ASTM_E_2081_-_00_2015.pdf

Designation:E208100(Reapproved 2015)Standard Guide forRisk-Based Corrective Action1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2081;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThis guide provides guidance for the development of a Risk-Based Corrective Action(RBCA)program that integrates the sciences of ecological and human health risk-based decision making intothe corrective action process.The RBCA provides a flexible,technically defensible framework forcorrective action that is applicable to a wide range of sites and chemical(s)of concern.The frameworkincorporates a tiered analytical approach,applying increasingly complex levels of data collection andanalysis as the user proceeds through the process.It provides a starting point for the integration ofmultiple regulatory programs into a site-wide corrective action activity and a technically defensibleprocess for achieving“No Further Action.”The successful implementation of the RBCA frameworkis dependent on an understanding by the user of the technical policy decisions that are critical to therisk management process and the identification and determination of these technical policy decisionsprior to beginning the process(see 3.2.60).There are numerous technical policy decisions that mustbe made to implement the RBCA process,for example,defining data quality objectives,determiningtarget risk levels and addressing resource protection.It is not the intent of this guide to defineappropriate technical policy decisions.The RBCA process is not intended to replace existingregulatory programs,but rather to complement these programs.Regardless of whether a correctiveaction is specifically governed by a regulatory program,the user should consult the regulatory agencyrequirements to identify the appropriate technical policy decisions prior to implementing the RBCAprocess.The RBCA process encourages user-led initiatives and stakeholder involvement in both thedevelopment of the technical policy decisions and the RBCA program.It recognizes the diversity ofsites and provides appendixes for possible applications and examples.The appendixes are provided foradditional information and are not mandatory sections of this standard guide.ASTM standards are notfederal or state regulations;they are consensus standards that can voluntarily be followed.1.Scope1.1 This is a guide for conducting risk-based correctiveaction(RBCA)at chemical release sites based on protectinghuman health and the environment.The RBCA is a consistentdecision-making process for the assessment and response tochemical releases.Chemical release sites vary greatly in termsof complexity,physical and chemical characteristics,and in therisk that they may pose to human health and the environment.The RBCA process recognizes this diversity by using a tieredapproach that integrates site assessment and response actionswith human health and ecological risk assessment to determinethe need for remedial action and to tailor corrective actionactivities to site-specific conditions and risks.The evaluationsand methods used in the RBCA process begin with simpleanalyses in Tier 1 and move to more complex evaluations ineither Tier 2 or Tier 3,as applicable.The process of gatheringand evaluating data is conducted in a scaled fashion.Consequently,only the data that are necessary for a particulartiers decision-making are collected at that tier.1.2 This guide describes an approach for risk-based correc-tive action.It is intended to help direct and streamline thecorrective action process and to complement but not tosupersede federal,state and local regulations.It can be em-ployed at sites where corrective action is being conductedincluding sites where there may not be a regulatory frameworkfor corrective action,or where the user wishes to conductcorrective action such as sites in voluntary cleanup programs orunder Brownfields initiatives.In addition,it can also be used asa unifying framework when several different agency programsaffect the site.Furthermore,the user should be aware of thefederal,state and local corrective action programs that are1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E50 on EnvironmentalAssessment,Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil-ity of Subcommittee E50.04 on Corrective Action.Current edition approved April 1,2015.Published May 2015.Originallyapproved in 1998.Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E2081-00(2010)1.DOI:10.1520/E2081-00R5.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 applicable for the site and,regardless of the program,federal,state and local agency approvals may be required to implementthe processes outlined in this guide.Fin