Significance and Use
4.1 Intended Use:
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 Importance of the CSM:
4.2.1 The CSM should be updated as needed and refined to describe the physical properties, chemical composition and occurrence, biological features, and environmental conditions of the sediment corrective action program (Guide E1689).
4.3 Reference Material:
4.3.1 This guide should be used in conjunction with other ASTM guides listed in 2.1 (especially Guides E3240, E3242, and E3344); this guide should also be used in conjunction with the material in the References at the end of this guide (including (1)). Using these reference materials will direct the user in developing representative background concentrations for sediment at a sediment site.
4.4 Flexible Site-Specific Implementation:
4.4.1 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.
4.5 Regulatory Frameworks:
4.5.1 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 supplant applicable regulations and guidance. The user of this guide will need to be aware of the regulatory requirements and guidance in the jurisdiction where the work is being performed.
4.6 Systematic Project Planning and Scoping Process:
4.6.1 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 data acquisition and analysis program. This team may include, but is not limited to, project sponsors, environmental consultants, toxicologists, site remediation professionals, analytical chemists, geochemists, and statisticians.
4.7 Other Considerations:
4.7.1 This guide does not provide a detailed description of all topics of a program to develop representative background concentrations for sediment. It is meant to be used in conjunction with other guides (such as Guides E3163, E3164, E3240, E3242, and E3344) to do so.
4.7.2 Sediment sampling and laboratory analyses are not covered in detail in this guide. Guides E3163 and E3164 contain extensive information concerning sediment sampling and laboratory analysis methodologies.
4.7.3 The selection of background reference areas is not covered in detail in this guide but is extensively described in Guide E3344.
4.7.4 Data quality objectives are not covered in this guide. Data quality objectives are described in (2).
4.7.5 Background study design considerations are not covered in detail in this guide, but are extensively described in other references, including Guide E3164 and (3).
4.7.6 The use of data evaluation methodologies to develop representative background data sets from candidate background data sets is not covered in detail in this guide but is discussed in more depth in Guide E3242.
4.7.6.1 Identification and removal of high nondetect values from candidate background data sets are discussed in detail in Guide E3242.
4.7.6.2 Identification and removal of outliers from candidate background data sets are discussed in detail in Practice E178, as well as Guide E3242.
4.7.6.3 Geochemical and chemical forensic methodologies used in evaluating candidate background data sets to obtain representative background data sets are discussed in detail in Guide E3242; their applications during background reference area selection are discussed in Guide E3344.
4.7.7 The use of statistical methods to develop BTVs from representative background data sets are discussed in detail in Guide E3242.
4.7.8 The use of statistical methods to compare representative background data sets to the sediment site data sets are discussed in detail in Guide E3242.
4.7.9 Geospatial analysis considerations are not thoroughly discussed in this guidance but are discussed in more depth relative to environmental evaluations in (4), which focuses on quality assurance concerns relative to geospatial analyses.
4.7.10 In this guide, “sediment” (3.1.8) 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.
4.7.11 In this guide, only COC concentrations are considered. Residual background radioactivity is out of scope.
4.8 Structure and Components of This Guide—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 | Overview of Representative Background Concentrations for Sediment at Sediment Sites |
| Section 6 | Framework for Developing Representative Background Concentrations for Sediment at Sediment Sites |
| Section 7 | Conceptual Site Model Considerations When Developing Representative Background Concentrations for Sediment at Sediment Sites |
| Section 8 | Keywords |
| References |
|
Scope
1.1 This guide provides an overarching framework for the development of representative background concentrations for sediment at contaminated sediment sites. It is intended to inform, complement, and support (but not supersede) the requirements or guidelines established by local, state, tribal, federal, or international agencies.
1.2 Technically defensible representative background concentrations for sediment are critical for several purposes (Guide E3242) (1)2. These include sediment site delineation, establishing remedial goals, remedy selection, assessment of risks posed by representative background concentrations, and establishing appropriate post-remedial monitoring plans.
1.3 As part of the overall framework presented in this guide, Guide E3240 provides a general discussion of how Conceptual Site Model (CSM) development fits into the risk-based corrective action framework for contaminated sediment sites. However, not all elements of a CSM need to be considered when developing representative background concentrations for sediment at a sediment site; those that do are discussed in detail in Section 7 of this guide.
1.3.1 As additional data are collected and analyzed, the sediment site CSM should be updated as needed.
1.3.2 This guide is related to several other guides. Guide E3344 describes how to select appropriate background reference areas. Guide E3164 covers the sampling methodologies used in the field to obtain sediment samples (whether from the sediment site or background reference areas), and Guide E3163 discusses appropriate laboratory methodologies to use for the chemical analysis of potential contaminants of concern (PCOCs) in sediment samples. Guide E3242 describes how to evaluate candidate background data sets (including the use of statistical, geochemical, and chemical forensic methodologies) to obtain representative background data sets and then how to use these data sets to develop representative background concentrations for sediment. Relevant content contained in Guides E3163, E3164, E3242, and E3344 is summarized herein, but the individual guides should be consulted for more detailed coverage of these topics.
1.4 Representative background concentrations for sediment 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 existing background requirements or guidance for each jurisdiction. The requirements for the regulatory entity under which the corrective action is being performed should be reviewed to confirm compliance.
1.5 This guide would optimally be applied at the start of any sediment corrective action program but can be used at other points in the program as well.
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.
