ASTM E3344-22

4.1?Intended UseThis 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 CSMThe CSM should be continuously updated and refined to describe the physical properties, chemical composition and occurrence, biologic features, and environmental conditions of the sediment corrective action project (Guide E1689).

4.3?Reference MaterialThis guide should be used in conjunction with other ASTM guides listed in 2.1 (especially Guide E3242); this guide should also be used in conjunction with the material in the References at the end of this guide (including 3). Utilizing these reference materials will direct the user in deriving representative sediment background concentrations.

4.4?Flexible Site-Specific ImplementationThis 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 FrameworksThis guide is intended to be applicable at a broad range of local, state, tribal, federal (such as CERCLA), 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 ProcessWhen 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 (that is, experienced practitioners familiar with current sediment site characterization and remediation techniques, as well as geochemistry and statistics). 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 ConsiderationsThis guide does not cover all components of a program to derive representative sediment background concentrations.

4.8?Structure and Components of this GuideThe user of this guide should review the overall structure and components of this guide before proceeding with use, including:

1.1?This guide focuses on the selection of sediment background reference areas from aquatic environments for the purpose of determining representative sediment background concentrations. These concentrations 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 remedial actions performed under local, state, tribal, federal, and international cleanup programs. However, this guide does not describe the requirements for each jurisdiction.

1.2?This guide provides a framework to select appropriate sediment background reference areas for collection of sediment data in the determination of representative sediment background concentrations. It is intended to inform, complement, and support, but not supersede, local, state, tribal, federal, or international guidelines.

1.3?Methodologies used to determine representative background concentrations at contaminated sediment sites are not discussed in this guiderefer to Guide E3242 for a discussion of these methodologies.

1.4?Related ASTM StandardsThis guide is related to Guide E3242, which provides a framework for determination of representative sediment background concentrations, including statistical and geochemical considerations. This guide is also related to Guide E3164, which addresses corrective action monitoring before, during, and after sediment remediation activities, as well as Guide E3163, which concerns sediment sampling and analytical techniques used during sediment corrective action projects. Guide D4823, which concerns sediment core sampling, is also related to this guide.

1.5?UnitsThe values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this guide.

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.