United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory
Las Vegas NV 89114
Research and Development
EPA/600/S4-84/075 July 1985
Project Summary
Characterization of Hazardous
Waste Sites—A Methods
Manual, Volume I—Site
Investigations
Patrick J. Ford and Paul J. Turina
Site Investigations is the first of three
volumes of a methods manual for char-
acterization of hazardous waste sites, in
response to releases or potential releas-
es of hazardous substances into the
environment. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency has prepared a man-
ual to provide a consolidated source of
guidance on information gathering meth-
ods, to enable field and laboratory
managers, investigators, and techni-
cians to effectively plan and conduct
responses in accordance with the Na-
tional Contingency Plan. Volume I, Site
Investigations, presents a management
strategy for undertaking an investiga-
tion of a hazardous waste site, including
the various steps used to acquire the
information necessary to proceed to
subsequent phases of removal or reme-
dial actions. These steps range from
preliminary data gathering to large field
investigations. Volume II, Available
Sampling Methods, presents a collec-
tion of methods and materials sufficient
to address most sampling situations
that arise during routine waste site and
hazardous spill investigations. Volume
111, A vailable Laboratory A nalytical Meth-
ods, outlines detailed methods for haz-
ardous waste site sample analysis and is
organized by media. Site Investigations
includes detailed guidance on key topic
areas of administrative procedures,
safety, record keeping, quality assur-
ance, data sources, sampling plan prepa-
ration, site operations planning, field
team organization, equipment, com-
munications, and contaminated mater-
ial control.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, NV, to
announce key findings of the research
project that is fully documented in a
separate report of the same title (see
Project Report ordering information at
back).
Introduction
As required under Section 105 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Re-
sponse, Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCLA), the National Contingency Plan
(NCP), first developed under the Clean
Water Act, was revised to include pro-
cedures and standards for responding to
releases of oil and hazardous substances.
The revised Plan reflects the responsibil-
ities and powers created by the CERCLA.
The following quotation from the NCP
introduces the direction provided by the
Plan:
"Subpart F of the NCP, Hazardous
Substances Response, establishes
a seven-phase approach for deter-
mining the appropriate extent of a
response authorized by CERCLA
when any hazardous substance is
released or there is a substantial
threat of such a release into the
environment, or there is a release
or substantial threat of a release of
any pollutant or contaminant which
may present an imminent and sub-
stantial danger to the public health
or welfare."
Each phase sets specific criteria to
establish the need for further action and
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progress into subsequent phases. The
phases are:
Phase I —Discovery and Notification
Phase II —Preliminary Assessment
Phase III —Immediate Removal
Phase IV —Evaluation and Determina-
tion of Appropriate Re-
sponse—Planned Removal
and Remedial Action
Phase V —Planned Removal
Phase VI —Remedial Action
Phase VII—Documentation and Cost
Recovery
This phased approach is the basis for
implementation of all CERCLA-authorized
Hazardous Substance Responses.
The Plan does not specify the mechan-
isms for implementation of the seven
phases. Various EPA offices, primarily
the Office of Emergency and Remedial
Response (OERR) and the Off ice of Waste
Programs Enforcement (OWPE), as well
as the individual States, have developed
programs specific to their needs in ac-
cordance with the NCP. A common com-
ponent of these programs is the need to
gather data to characterize hazardous
waste sites, including preliminary site
assessment, sample collection, and sam-
ple analysis.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has prepared a three-volume
manual to provide field and laboratory
managers, investigators, andtechnicians
with a consolidated source of information
and guidance on data gathering proce-
dures. This three-volume manual ident-
ifies available procedures, provides de-
tailed guidance for implementing these
procedures, and provides a framework for
assessing research needs in the area of
hazardous waste characterization meth-
odology. The content of each volume is
summarized below.
Volume I. Site Investigations pro-
vides a management strat-
egy for undertaking an
investigation of a hazard-
ous waste site.
