Significance and Use
4.1 Intended Users:
4.1.1 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 Reference Material:
4.2.1 This guide should be used in conjunction with other ASTM guides listed in 2.1 (especially Guides E3163, E3240, E3242, E3344 and E3382), as well as the material in the References section.
4.3 Flexible Site-Specific Implementation:
4.3.1 This guide provides a systematic but flexible framework to accommodate variations in approaches by regulatory agencies and by the user based on project objectives, site complexity, unique site features, regulatory requirements, newly developed guidance, newly published scientific research, changes in regulatory criteria, advances in scientific knowledge and technical capability, and unforeseen circumstances.
4.3.1.1 This guide provides a monitoring plan development, execution and analysis framework based on over-arching features and elements that should be customized by the user based on site-specific conditions, regulatory context, and sediment corrective action objectives.
4.3.1.2 Implementation of the guide is site-specific. The user may choose to customize the implementation of the guide for a particular site, especially smaller, less complex sites.
4.3.1.3 This guide should not be used alone as a prescriptive checklist.
4.3.2 The users of this guide are encouraged to update and refine (when needed) the conceptual site model, Project Work Plans and Project Reports used to describe the physical properties, chemical composition and occurrence, biologic features, and environmental conditions of the sediment corrective action project.
4.4 Regulatory Frameworks:
4.4.1 This guide is intended to be applicable to a broad range of local, state, tribal, federal, or international jurisdictions, each with its own unique regulatory framework. As such, this guide does not provide a detailed discussion of the requirements or guidance associated with any of these regulatory frameworks, nor is it intended to supersede applicable regulations and guidance. The user of this guide will need to be aware of (and comply with) the regulatory requirements and guidance in the jurisdiction where the work is being performed.
4.5 Systematic Project Planning and Scoping Process:
4.5.1 When applying this guide, the user should undertake a systematic project planning and scoping process to collect information to assist in making site-specific, user-defined decisions for a particular project, including assembling an experienced team of project professionals. These practitioners should have the appropriate expertise to scope, plan, and execute a sediment monitoring program. This team may include, but is not limited to, project sponsors, environmental consultants, toxicologists, site remediation professionals, analytical chemists, geochemists, and statisticians.
4.6 Stakeholder Engagement:
4.6.1 The users of this guide are encouraged to engage key stakeholders early and often in the project planning and scoping process, especially regulators, project sponsors, and service providers. A concerted ongoing effort should be made by the user to continuously engage stakeholders as the project progresses in order to gain insight, technical support and input for resolving technical issues and challenges that may arise during project implementation.
4.7 Other Considerations:
4.7.1 The over-arching process for risk-based corrective action a sediment sites is not covered in detail in this guide. Guide E3240 contains extensive information concerning that process.
4.7.2 Sediment sampling and laboratory analyses is not covered in detail. Guide E3163 contain extensive information concerning sediment sampling and laboratory analysis methodologies.
4.7.3 Developing representative background concentrations for the sediment site is not covered in detail in this guide. Guides E3242, E3344 and E3382 contain extensive information concerning that topic.
4.7.4 In this guide, “sediment” (3.1.15) is defined as a matrix being found at the bottom of a water body. Upland soils of sedimentary origin are excluded from consideration as sediment in this guide.
4.7.5 In this guide, only COC concentrations are considered. Residual background radioactivity is out of scope.
4.8 Structure and Components of This Guide:
4.8.1 The user of this guide should review the overall structure and components of this guide before proceeding with use, including:
| Section 1 | Scope |
| Section 2 | Referenced Documents |
| Section 3 | Terminology |
| Section 4 | Significance and Use |
| Section 5 | Components of a Generic Monitoring Program |
| Section 6 | Generic Considerations for Sediment Site Monitoring Programs |
| Section 7 | Types of Sediment Remedial Action Monitoring Programs |
| Section 8 | Baseline Monitoring Programs: General Considerations |
| Section 9 | Remedy Implementation Monitoring Programs: General Considerations |
| Section 10 | Post-Remedy Monitoring Programs: General Considerations and Program Planning Examples |
| Section 11 | Keywords |
| Appendix X1 | Discussion of Monitoring Program Development, Data Quality Objective Development and Statistical Analysis of Data Processes |
| Appendix X2 | Case Study: Monitoring of Sediment Remediation Activities |
| References |
|
Scope
1.1 This guide pertains to corrective action monitoring before (baseline monitoring), during (remedy implementation monitoring) and after (post-remedy monitoring) sediment remedial activities. It does not address monitoring performed during remedial investigations, pre-remedial risk assessments, and pre-design investigations.
1.2 Sediment monitoring programs (baseline, remedy implementation and post-remedy) are typically used in contaminated sediment corrective 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 corrective actions performed under local, state, tribal, federal, and international corrective action programs. However, this guide does not provide a detailed description of the monitoring program requirements or existing guidance for each jurisdiction. This guide is intended to inform, complement, and support but not supersede the guidelines established by local, state, tribal, federal, or international agencies.
1.3 This guide provides a framework, which includes widely accepted considerations and best practices for monitoring sediment remedy efficacy.
1.4 This guide is related to several other guides. Guide E3240 provides an overview of the sediment risk-based corrective action (RBCA) process, including the role of risk assessment and representative background. Guide E3163 discusses appropriate laboratory methodologies to use for the chemical analysis of potential contaminants of concern (PCOCs) in various media (such as, sediment, porewater, surface water and biota tissue) taken during sediment monitoring programs; it also discusses biological testing and community assessment. Guide E3382 describes the overall framework to determine representative background concentrations (including Conceptual Site Model [CSM] considerations) for a contaminated sediment site; Guides E3344 (methodologies for selecting representative background reference areas) and E3242 (statistical and chemical methodologies used in developing representative background concentrations for a sediment site) complement Guide E3382.
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI or CGS units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 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.
