Standard Guide for Sampling Waste Piles

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide is intended to provide guidance for sampling waste piles. It can be used to obtain samples for waste characterization related to use, treatment, or disposal; to monitor an active pile; to prepare for closure of the waste pile; or to investigate the contents of an abandoned pile.
Techniques used to sample include both in-place evaluations of the pile and physically removing a sample. In-place evaluations include techniques such as remote sensing, on-site gas analysis, and permeability.  
Sampling strategy for waste piles is dependent on the following:
4.3.1 Project objectives including acceptable levels of error when making decisions;
4.3.2 Physical characteristics of the pile, such as its size and configuration, access to all parts of it, and the stability of the pile;
4.3.3 Process that generated the waste and the waste characteristics, such as hazardous chemical or physical properties, whether the waste consists of sludges, dry powders or granules, and the heterogeneity of the wastes;
4.3.4 History of the pile, including dates of generation, methods of handling and transport, and current management methods;
4.3.5 Regulatory considerations, such as regulatory classification and characterization data;
4.3.6 Limits and bias of sampling methods, including bias that may be introduced by waste heterogeneity, sampling design, and sampling equipment.
It is recommended that this guide be used in conjunction with Guide D 4687, which addresses sampling design, quality assurance, general sampling considerations, preservation and containerization, cleaning equipment, packaging, and chain of custody.
A case history of the investigation of a waste pile is included in Appendix X1.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides guidance for obtaining representative samples from waste piles. Guidance is provided for site evaluation, sampling design, selection of equipment, and data interpretation.
1.2 Waste piles include areas used primarily for waste storage or disposal, including above-grade dry land disposal units. This guide can be applied to sampling municipal waste piles.
1.3 This guide addresses how the choice of sampling design and sampling methods depends on specific features of the pile.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
31-Jan-2006
Technical Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

Relations

Buy Standard

Guide
ASTM D6009-96(2006) - Standard Guide for Sampling Waste Piles
English language
11 pages
sale 15% off
Preview
sale 15% off
Preview

