ASTM E3242-20
(Guide)Standard Guide for Determination of Representative Sediment Background Concentrations
Standard Guide for Determination of Representative Sediment Background Concentrations
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 Related ASTM Standards: This guide is related to Guide E3164, which addresses corrective action monitoring before, during, and after sediment remediation activities; as well as Guide E3163, concerning sediment analytical techniques used during sediment programs.
4.3 Use of Representative Background to Set a Boundary: Representative background concentrations for sediments can be used to delineate a sediment corrective action, establishing the boundary of the sediment corrective action by distinguishing site-related impacts from representative background concentrations.
4.4 Use of Representative Background to Establish Cleanup Levels: Representative background concentrations for sediments can also be used to establish cleanup levels for use in sediment corrective actions. In cases where risk-based sediment cleanup levels are below representative background concentrations, background concentrations are typically used as the cleanup level. This ensures that the cleanup levels are sustainable. Any recontamination from ongoing sources will eventually result in surface sediment concentrations greater than the risk-based cleanup level, but the surface sediment should still meet a cleanup level based on representative background concentrations, even after recontamination.
4.5 Use of Representative Background in Risk Assessments: Representative background concentrations can be used in the risk assessment process (including human and ecological risk assessments) to understand risks posed by background levels of contaminants to human health and the environment, and the incremental risks posed by site-related releases and/or activities that result in sediment concentrat...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide focuses on the approach for determination of representative sediment background concentrations used for remedial 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, federal, and international cleanup programs. However, the guide does not describe requirements for each jurisdiction. The requirements for the regulatory entity under which the cleanup is performed should be reviewed to confirm compliance.
1.2 This guide provides a framework, including specific statistical and geochemical considerations, as well as case studies, demonstrating the approach to determine representative sediment background concentrations. This guide is intended to inform, complement, and support, but not supersede, local, state, federal, or international regulations.
1.2.1 This guide does not address methods and means of data collection (Guide E3163, Guide E3164.)
1.2.2 This guide is designed to apply to contaminated sediment sites where sediment data have been collected and are readily available. Additionally, this guide assumes that risk assessments have been performed, so that the contaminants/chemicals of interest that exceed risk-based thresholds have been identified.
1.2.3 Furthermore, this guide presumes that risk-based thresholds identified are low enough to pose corrective action implementation challenges, and/or the site is subject to recontamination from ongoing anthropogenic and/or natural sources that are not controlled. In both cases, representative sediment background concentrations will be useful for determining the extent of corrective remedial actions (when used as remedial goals), evaluating risks posed by representative background concentrations, and establishing...
General Information
Relations
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: E3242 − 20
Standard Guide for
Determination of Representative Sediment Background
1
Concentrations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3242; 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 goals), evaluating risks posed by representative background
concentrations, and establishing appropriate post-remedial
1.1 Thisguidefocusesontheapproachfordeterminationof
monitoring plans.
representative sediment background concentrations used for
remedialactionsperformedundervariousregulatoryprograms, 1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
asstandard.Nootherunitsofmeasurementareincludedinthis
including the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Although many standard.
of the references cited in this guide are CERCLAoriented, the
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
guide is applicable to remedial actions performed under local,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
state, federal, and international cleanup programs. However,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the guide does not describe requirements for each jurisdiction.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
The requirements for the regulatory entity under which the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
cleanup is performed should be reviewed to confirm compli-
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
ance.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.2 This guide provides a framework, including specific
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
statistical and geochemical considerations, as well as case
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
studies, demonstrating the approach to determine representa-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
tive sediment background concentrations. This guide is in-
tended to inform, complement, and support, but not supersede,
2. Referenced Documents
local, state, federal, or international regulations.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2.1 This guide does not address methods and means of
D6312Guide for Developing Appropriate Statistical Ap-
data collection (Guide E3163, Guide E3164.)
proaches for Groundwater Detection Monitoring Pro-
1.2.2 This guide is designed to apply to contaminated
grams at Waste Disposal Facilities
sedimentsiteswheresedimentdatahavebeencollectedandare
D7048Guide for Applying Statistical Methods for Assess-
readily available. Additionally, this guide assumes that risk
ment and Corrective Action Environmental Monitoring
assessments have been performed, so that the contaminants/
Programs
chemicals of interest that exceed risk-based thresholds have
E178Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
been identified.
E1689Guide for Developing Conceptual Site Models for
1.2.3 Furthermore, this guide presumes that risk-based
Contaminated Sites
thresholds identified are low enough to pose corrective action
E3163Guide for Selection and Application of Analytical
implementation challenges, and/or the site is subject to recon-
Methods and Procedures Used during Sediment Correc-
tamination from ongoing anthropogenic and/or natural sources
tive Action
that are not controlled. In both cases, representative sediment
E3164Guide for Sediment Corrective Action – Monitoring
background concentrations will be useful for determining the
extent of corrective remedial actions (when used as remedial
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE50onEnvironmental
2
Assessment, Risk Management and CorrectiveAction and is the direct responsibil- For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ity of Subcommittee E50.04 on Corrective Action. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2020. Published February 2020. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
E3242–20 the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E3242 − 20
3.1.1 anthropogenic background, n—natural and human- 3.1.16 sample size, n—in statistics, the number of observa-
made substance
...
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