At meetings in April, ASTM Subcommittee E50.04 on Performance Standards Related to Environmental Regulatory Programs initiated development of two essential standards on risk-based land remediation.

Standard Guide for the Use of Data-Quality Objectives for Site Assessments

This standard is being developed to assist public agencies and private-sector parties using risk-based corrective action to address chemical releases under the auspices of voluntary clean-up, brownfields, and similar programs. Users are highly encouraged to participate or comment on this activity by contacting the subcommittee chairman at the end of this article.

Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy have developed different approaches to their guidance on the use of data quality objectives (DQO). The focus of the DOE guidance is to develop and implement project planning and project/program outcomes. EPA guidance is focusing on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Superfund (see EPA 540/G-93/071, EPA 540/R-93/078 and EPA QA/G4).

Existing ASTM standards focusing on data quality related to waste management, are:
• D 6311, Standard Guide for Generation of Environmental Data Related to Waste Management Activities: Selection and Optimization of Sampling Design;
• D 4687, Standard Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling;
• D 5283, Standard Practice for Generation of Environmental Data Related to Waste Management Activities: Quality Assurance and Quality Control Planning and Implementation; and
• D 6233, Standard Guide for Data Assessment for Environmental Waste Management Activities.

The purpose of the proposed Standard Guide for the Use of Data Quality Objectives for Site Assessments is to provide users with information on:

• How to determine the proper number of samples to be collected at a site for adequate site characterization (necessary to develop the Site Conceptual Model);
• How to determine if the laboratory analyses are defensible; and
w How to determine data gaps that may lead to erroneous decisions.

Standard Guide for Determining Bioavailability of Chemicals of Concern for Risk-Based Corrective Action Projects

This standard was proposed to assist the user (regulators, members of the regulated community, and other stakeholders) in determining whether residual chemicals of concern can migrate from a source area to potentially complete exposure pathway. Bio-availability is also important when evaluating response and remedial action options such as phyto-remediation. Comments or input are invited.

For further technical information, contact the chairman of Subcommittee E50.04, Paul Sonnenfeld, Los Angeles, Calif. (phone: 310/470-5421). Committee E50 meets October 23-26 in Dallas, Texas. For meeting or membership details, contact Staff Manager Dan Smith, ASTM (phone: 610/832-9727). //

Copyright 2001, ASTM