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: D6009 – 96 (Reapproved 2006)
Standard Guide for
Sampling Waste Piles
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6009; 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 D5314 Guide for Soil Gas Monitoring in the Vadose Zone
D5451 Practice for Sampling Using a Trier Sampler
1.1 This guide provides guidance for obtaining representa-
D5518 Guide for Acquisition of File Aerial Photography
tive samples from waste piles. Guidance is provided for site
and Imagery for Establishing Historic Site-Use and Surfi-
evaluation, sampling design, selection of equipment, and data
cial Conditions
interpretation.
D5730 Guide for Site Characterization for Environmental
1.2 Waste piles include areas used primarily for waste
Purposes With Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone
storage or disposal, including above-grade dry land disposal
and Ground Water
units. This guide can be applied to sampling municipal waste
piles.
3. Terminology
1.3 This guide addresses how the choice of sampling design
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
and sampling methods depends on specific features of the pile.
3.1.1 hot spots—strata that contain high concentrations of
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
the characteristic of interest and are relatively small in size
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
when compared with the total size of the materials being
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
sampled.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.2 representative sample—a sample collected such that it
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
reflects one or more characteristics of interest (as defined by
2. Referenced Documents the project objectives) of the population from which it was
collected.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Arepresentativesamplecanbeasingle
D1452 PracticeforSoilExplorationandSamplingbyAuger
sample, a set of samples, or one or more composite samples.
Borings
3.1.3 waste pile—unconfined storage of solid materials in
D1586 Test Method for Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-
an area of distinct boundaries, above grade and usually
Barrel Sampling of Soils
uncovered. This includes the following:
D1587 Practice forThin-WalledTube Sampling of Soils for
3.1.3.1 chemical manufacturing waste pile—a pile consist-
Geotechnical Purposes
ing primarily of discarded chemical products (whether market-
D4547 Guide for Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile
ableornot),by-products,radioactivewastes,orusedorunused
Organic Compounds
feedstocks.
D4687 Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling
3.1.3.2 scrap metal or junk pile—a pile consisting primarily
D4700 Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone
of scrap metal or discarded durable goods such as appliances,
D4823 Guide for Core Sampling Submerged, Unconsoli-
automobiles, auto parts, or batteries.
dated Sediments
3.1.3.3 trash pile—a pile of waste materials from municipal
D5088 Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment
sources, consisting primarily of paper, garbage, or discarded
Used at Waste Sites
nondurable goods that contain or have contained hazardous
substances. It does not include waste destined for recyclers.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.01 on
4. Significance and Use
Planning for Sampling.
4.1 This guide is intended to provide guidance for sampling
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2006. Published March 2006. Originally
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D6009 - 96(2001). waste piles. It can be used to obtain samples for waste
DOI: 10.1520/D6009-96R06.
characterization related to use, treatment, or disposal; to
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
monitor an active pile; to prepare for closure of the waste pile;
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
or to investigate the contents of an abandoned pile.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D6009 – 96 (2006)
4.2 Techniques used to sample include both in-place evalu- 5.2 Generation History—The waste pile may have been
ations of the pile and physically removing a sample. In-place createdoveranextendedtimeperiod.Aremotesensingmethod
evaluations include techniques such as remote sensing, on-site that is very useful in establishing historical management
gas analysis, and permeability. practices for waste piles is aerial imagery. Aerial photographs
4.3 Sampling strategy for waste piles is dependent on the are widely available and may be used to determine the history
following: of a waste pile, sources of waste, and the presence and
4.3.1 Project objectives including acceptable levels of error distribution of different strata. Satellite imagery could be used
when making decisions; for larger waste piles.
4.3.2 Physical characteristics of the pile, such as its size and
5.2.1 Thedateofgenerationcouldbeimportantwithrespect
configuration, access to all parts of it, and the stability of the to the types of processes that generated the waste, the charac-
pile;
teristics of the waste, the distribution of the constituents, and
4.3.3 Process that generated the waste and the waste char- regulatory concerns.
acteristics, such as hazardous chemical or physical properties,
5.2.2 The type of process that generated the waste will
whetherthewasteconsistsofsludges,drypowdersorgranules,
determine the types of constituents that may be present in the
and the heterogeneity of the wastes;
waste pile. Chemical variability will influence the number of
4.3.4 History of the pile, including dates of generation,
samples that are required to characterize the waste pile unless
methods of handling and transport, and current management
a directed (biased) sampling approach is acceptable.
methods;
5.2.3 The delivery method of the material to the waste pile
4.3.5 Regulatory considerations, such as regulatory classi-
could influence the concentrations of the constituents, affect
fication and characterization data;
the overall shape of the pile, or create physical dissimilarity
4.3.6 Limits and bias of sampling methods, including bias
withinthewastepilethroughsortingbyparticlesizeordensity.
that may be introduced by waste heterogeneity, sampling
5.2.4 If the pile is under current management and use, the
design, and sampling equipment.
variability in constituent types and concentrations may be
4.4 Itisrecommendedthatthisguidebeusedinconjunction
affected. Current management activities also may influence the
with Guide D4687, which addresses sampling design, quality
regulatory status of the waste pile.
assurance, general sampling considerations, preservation and
5.2.5 Regulatory considerations will typically focus on
containerization, cleaning equipment, packaging, and chain of
waste identification questions, in other words is the material a
custody.
solid waste that should be regulated and managed as a
4.5 A case history of the investigation of a waste pile is 3
hazardous waste (1). This may involve a limited, directed
included in Appendix X1.
