ASTM E2020-99a(2010)

Standard Guide for Data and Information Options for Conducting an Ecological Risk Assessment at Contaminated Sites

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide is significant in that it addresses the data and information options of each component of the ecological risk assessment process, for both a screening and complex ERA. It outlines the data and information options while recognizing that an ecological risk assessment may be focused to achieve a particular stated goal. This guide is not intended to represent the views of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), or any other regulatory agency, on data collection for ecological risk assessment.
This guide is to be used by managers, scientists, and technical staff of contractors, industry, government agencies, and universities responsible for conducting ecological risk assessments at contaminated sites. It is to be used to guide data collection phases of the ecological risk assessment. It will assist in the development of the conceptual site model (see Guide E1689) and the identification of potential assessment and measurement endpoints (see Guide E1848). While it was written to assist in planning an ERA, the list also may be used in the review of a completed ERA.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended to assist remedial project teams, specifically ecological risk assessors, in identifying data and information options that may be used to perform a screening or complex ecological risk assessment (ERA) at a contaminated site.
1.2 The identification of data and information options for human health risk assessment is outside the scope of this guide.
1.3 This guide is intended to provide a list for identifying data and information options and does not recommend a specific course of action for ERA activities.
1.4 This guide addresses data and information options for the ecological risk assessment, not verification or long-term monitoring studies.
1.5 This guide lists many of the common data and information options for ERA, but there may be others relevant for any particular site.
1.6 This guide considers one component of an ERA, that is, identification of data and information options. Other ASTM guides have been developed, for example, Guides E1689 and E1848, and are being developed to cover other components of the risk assessment process.
1.7 This guide does not provide information on how to perform any of the analytical procedures used to perform a risk assessment once data collection options are defined.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2010
• ICS: 13.020.40 - Pollution, pollution control and conservation
• Technical Committee: E50 - Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action
• Drafting Committee: E50.05 - Environmental Risk Management

Relations

• Referred By: ASTM E2205/E2205M-22 - Standard Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action for Protection of Ecological Resources
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E2385-11(2016) - Standard Guide for Estimating Wildlife Exposure Using Measures of Habitat Quality
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E3240-20 - Standard Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action for Contaminated Sediment Sites
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E3358-23a - Standard Guide for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Site Screening and Initial Characterization
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2010

