022November 2023. Originally approved in 2022. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as
E3344–22. DOI: 10.1520/E3344–2210.1520/E3344–23
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
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E3344 − 23
X1. It compares various characteristics of a hypothetical sediment site associated with a former upland manufactured gas plant
(MGP) facility to three candidate background reference areas and identifies the background reference area that best satisfies the
decision analysis objectives.
1.3 Methodologies used to determinedevelop representative background concentrations at contaminated sediment sites are not
discussed in this guide—refer to Guide E3242 for a discussion of these methodologies.
1.4 Related ASTM Standards—This guide is related to Guide E3382, which provides the overarching framework for the
development of representative background concentrations at contaminated sediment sites, including Conceptual Site Model (CSM)
considerations. This guide is als
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