ASTM E3033-16

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:E3033 −16
Standard Guide for
Beneficial Use of Landfills and Chemically Impacted Sites
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3033; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Over the last half-century, environmental protection programs have withdrawn from use properties
posing significant adverse human health impacts, yet some with lesser potential impact continue to be
heavilyused[forexample,pedestrian;recreational;oroutdoorentertainment-related,concertaudience
seating] without evaluation. Assessment of environmental conditions for properties undergoing
ownership transfer is now common (and often required), yet those of historic ownership are not
similarly evaluated. This guide serves the need for a forward-looking program that allows a
knowledgeable environmental professional to complete an evaluation of a proposed beneficial use,
utilizing readily available information and her/his professional judgment whether property usage
restrictions are necessary to be protective of human health. Two outcomes of such an evaluation
include finding that the proposed beneficial use is acceptable, or a finding that the proposed beneficial
use request is not acceptable. The environmental professional may condition her/his finding of
acceptability of beneficial use with institutional and engineering controls based on actual or potential
soil chemical concentrations, known background chemical concentrations, and other approaches that
provide a barrier between a chemical and a site user or limit times of use.
1. Scope other engineering and institutional control measures) in place
between actual or potential chemically impacted soil; and/or
1.1 This guide provides a beneficial, acceptable use frame-
(2) time of use restriction(s) established at a waste / chemically
work for the development of: (1) Inactive and pre-RCRA (or
impacted site.
pre-regulatory) solid waste landfillsthatareconsidered orphan
1.3 Additionally provided is instruction on assessing the
or latchkey to be repurposed, despite having offsite migration
terminal conditions at a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill;
impacts of landfill gases and/or leachate, albeit at de minimis
that is, flows of methane below which passive rather than
levels; (2) other types of unregulated waste landfills; (3) sites
active venting is recommended, and flows of leachate of a
impacted by chemical releases; (4) legacy or ongoing,
long-term, consistent quality that is clean enough to allow
intentional, or unintentional fill placement; (5) closed, open, or
direct discharge of the liquid to surface waters. See Appendix
operating post-RCRA landfills or landfills in the planning
X3 for additional information.
stages such that materials may be placed in ways that optimize
a landfill’s use in future years; and (6) underutilized or heavily
1.4 This guide complements solid waste regulatory pro-
used (for example, pedestrian; recreational; or repetitive,
grams where guidance on beneficial usage is unavailable or
entertainment, single event) chemically impacted sites. Also,
insufficient, thereby improving the chance that such sites may
this guide identifies land usage and conditions of adjacent/non-
be repurposed for public and/or private benefit.
waste portions of a landfill (that is, buffer areas not within the
1.5 This guide may be implemented in conjunction with
footprintofanactual landfillor chemically impacted siteitself)
ASTM’s Standard Guide for Integrating Sustainable Objec-
that should be evaluated before a site use is considered
tives in Cleanups (Guide E2876-13) with respect to community
acceptable.
engagement activities. See Guide E2876 for more information.
1.2 Provided herein is instruction on evaluating and judging
1.6 This guide should not be used as a justification to avoid,
the acceptability of: (1) Chemical exposure barrier(s) (and
minimize, or delay implementation of specific cleanup activi-
ties as required by law or regulation.
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE50onEnvironmental
1.7 This guide should not be used to characterize (that is,
Assessment, Risk Management and CorrectiveAction and is the direct responsibil-
environmentally assess) a site for the purpose of ownership
ity of Subcommittee E50.03 on Beneficial Use.
transfer, although it could supplement other environmental
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2016. Published April 2016. DOI: 10.1520/
E3033–16 assessments that are used in such a transfer.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E3033−16
1.8 Users of this guide make professional judgments that E1527 Practice for Environmental SiteAssessments: Phase I
only apply to a particular site, at a particular date and time, and Environmental Site Assessment Process
do not warrant safe conditions existing beyond that date. It is E2201 Terminology for Coal Combustion Products
not impossible that a significant environmental exposure con- E2247 Practice for Environmental SiteAssessments: Phase I
dition exists at a site but was missed by the user of this guide Environmental Site Assessment Process for Forestland or
or the Environmental Professional who led the evaluation, or Rural Property
that the condition was introduced subsequent to the evaluation. E2876 Guide for Integrating Sustainable Objectives into
The evaluation of a site by an Environmental Professional is Cleanup
not intended to be exhaustive; there may be significant un- E2893 Guide for Greener Cleanups
known conditions that may not be apparent through reasonable
site characterization efforts. Further, the user of the guide
3. Terminology
should advise the site owner to maintain any Environmental
3.1 Definitions:
Professional-recommended engineering and institutional con-
3.1.1 active use, n—typically expressed as “active recre-
trols and any established signage into the future for the
ational use,” this term could be used to describe a use that has
planned, identified beneficial use. Those who use the final
similar potential for exposure to chemicals in bare soil. See
reports generated through the use of this guide are cautioned to
4.1.1 for a discussion on this type of activity.
understandthelimitsofwhatthe Environmental Professional’s
3.1.2 acceptable use, n—an Environmental Professional’s
Completed Site Evaluation describes. Compared to a waste /
description of a proposed beneficial use, characterized by the
chemically impacted site NOT evaluated (in the manner
nature and duration of activities involved, for a property that is
described herein) before a use activity is implemented is
evaluated and determined to be protective of human health,
clearly subject to greater potential adverse impacts to human
public safety, and welfare with, if necessary, specified engi-
health, public safety, or welfare than a waste / chemically
neering and institutional controls and established signage.