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: E2020 − 99a (Reapproved 2010)
Standard Guide for
Data and Information Options for Conducting an Ecological
1
Risk Assessment at Contaminated Sites
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2020; 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.
3
1. Scope and Groundwater (Withdrawn 2013)
E1391 Guide for Collection, Storage, Characterization, and
1.1 This guide is intended to assist remedial project teams,
Manipulation of Sediments for Toxicological Testing and
specifically ecological risk assessors, in identifying data and
for Selection of Samplers Used to Collect Benthic Inver-
information options that may be used to perform a screening or
tebrates
complex ecological risk assessment (ERA) at a contaminated
E1525 Guide for Designing Biological Tests with Sediments
site.
E1689 Guide for Developing Conceptual Site Models for
1.2 The identification of data and information options for
Contaminated Sites
humanhealthriskassessmentisoutsidethescopeofthisguide.
E1848 Guide for Selecting and Using Ecological Endpoints
for Contaminated Sites
1.3 This guide is intended to provide a list for identifying
data and information options and does not recommend a
specific course of action for ERA activities. 3. Terminology
1.4 This guide addresses data and information options for 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
the ecological risk assessment, not verification or long-term
3.1.1 assessment endpoint, n—an explicit expression of the
monitoring studies.
environmental value to be protected.
1.5 This guide lists many of the common data and informa-
3.1.2 chemical stressor, n—achemical,chemicalmixture,or
tion options for ERA, but there may be others relevant for any
radionuclide present in an environmental medium that is
particular site.
known or suspected to induce an adverse biological,
toxicological, or ecological response in an exposed ecological
1.6 This guide considers one component of an ERA, that is,
receptor.
identification of data and information options. Other ASTM
guides have been developed, for example, Guides E1689 and
3.1.3 complex ecological risk assessment, n—an ecological
E1848, and are being developed to cover other components of
risk assessment completed using quantitative methods, which
the risk assessment process.
relies on site-specific data and may include toxicity testing,
field biological surveys, and probabilistic analysis.
1.7 This guide does not provide information on how to
perform any of the analytical procedures used to perform a risk
3.1.4 data quality objective, n—a specification of the
assessment once data collection options are defined.
amount and quality of data required to adequately complete the
risk assessment such that a risk management decision can be
2. Referenced Documents
made.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.5 ecological receptor, n—ecosystems, communities,
D5730 Guide for Site Characterization for Environmental
populations, and individual organisms (except humans), that
Purposes With Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone
can be exposed directly or indirectly to site stressors.
3.1.6 measurement endpoint, n—a measurable response to a
stressor that is quantifiably related to the valued characteristic
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE50onEnvironmental
chosen as the assessment endpoint.
Assessment, Risk Management and CorrectiveAction and is the direct responsibil-
ity of Subcommittee E50.05 on Environmental Risk Management.
3.1.7 non-chemical stressor, n—a biological agent, physical
Current edition approved March 1, 2010. Published May 2010. Originally
disturbance, condition, or nonchemical characteristic of a
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved 2004 as E2020–99a (2004). DOI:
10.1520/E2020-99AR10.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
the ASTM website. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2020 − 99a (2010)
waste material, substrate, or source associated with a contami- outcome of the data quality objectives (DQO) process (5).A
nated site and corrective actions that is known or suspected to typical site may utilize only a small percentage of these data
interfere with the normal functioning of an ecological receptor. an
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:E2020–99a (Reapproved 2004) Designation: E2020 – 99a (Reapproved
2010)
Standard Guide for
Data and Information Options for Conducting an Ecological
1
Risk Assessment at Contaminated Sites
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2020; 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 is intended to assist remedial project teams, specifically ecological risk assessors, in identifying data and
information options that may be used to perform a screening or complex ecological risk assessment (ERA) at a contaminated site.
1.2 The identification of data and information options for human health risk assessment is outside the scope of this guide.
1.3 This guide is intended to provide a list for identifying data and information options and does not recommend a specific
course of action for ERA activities.
1.4 This guide addresses data and information options for the ecological risk assessment, not verification or long-term
monitoring studies.
1.5 This guide lists many of the common data and information options for ERA, but there may be others relevant for any
particular site.
1.6 This guide considers one component of an ERA, that is, identification of data and information options. OtherASTM guides
have been developed, for example, Guides E1689 and E1848, and are being developed to cover other components of the risk
assessment process.
1.7 This guide does not provide information on how to perform any of the analytical procedures used to perform a risk
assessment once data collection options are defined.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D5730 GuideforSiteCharacterizationforEnvironmentalPurposesWithEmphasisonSoil,Rock,theVadoseZoneandGround
Water
E1391 Guide for Collection, Storage, Characterization, and Manipulation of Sediments for Toxicological Testing and for
Selection of Samplers Used to Collect Benthic Invertebrates
E1525 Guide for Designing Biological Tests with Sediments
E1689 Guide for Developing Conceptual Site Models for Contaminated Sites
E1848 Guide for Selecting and Using Ecological Endpoints for Contaminated Sites
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 assessment endpoint, n—an explicit expression of the environmental value to be protected.
3.1.2 chemical stressor, n—a chemical, chemical mixture, or radionuclide present in an environmental medium that is known
or suspected to induce an adverse biological, toxicological, or ecological response in an exposed ecological receptor.
3.1.3 complex ecological risk assessment, n—an ecological risk assessment completed using quantitative methods, which relies
on site-specific data and may include toxicity testing, field biological surveys, and probabilistic analysis.
3.1.4 data quality objective, n—a specification of the amount and quality of data required to adequately complete the risk
assessment such that a risk management decision can be made.
3.1.5 ecological receptor, n—ecosystems, communities, populations, and individual organisms (except humans), that can be
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E47.05 on
Risk Assessment, Communication, and Management.
Current edition approved August 1, 2004. Published August 2004. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved 1999 as E2020–99a. DOI:
10.1520/E2020-99AR04.on Risk Assessment, Communication and Management.
Current edition approved March 1, 2010. Published May 2010. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved 2004 as E2020–99a (2004). DOI:
10.1520/E2020-99AR10.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM 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.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2020 – 99a (2010)
exposed directly or indirectly to site stressors.
3.1.6 measurement endpoint, n—a measurable response to a stressor that is quantifiably related to the valued characteristic
chosen as the assessment endpoint.
3.1.7 non-
...