Environmental Assessment Committee Deals with Light Nonaqueous-Phase Liquids Remediation
Information on light nonaqueous-phase liquids and their impact on the environment has grown significantly in the last 20 years. This accumulation of knowledge means that different remediation strategies are now available for sites that contain these substances. In order to facilitate decision making, ASTM International Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment has developed a new standard, E 2531, Guide for Development of Conceptual Site Models and Remediation Strategies for Light Nonaqueous-Phase Liquids Released to the Subsurface. E 2531 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E50.04 on Corrective Action.
“One key understanding is that LNAPL conditions are widely variable in terms of both in situ conditions and in terms of risk/threat to people, the environment or other receptors,” says G.D. Beckett, an E50.04 member and chair of the task group that developed E 2531. “These widely varying conditions obviously call for different decision making within the state, federal or local programs. This guide is intended to assist in those decisions.”
Beckett says that the new standard is applicable to help frame remedy decisions for a wide variety of sites, from service stations to paint and chemical manufacturing, to terminals and refineries. One important purpose of the standard is to allow for more consistent data-constrained remediation decisions to be made.
“Some states may use E 2531 to help streamline their underground storage tank programs,” says Beckett. “Some responsible parties may use the standard to make systematic decisions on remedial strategies and, most important, assist in identifying and prioritizing sites having a potential and meaningful environmental impact.”
In addition, Beckett says that consultants and contractors may use the standard to help frame their corrective action strategy and people working in brown-fields redevelopment will find a use in determining appropriate remedial actions to support the redevelopment.
Technical Information: Dennis Rounds, South Dakota Office of Risk
Management and PEPL Fund,
ASTM Staff: Daniel Smith
Oct. 30-Nov. 1
October Committee Week