ASTM D6235-98a
(Practice)Standard Practice for Expedited Site Characterization of Vadose Zone and Ground Water Contamination at Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites
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...
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn. Contact ASTM
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Designation: D 6235 – 98a
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 D 6235; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope tion ceases as soon as the objectives are met. Central to the
ESC process is the use of judgement-based sampling and
1.1 Applicability of the ECS Process—This practice covers
measurement to characterize vadose zone and ground water
a process for expedited site characterization (ESC) of hazard-
2 contamination in a limited number of field mobilizations by an
ous waste contaminated sites to identify vadose zone, ground
integrated multidisciplinary team, led by a technical leader and
water and other relevant contaminant migration pathways and
operating within the framework of a dynamic work plan that
determine the distribution, concentration, and fate of contami-
gives him or her the flexibility of responsibility to select the
nants for the purpose of providing an ESC client, regulatory
type and location of measurements needed to optimize data
authority and stakeholders with the necessary information to
3
collection activities. Table 1 identifies other essential features
choose a course of action. Generally, the process is applicable
of the ESC process, and Fig. 1 presents a flow diagram for the
to larger-scale projects, such as CERCLA (Superfund) reme-
4
entire ESC process.
dialinvestigationsandRCRAfacilityinvestigations. TheESC
1.3 Investigation Methods—The process described in this
processisalsoapplicabletoothercontaminatedsiteswherethe
practice is based on good scientific practice but is not tied to
ESCprocesscanbereasonablyexpectedtoreducethetimeand
any particular regulatory program, site investigation method or
cost of site characterization compared to alternative ap-
technique, chemical analysis method, statistical analysis
proaches. The ESC process has been applied successfully at a
method, risk analysis method, or computer modeling code.
variety of sites in different states and EPA regions. (See Table
Appropriate investigation techniques in an ESC project are
X1.1). It typically achieves significant cost and schedule
highly site specific and are selected and modified based upon
savingscomparedtotraditionalsitecharacterization.(SeeX1.2
5
the professional judgement of the core technical team (in
and X1.3) .
particular the technical team leader). Whenever feasible, non-
1.2 Features of the ESC Process—The ESC process oper-
invasive and minimally invasive methods are used, as dis-
ates within the framework of existing regulatory programs. It
cussed in Appendix X3. Appropriate chemical analysis meth-
focuses on collecting only the information required to meet
ods are equally site specific.Analyses may be conducted in the
characterization objectives and on ensuring that characteriza-
field or laboratory, depending on data quality requirements,
required turnaround time, and costs.
1.4 Sites Generally Not Appropriate for the ESC Process—
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
Generally, the ESC process is not applicable to: small petro-
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and
leum release sites, real estate property transactions that require
Subsurface Characterization.
Current edition approved Dec 10, 1998. Published May 1998. Originally no more than a Phase I ESA, sites where contamination is
published as D6235–98. Last previous edition D6235–98.
limited to the near surface or there is no basis for suspecting
2
The term hazardous waste in the title is used descriptively. The term also has
that contaminant movement through the vadose zone and
specific meanings in the context of different regulatory programs. Expedited site
ground water is a matter of concern, sites where the cost of
characterization is also appropriate for radiologically contaminated sites and some
larger petroleum release sites, such as refineries. Section 4.2 further identifies types
remedial action is likely to be less than the cost of site
of contaminated sites where ESC may be appropriate. See Appendix X1 for
characterization, or sites where existing statutes or regulations
additional background on the ESC process.
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3 prohibit the use of essential features of the ESC process.
The text of this practice emphasizes vadose zone and ground water contami-
nation because these contaminant migration pathways are the most difficult to 1.5 Other Potentially Applicable ASTM Standards for Site
chara
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