Volume II. Available Sampling Meth-
ods provides a discussion
of available sampling tech-
niques and guidance on
the appropriate use of each
technique.
Volume III. Available Laboratory Ana-
lytical Methods provides
guidance on preparation
and analysis of hazardous
waste samples and other
environmental samples
that may be collected dur-
ing a site investigation.
Site Investigations
Volume I, Site Investigations, consists
of six key topic areas to provide a frame-
work for gathering the required informa-
tion. They detail what information is
necessary, where the information can be
found, and how the information can be
acquired. A bibliography and glossary of
terms is included, and appendices provide
examples of evidence audit check lists
and data collection forms, as well as
equipment recommendations and sample
handling guidance.
The six major sections consist of the
following:
Administrative Procedures
An understanding of administrative
procedures and legal considerations at
the outset is essential. This section
reviews personal conduct, documentation
and record keeping, quality assurance,
and site entry considerations within the
context of EPA policy. It can serve as a
guide for many types of site investiga-
tions.
Safety
Safety is a major concern during haz-
ardous waste site investigations. This
section gives an introductory overview of
these concerns and practices, and sum-
marizes some of the major issues and
procedures concerning the safety of the
general public and site investigators.
These include preparing a safety plan,
education and training, levels of protec-
tion, and control at the site.
Preliminary Data Gathering
Information is needed to determine the
magnitude of the hazard, the source and
nature of the release or potential release,
and the identity of responsible parties.
This preliminary information can often be
acquiredthrough telephone and personal
contacts with knowledgeable persons,
file searches, review of previous invest-
igations, and analysis of aerial photog-
raphy.
The objectives are to:
e determine if contamination problems
exist;
O estimate potential severity of the prob-
lems and establish priorities for further
investigation;
e focus the inspection and/or field in-
vestigation efforts on the proper areaf
o discover potential safety hazards \
field personnel; and
o develop an estimate of the kinds of
resources needed to investigate the
problem.
This section details the types of infor-
mation needed and the sources of infor-
mation for accomplishing these objec-
tives.
Site Inspection
Site inspections are important parts of
both Phase II, Preliminary Assessment,
and Phase IV, Evaluation and Determina-
tion of Appropriate Response—Planned
Removal and Remedial Action, defined in
the NCP. Inspections are usually con-
ducted both offsite and onsite.
The first objective of a site inspection is
to determine if there is any immediate
danger to persons living or working near
the facility. Additionally, the site inspec-
tion should provide the information nec-
essary for determining the priority of the
site. Time constraints during site inspec-
tions typically prevent extensive sample
collection, so limited onsite time car
often be more effectively utilized wif
other data gathering and documentation
tasks.
This section outlines preparations such
as preliminary photography, mapping,
and sampling before conducting more
extensive sample surveys, onsite struc-
ture inspections, and other general pro-
cedures. Offsite considerations include
population information collection and
land use analysis.
Data Evaluation
Data evaluation should indicate infor-
mation gaps which need to be filled either
by further background research or addi-
tional site inspections. Following the
completion of available information, the
site may be given a priority ranking and
placed on the National Priorities List
(NPL).This information may subsequently
be used to help choose a course of action
for remedial activities. This section de-
fines necessary data, procedures for
defining priorities, and approaches to
developing options for decision on further
actions such as removal or remedial
action.
Field Investigations
The NCP calls for sample acquisition
and analysis during phases III, IV, and
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detailed in Subpart F, Hazardous Sub-
stance Response. This section details
steps and factors in effective preparation
of a sampling plan, organization of field
teams, site operations design and con-
siderations, equipment, communications,
and contaminated materials control.
Patrick J. Ford and Paul J. Turina are with GCA Corporation, Bedford, MA.
Charles K. Fitzsimmons is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Characterization of Hazardous Waste Sites—A
Methods Manual, Volume I—Site Investigations," (Order No. PB 85-215
960/AS; Cost: $22.00, subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas, NV 89114
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