ASTM D5730-98
(Guide)Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Environmental Purposes With Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone and Ground Water
Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Environmental Purposes With Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone and Ground Water
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers a general approach to planning field investigations that is useful for any type of environmental investigation with a primary focus on the subsurface and major factors affecting the surface and subsurface environment. Generally, such investigations should identify and locate, both horizontally and vertically, significant soil and rock masses and ground water conditions present within a given site area and establish the characteristics of the subsurface materials by sampling or in situ testing, or both. The extent of characterization and specific methods used will be determined by the environmental objectives and data quality requirements of the investigation. This guide focuses on field methods for determining site characteristics and collection of samples for further physical and chemical characterization. This guide does not address special considerations required for characterization of karst and fractured rock terrane. In such hydrogeologic settings refer to Quinlan and Guide D5717, (1).
1.2 This guide refers to ASTM standard methods by which soil, rock, vadose zone, and ground water conditions may be determined. Laboratory testing of soil, rock, and ground-water samples is specified by other ASTM standards which are not specifically discussed in this guide. Laboratory methods for measurement of physical properties relevant to environmental investigations are included in Appendix X1.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.4 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.
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
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Designation: D 5730 – 98
Standard Guide for
Site Characterization for Environmental Purposes With
Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone and Ground
Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5730; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This guide covers the selection of the various ASTM Standards that are available for the
investigation of soil, rock, the vadose zone, ground water, and other media where the investigations
have an environmental purpose. It is intended to improve consistency of practice and to encourage
rational planning of a site characterization program by providing a checklist to assist in the design of
an environmental reconnaissance/investigation plan. The subsurface conditions at a particular site are
usually the result of a combination of natural geologic, topographic, hydrologic, and climatic factors,
and of historical modifications both natural and manmade. An adequate and internally consistent site
characterization program will allow evaluation of the results of these influences. Site characterization
for engineering, design, and construction purposes are addressed in a separate guide, Guide D 420.
The understanding of environmental processes occurring in soil and rock systems depends on
adequate characterization of physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and rock. Processes
of interest may include, but are not limited to, surface and subsurface hydrology, contaminant
mobilization, distribution, fate and transport; chemical and biological degradation of wastes; and
geomorphological/ecological processes. Although this guide focusses primarily on characterization of
soil and rock, it is understood that climatic and biotic factors may also be important in understanding
environmental processes in soil and rock systems.
1. Scope ization and specific methods used will be determined by the
environmental objectives and data quality requirements of the
1.1 This guide covers a general approach to planning field
investigation. This guide focuses on field methods for deter-
investigations that is useful for any type of environmental
mining site characteristics and collection of samples for further
investigation with a primary focus on the subsurface and major
physical and chemical characterization. This guide does not
factors affecting the surface and subsurface environment.
address special considerations required for characterization of
Generally, such investigations should identify and locate, both
karst and fractured rock terrane. In such hydrogeologic settings
horizontally and vertically, significant soil and rock masses and
refer to Quinlan and Guide D 5717, (1).
ground water conditions present within a given site area and
1.2 This guide refers to ASTM standard methods by which
establish the characteristics of the subsurface materials by
soil, rock, vadose zone, and ground water conditions may be
sampling or in situ testing, or both. The extent of character-
determined. Laboratory testing of soil, rock, and ground-water
samples is specified by other ASTM standards which are not
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
specifically discussed in this guide. Laboratory methods for
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and
measurement of physical properties relevant to environmental
Subsurface Characterization.
investigations are included in Appendix X1.
Current edition approved March 10, 1998. Published December 1998. Originally
published as D 5730 – 95. Last previous edition D 5730 – 97.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
This guide is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D18.01 (Surface and
standard.
Subsurface Characterization) of the Committee on Soil and Rock, and as such has
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
a primary focus on subsurface characterization, including soil, rock, and fluids
contained therein (including liquid and gaseous components), and subsurface biota. safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Surface hydrology, meteorology, air quality, geomorphic processes, biota, and waste
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
materials (when present at a site) are to a greater or lesser extent linked to
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
environmental processes in soil and rock systems. Consequently other ASTM
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
methods of particular relevance to environmental site investigations are identified in
this guide, but are addressed in less detail.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 5730
1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information D 4044 Test Method (Field Procedure) for Instantaneous
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific Change in Head (Slug Tests) for Determining Hydraulic
course of action. This document cannot replace education or Properties of Aquifers
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional D 4050 Test Method (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal and
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all Injection Well Tests for Determining Hydraulic Properties
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre- of Aquifer Systems
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of D 4104 Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determin-
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this ing Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many Overdamped Well Response to Instantaneous Change in
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this Head (Slug Test)
document means only that the document has been approved D 4105 Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determin-
through the ASTM consensus process. ing Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky
Confined Aquifers by the Modified Theis Nonequilibrium
2. Referenced Documents
Method
2.1 The pertinent ASTM guides for selection of field inves- D 4106 Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determin-
ing Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky
tigation methods are listed at appropriate points in the sections
that follow, and a comprehensive list of guides, standards, Confined Aquifers by the Theis Nonequilibrium Method
D 4127 Terminology Used with Ion-Selective Electrodes
methods, practices, and terminology is contained in Appendix
X1. Table X1.1 and Table X1.2 provide an index of field and D 4210 Practice for Interlaboratory Quality Control Proce-
dures and a Discussion on Reporting Low Level Data
laboratory standards listed in Appendix X1.
