ASTM E2616-09

This guide is intended for use within a RBCA process or other risk-based framework for protection of human health and the environment that is based on an evaluation of sources, exposure pathways, and receptors.

This guide is intended to identify the factors that should be considered in the selection and implementation of an appropriate remedial action to address COCs present in environmental media at the site at concentrations above the remedial action levels. The specific process used to select the remedial action will vary widely from site to site. However, in all cases, the selected remedial action should be both a protective remedial action (that is, achieves the risk-based remedial action objectives) and an acceptable remedial action (that is, satisfies the non-risk remedial action objectives).

1.1 This guide covers the selection of appropriate remedial actions at sites where a release of chemicals (for example, vapor-phase, dissolved-phase, or non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL)) into the environment has occurred. This overall remedy selection process is illustrated in Fig. 1. The guide is intended to be applied within a risk-based corrective action (RBCA) framework.

1.2 The purpose of this guide is to facilitate the selection of acceptable remedial actions and to minimize bad decisions leading to the selection of remedial actions that do not satisfy both the risk-based remedial action objectives and the non-risk remedial action objectives.

1.3 This guide is intended to be applied at sites that require a remedial action to address unacceptable human heath or ecological risks, other regulatory requirements, and/or other unacceptable site conditions. Prior to use of this guide, a site assessment should be completed resulting in: (1) the establishment of remedial action objectives, (2) a determination that a remedial action is required to achieve the remedial action objectives, (3) an identification of site areas requiring a remedial action, and (4) a conceptual site model that reflects the results of the site assessment. The risk-based remedial action objectives are assumed to have been established using RBCA or another risk-based assessment method that results in the identification of appropriate remedial action objectives based on an evaluation of sources, exposure pathways, and potential receptors. Remedial action objectives may be established using Guide E1739, Guide E2081, and/or Guide E2205. In addition, applicable federal, state, and local regulations, statutes, and policies should be followed and should form the basis for determining risk-based and non-risk remedial action objectives. The remedial action objectives may include resource protection standards and the prevention of aesthetic or nuisance impacts in addition to protection of human health and the environment.

1.4 Each risk-based remedial action objective for an exposure pathway will typically include numeric remedial action levels for each chemical of concern (COC). Remedial action levels may also be developed for non-risk remedial action objectives such as resource protection standards. The non-risk remedial action levels may include thickness or mobility criteria for NAPL. The selected remedy must be effective and timely for each remedial action objective based on the consideration of the associated exposure pathway or resource protection standard.

1.5 To facilitate the selection of acceptable remedial actions, this guide establishes a process for remedy selection (Fig. 2) that involves:

1.5.1 Development of risk-based remedial action objectives that includes identification of complete exposure pathways and numeric remedial action levels (Section 5).

1.5.2 Development of non-risk remedial action objectives based on resource protection and other non-risk considerations. Resource protection objectives typically include numeric remedial action levels while other non-risk criteria are typically non-numeric and may include: remediation timeframe, implementability, cost effectiveness, regulatory compliance, property use requirements, liability control, and community concern (Section 5).

1.5.3 Evaluation of protectiveness to identify protective remedial actions that will be effective and timely for each risk-based remedial action objective for the site (Section 6).

1.5.4 Evaluation of the retained remedies using the non-risk remedial action objectives to identify acceptable remedial actions that satisfy the minimum level for each non-risk criterion (Section 7).

1.5.5 Remedial action selection to select the acceptable remedial action to be implemented at the site (Section 8).

1.5.6 Remedy design and implementation to ensure that the selected remedy is effectively implemented at the site and satisfies the remedial action objectives (Section 9).

1.6 This guide is intended for use in the selection of final remedial actions. This guide may also be used in the selection of interim measures provided that risk-based remedial action objectives and non-risk remedial action objectives are available for the evaluation of these interim measures.

1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.8 This guide is not intended to specifically address contractor health and safety issues. It is the responsibility of the user of this guide to ensure that Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulatory requirements are met,and appropriate industry practices are consulted for guidance.

1.9 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.