ASTM_D_5730_-_04.pdf

Designation:D 5730 04Standard Guide forSite Characterization for Environmental Purposes WithEmphasis on Soil,Rock,the Vadose Zone and GroundWater1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5730;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(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThis guide covers the selection of the various ASTM Standards that are available for theinvestigation of soil,rock,the vadose zone,ground water,and other media where the investigationshave an environmental purpose.2It is intended to improve consistency of practice and to encouragerational planning of a site characterization program by providing a checklist to assist in the design ofan environmental reconnaissance/investigation plan.The subsurface conditions at a particular site areusually the result of a combination of natural geologic,topographic,hydrologic,and climatic factors,and of historical modifications both natural and manmade.An adequate and internally consistent sitecharacterization program will allow evaluation of the results of these influences.Site characterizationfor engineering,design,and construction purposes are addressed in a separate guide,Guide D 420.The understanding of environmental processes occurring in soil and rock systems depends onadequate characterization of physical,chemical,and biological properties of soil and rock.Processesof interest may include,but are not limited to,surface and subsurface hydrology,contaminantmobilization,distribution,fate and transport;chemical and biological degradation of wastes;andgeomorphological/ecological processes.Although this guide focusses primarily on characterization ofsoil and rock,it is understood that climatic and biotic factors may also be important in understandingenvironmental processes in soil and rock systems.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers a general approach to planning fieldinvestigations that is useful for any type of environmentalinvestigation with a primary focus on the subsurface and majorfactors affecting the surface and subsurface environment.Generally,such investigations should identify and locate,bothhorizontally and vertically,significant soil and rock masses andground water conditions present within a given site area andestablish the characteristics of the subsurface materials bysampling or in situ testing,or both.The extent of character-ization and specific methods used will be determined by theenvironmental objectives and data quality requirements of theinvestigation.This guide focuses on field methods for deter-mining site characteristics and collection of samples for furtherphysical and chemical characterization.This guide does notaddress special considerations required for characterization ofkarst and fractured rock terrane.In such hydrogeologic settingsrefer to Quinlan and Guide D 5717,(1).1.2 This guide refers to ASTM standard methods by whichsoil,rock,vadose zone,and ground water conditions may bedetermined.Laboratory testing of soil,rock,and ground-watersamples is specified by other ASTM standards which are notspecifically discussed in this guide.Laboratory methods formeasurement of physical properties relevant to environmentalinvestigations are included in Appendix X1.1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.1This 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 Jan.1,2004.Published March 2004.Originallyapproved in 1995.Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 5730 02.2This guide is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D18.01(Surface andSubsurface Characterization)of the Committee on Soil and Rock,and as such hasa primary focus on subsurface characterization,including soil,rock,and fluidscontained therein(including liquid and gaseous components),and subsurface biota.Surface hydrology,meteorology,air quality,geomorphic processes,biota,and wastematerials(when present at a site)are to a greater or lesser extent linked toenvironmental processes in soil and rock systems.Consequently other ASTMmethods of particular relevance to environmental site investigations are identified inthis guide,but are addressed in less detail.1Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.1.4 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.1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of informationor a series of options and does not recommend a specificcourse of action.This document