D 4220 Practice for Preserving and Transporting Soil
2.2 ASTM Standards:
Samples
C 998 Practice for Sampling Surface Soil for Radionu-
D 4448 Guide for Sampling Groundwater Monitoring
clides
D 420 Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering, De- Wells
D 4547 Practice for Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile
sign, and Construction Purposes
D 422 Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils Organics
D 4630 Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Fluids Storativity of Low Permeability Rocks by In Situ Mea-
surements Using the Constant Head Injection Test
D 1140 Test Method for Amount of Material in Soils Finer
than the No. 200 (75-μm) Sieve D 4631 Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and
Storativity of Low Permeability Rocks by In Situ Mea-
D 1452 Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by
Auger Borings surements Using the Pressure Pulse Technique
D 4687 Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling
D 1586 Test Method for Penetration Test and Split-Barrel
Sampling of Soils D 4696 Guide for Pore-Liquid Sampling from the Vadose
Zone
D 1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Geotechnical Sam-
4 4
pling of Soils D 4700 Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone
D 4750 Test Method for Determining Subsurface Liquid
D 2113 Practice for Diamond Core Drilling for Site Inves-
tigation Levels in a Borehole or Monitoring Well (Observation
Well)
D 2434 Test Method for Permeability of Granular Soils
D 5079 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Rock
(Constant Head)
Core Samples
D 2487 Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes
D 5084 Test Method of Hydraulic Conductivity of Satu-
(Unified Soil Classification System)
D 2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils rated Porous Materials Using a Flexible Wall Permeame-
4 7
ter
(Visual-Manual Procedure)
D 2922 Test Methods for Density of Soil and Soil- D 5092 Practice for Design and Installation of Ground
4 7
Water Monitoring Wells in Aquifers
Aggregate In Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
D 3404 Guide for Measuring Matric Potential in the Vadose D 5093 Test Method for Field Measurement of Infiltration
Rate Using a Double-Ring Infiltrometer With a Sealed-
Zone Using Tensiometers
D 3441 Test Method for Deep, Quasi-Static, Cone and Inner Ring
D 5195 Test Method for Density of Soil and Rock In-Place
Friction-Cone Penetration Tests of Soil
D 3550 Practice for Ring-Lined Barrel Sampling of Soils at Depths Below the Surface by Nuclear Methods
D 5254 Practice for Minimum Set of Data Elements to
D 3584 Practice for Indexing Papers and Reports on Soil
and Rock for Engineering Purposes Identify a Ground-Water Site
D 5269 Test Method for Determining Transmissivity of
D 4043 Guide for Selection of Aquifer-Test Method in
Determining of Hydraulic Properties by Well Techniques
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
3 6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.04.
4 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 5730
Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Recovery relevant physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of a
7 11
Method site.
3.1.6 environment, n—the aggregate of conditions, influ-
D 5270 Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and
ences, and circumstances that affect the existence or develop-
Storage Coefficient of Bounded, Nonleaky, Confined Aqui-
ment of properties intrinsic to a site.
fers
3.1.7 environmental, adj—having to do with the environ-
D 5314 Guide for Soil Gas Monitoring in the Vadose Zone
ment.
D 5408 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a
3.1.8 environmental site characterization, n—the delinea-
Ground-Water Site; Part 1—Additional Identification De-
tion or representation of the essential features or qualities,
scriptors
including the conditions, influences, and circumstances, exist-
D 5409 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a
ing at a place or location designated for a specific use, function,
Ground-Water Site; Part 2—Physical Descriptors
or study.
D 5410 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a
3.1.9 environmental audit, n—the investigation process to
Ground-Water Site; Part 3—Usage Descriptors
determine if the operations of an existing facility are in
D 5447 Guide for Application of a Ground-Water Flow compliance with applicable environmental laws and regula-
tions.
Model to a Site-Specific Problem
3.1.10 environmental site assessment (ESA), n—the process
D 5451 Practice for Sampling Using a Trier Sampler
by which a person or entity seeks to determine if a particular
D 5717 Guide for the Design of Ground-Water Monitoring
4 parcel of real property (including improvements) is subject to
Systems In Karst and Fractured-Rock Aquifers
recognized environmental conditions.
E 177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
3.2 In addition to Terminology D 653, Appendix X3 iden-
ASTM Test Methods
tifies major references from a range of disciplines that can be
E 380 Practice for Use of the International System of Units
used as sources for definitions of terms that are related to
(SI) (The Modernized Metric System)
environmental site characterization.
E 1527 Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase
6 4. Significance and Use
I Environmental Site Assessment Process
4.1 This guide provides a general approach to environmen-
G 57 Test Method for Field Measurement of Soil Resistivity
tal site characterization. Environmental site characterization
Using the Wenner Four-Electrode Method
provides information for a wide variety of uses including:
2.3 Non-ASTM References—Appendix X2 identifies major
4.1.1 Determination of ambient background or baseline
non-ASTM references that focus on field methods for environ-
conditions, including, but not limited to, geochemistry, hydro-
mental site characterization. Other guidance documents cover-
geology, microbiology, mineralogy, and water quality.
ing procedures for environmental investigations with specific
4.1.2 Assessment of site suitability for a future use or a use
objectives or in particular geographic settings may be available
which may be compromised by site characteristics, such as
from federal, state, and other agencies or organizations. The
flooding, seismic activity, and landslides (mass wasting).
appropriate agency or organization should be contacted to
4.1.3 Protection of site quality from the detrimental effects
determine the availability and most current edition of such
of human activities and natural processes, or minimization of
documents.
adverse environmental impacts. Specific examples of uses of
environmental site characterization for these purposes include:
(1) delineation of ground-water or wellhead protection areas,
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
The meaning of conceptual site model may have more restricted or specific
3.1.1 site, n—a place or location designated for a specific
meanings depending on the objective or use of the model. For example, ground
water flow modeling focuses on the physical characteristics as they relate to
use, function, or study.
subsurface flow (see Guide D 5447), and a conceptual site model for the purpose of
3.1.2 site, v—to determine a place or location for a specific
risk assessment will focus
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