ASTM_D_5995_-_98_2010.pdf

Designation:D599598(Reapproved 2010)Standard Guide forEnvironmental Site Characterization in Cold Regions1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5995;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.INTRODUCTIONUnderstanding environmental processes that occur in soil and rock systems in cold regions of theworld depends on adequate characterization of not only the physical,chemical,and biologicalproperties of soil and rock but also the climatic factors under which they exist.Processes of interestmay include,but are not limited to,surface and subsurface hydrology,contaminant mobilization,distribution,fate and transport,chemical and biological degradation of wastes,geomorphological,andecological processes in general.1.Scope1.1 Use this guide in conjunction with Guide D5730.1.2 This guide describes special problems to be consideredwhen planning field investigations in cold regions.The primaryfocus of this guide is presenting the special problems andconcerns of site characterization in the cold regions of theworld.1.3 Laboratory testing of soil,rock,and groundwatersamples is specified by other ASTM standards that are notspecifically discussed in this guide.Laboratory methods formeasurement of physical properties relevant to environmentalinvestigations are included in Guide D5730.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.1.5 This guide emphasizes the care that must be taken by allfield personnel during operations in tundra and permafrostareas of the world.1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of informationor a series of options and does not recommend a specificcourse of action.This document cannot replace education orexperience and should be used in conjunction with professionaljudgment.Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in allcircumstances.This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy ofa given professional service must be judged,nor should thisdocument be applied without consideration of a projects manyunique aspects.The word“Standard”in the title of thisdocument means only that the document has been approvedthrough the ASTM consensus process.1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD4083 Practice for Description of Frozen Soils(Visual-Manual Procedure)D5254 Practice for Minimum Set of Data Elements toIdentify a Ground-Water SiteD5408 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe aGroundwater Site;Part OneAdditional IdentificationDescriptorsD5409 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe aGround-Water Site;Part TwoPhysical DescriptorsD5410 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe aGround-Water Site;Part ThreeUsage DescriptorsD5730 Guide for Site Characterization for EnvironmentalPurposes With Emphasis on Soil,Rock,the Vadose Zoneand Ground WaterD5781 Guide for Use of Dual-Wall Reverse-CirculationDrilling for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Instal-lation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rockand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and SubsurfaceCharacterization.Current edition approved May 1,2010.Published September 2010.Originallyapproved in 1996.Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D599598(2004).DOI:10.1520/D5995-98R10.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 D5783 Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Drilling with Water-Based Drilling Fluid for Geoenvironmental Explorationand the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitor-ing DevicesD6001 Guide for Direct-Push Ground Water Sampling forEnvironmental Site Characterization3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsDefinitions of terms used in this guide arein accordance with Terminology D653.3.1.1 Guide D5730 identifies major references from a rangeof disciplines that can be used as additional sources fordefinitions of terms that are related to environmental sitecharacterization.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 active layer,nthe top layer of ground above thepermafrost table that thaws each summer and refreezes eachfall.3.2.2 alpine permafrost,nperm