sampling approach, particularly if a regulatory agency is
conducting the investigation.Amore comprehensive sampling
5. Site Evaluation
design may be required to determine if the waste classifies as
5.1 Site evaluations are performed to assist in designing the
hazardous. Remediation efforts and questions regarding per-
most appropriate sampling strategy.An evaluation may consist
mitsmayfocusoncharacterizingtheentirepile,possiblyasthe
of on-site surveys and inspections, as well as a review of
removal of material is occurring. It should be noted that
historical data. Nonintrusive geophysical and remote sensing
concentrations of contaminants near regulatory levels may
methodsareparticularlyusefulatthisstageoftheinvestigation
increase the number of samples required to meet the objectives
(seeGuideD5518).Table1summarizestheeffectsthatvarious
of the investigation. These regulatory levels could be those
factors associated with the waste pile, such as the history of
established to determine if a waste is hazardous, or “cleanup”
how the pile was generated, have upon the strategy and design
levels set for a removal or remediation.
of the sampling plan. The strategic and design considerations
5.3 Physical Characteristics of Pile— Several physical
are discussed as well.
characteristics of the waste pile must be considered during the
site evaluation. Variability in size, shape, and stability of the
TABLE 1 Strategy Factors
pile affects access to it to obtain samples as well as safety
Waste Pile Factors Strategic Considerations Design Considerations
considerations. Physical variability will influence the number
Generation history Date of generation Analysis required
of samples that are required to characterize the waste pile
Types of processes Location of samples
unless a directed (biased) sampling approach is considered to
Characteristics by process
Delivery method
beacceptable.Techniquesthatmightbeusedincluderesistivity
Current management
and seismic refraction (for determining the depth of very large
Regulatory considerations
piles).
Physical characteristics Physical variability of pile Number of samples
of pile:
5.3.1 The size of the waste pile will influence the sampling
– size Access Location of samples
strategy in that increasing size is often accompanied by
– shape Safety Equipment selection
increased variability in the physical characteristics of the waste
– stability
Waste characteristics Constituents present Number of samples
pile. The number of samples, however, that are needed to
Constituent distribution Analysis required
Heterogeneity Location of samples
– physical variability Representative
samples
– chemical variability Equipment selection The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
this standard.
D6009 – 96 (2006)
characterizeawastepileadequatelywilltypicallybeafunction equipment could alter the characteristics of the sample. Some
of the study objectives as well as the inherent variability of the equipment will bias against the collection of certain particles
pile. sizes, and some equipment cannot penetrate the waste pile
adequately.
5.3.2 Theshapeofthewastepilecaninfluencethesampling
5.5.2 Equipment, use, and operation can introduce error
strategy by limiting access to certain locations within the pile,
(bias) into the characterization of a waste pile. Sampling errors
and if it is topologically complex it is difficult to lay out a
typically are caused when certain particle sizes are excluded,
sampling grid. Also, a waste pile may extend vertically both
when a segment of the waste pile is not sampled, or when a
above and below grade, making decisions regarding the depth
location outside the pile is inadvertently sampled.
of sample collection difficult.
5.5.3 When stratification, layering, or solid phasing occurs
5.3.3 The stability of the waste pile also can limit access to
it may be necessary to obtain and analyze samples of each of
both the face and the interior of the pile. The use of certain
the distinct phases separately to minimize sampling bias. Care
types of heavier sampling equipment also could be limited by
should be taken when sampling stratified layers to minimize
the ability of the pile to bear the weight of the equipment.
cross contamination. Proper decontamination procedures
5.4 Waste Characteristics:
should be used for all sampling equipment (see Practice
5.4.1 The constituents could include inorganics, volatile
D5088).
organic compounds (VOCs), and semivolatile organic com-
5.5.4 Statistical bias includes situations where the data are
pounds (including pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls
not normally distributed or when the sampling strategy does
(PCBs)) (see Practice D4547). Speciality analyses may be
not allow the potential for every portion of the pile to be
warranted, such as leaching tests or analyses for dioxin/furans
sampled.
or explosive compounds. Soil gas sampling is a minimally
intrusive technique that may detect the presence and distribu-
6. Sampling Strategy
tion of volatile organic compounds in soils and in porous,
6.1 Developing a strategy for sampling a waste pile requires
unconsolidated materials.Appropriate applications for soil gas
a thorough examination of the site evaluation factors listed in
monitoring are identified in Guide D5314.
Section 5. The location and frequency of sampling (number of
5.4.2 The distribution of constituents in the waste pile could
samples) should be outlined clearly in the sampling plan, as
be influenced by changes in the manufacturing process which
well as provisions for the use of special sampling equipment,
resulted in changes in the composition of the waste; the length
access of heavy equipment to all areas of the pile, if necessary,
of time the material has remained in the pile (particularly for
and so forth.
VOCs); the mode of delivery of the waste materials to the pile;
6.1.1 Representative Sampling—The collection of a repre-
and management practices, such as mixing together wastes
sentative set of samples from a waste pile typically will be
from more than one process.
complicated by the presence of a number of the site evaluation
5.4.3 Physical and chemical variabilities would include
factors (2,3).
variabilityinthechemicalcharacteristicsofthematerialwithin
6.1.2 Heterogeneous Wastes—Waste piles may be homoge-
thepile,aswellasvariabilityinparticlesize,density,hardness,
neous, for applied purposes, or may be quite heterogeneous in
whether brittle or flexible, moisture content, consolidated, or
particle size and contaminant distribution. If the particle sizes
unconsolidated. The variability may be random or found as
of the material in the waste pile and the distribution of
strata of materials having different properties or containing
contaminants are known, or can be estimated, then less
different types or concentrations of constituents.
sampling may be necessary to define the properties of interest
5.4.3.1 Geophysicalsurveymethodsmaybeusedonpilesto
in the waste pile.An estimate of the variability in contaminant
estimate physical homogeneity, which may or may not be
distribution may be based on proce
...

Questions, Comments and Discussion

Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.