impacted site that is. See 3.1.24 for a discussion of the Due
Diligence Threshold of the Environmental Professionaland4.4
3.1.3 acceptable site conditions, n—a descriptive condition
for additional information.
for a site proposed for beneficial use (either active use or
passive use) using Guide E3033 when concentrations of
1.9 Users of this guide should comply with all applicable
chemicals [listed in Appendix X5 as Soil Cleanup Objectives
federal, State, and local statutes and regulations requiring
(SCOs)] are less than those listed but may otherwise be known
and/or relating to protection of human health. This includes,
to exist in surface soils, and no imminent threats to human
andisnotlimitedto,lawsandregulationsrelatingtohealthand
health, public safety or welfare exist.
safety of the people using a developed waste / chemically
impacted site,thesurroundingcommunity,and/orpublicsector
3.1.4 applicable local, state, or tribal (regulatory agency)
and private sector personnel who are involved in the manage-
organization, n—the political or official authority concerning
mentoroversightofwaste/chemicallyimpactedsites.See (1)
the use of land for public or private purposes where there art
for useful information on land revitalization and (2) for
potential adverse impacts to human health, public safety, or
information on chemical safety.
welfare or other objectionable conditions, such as odors,
1.10 Use of this guide is considered a sustainable urban smells, or poor visual qualities.
governance practice as identified by Rowland (2008) (3).
3.1.5 beneficial use of a coal combustion product, n—the
1.11 This guide is composed of the following sections: useoforsubstitutionofthecoalcombustionproduct(CCP)for
Referenced Documents; Terminology; Significance and Use;
another product based on performance criteria. For purposes of
Planning and Scoping; Site Use Activity Evaluation and this definition, beneficial use includes but is not restricted to
SelectionProcess;andSiteUseActivityEvaluation,Reporting,
raw feed for cement clinker, concrete, grout, flowable fill,
and Documentation. controlled low strength material; structural fill; road base/sub-
base; soil modification; mineral filler; snow and ice traction
1.12 This standard does not purport to address all of the
control; blasting grit and abrasives; roofing granules; mining
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
applications; wallboard; waste stabilization/solidification; soil
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
amendment; and agriculture. See Terminology E2201 and US
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
EPA, 2015 (4) for more information.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1.6 buffer area, n—ageographicallylinearlandparcelthat
2. Referenced Documents
blocks the adverse visual, auditory, or odiferous effects of
waste management.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.7 caps and liners, n—natural (for example, compacted
clay liners) or synthetic (for example, HDPE) materials placed
on the top, bottom, and sidewalls of a landfill to totally contain
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
this standard.
leachate, prevent rainwater and groundwater infiltration, and
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
directtheflowofgasestoaventingsystemontop(andtheflow
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
of leachate to the base, for extraction) of a municipal solid
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. waste landfill.
E3033−16
3.1.8 caretaker mode, n—long-term management scheme of See Appendix X2 for a discussion of the conditional expedited
a non-operating landfill in which terminal conditions for use process and guidance on filling out Form 2 – Conditional
migrating methane, leachate, and low-density buried solids Expedited Use, and Appendix X4 for Form 2 that an Environ-
have been attained. See 3.1.42 and Appendix X3 for additional mental Professional uses to identify an acceptable conditional
information. expedited use. See 7.2.2 for additional information.
3.1.9 charrette, n—an intensive planning session where 3.1.19 construction & demolition debris, n—a waste that
stakeholders(includingpropertyownersandneighboringland- includes wood, metal, glass, concrete, asphalt, and other
owners) collaborate on a vision for a use at a chemically materials associated with constructing buildings or tearing
impacted site. It provides a forum for ideas and offers the them down. This is a type of industrial waste.
unique advantage of giving immediate feedback to the users of
3.1.20 cover, n—see 3.1.32, generic cover.
this guide. See Guide E2876 for more information.
3.1.21 de minimis, adj—that which has an effect or quality
3.1.10 chemically impacted site, n—an area where chemi-
that is acceptable and measurable; for example, human chemi-
cals have been placed intentionally or by nature, upon the
cal exposure below an OSHAthreshold limit value or US EPA
ground surface or at depth, not containing putrescible, organic
concentration limit for water discharge to a river. See Appen-
wastes of a municipal solid waste landfill; includes sites with
dix X5 for a listing of chemical concentrations in bare, surface
historic, urban fill and urban land areas impacted by lead
soil considered acceptable for two types of recreational activi-
emissionsfromautomobilesandleadpaintchipsfrombuilding
ties; generally, concentrations lower than those listed are
surfaces. It is common to label such sites as brownfields, as
considered de minimis. Also de minimis are concentrations of
opposed to land that is not chemically impacted that are known
pollutants beneath a generic cover or cap that provide a barrier
as a greenfields.
toexposure.Notethataconcentrationlimitforwaterdischarge
3.1.11 closed site, n—see 3.1.39, landfill closure. to a river may not be acceptable with respect to direct human
contact; the user or Environmental Professional using this
3.1.12 coal ash, n—collective term referring to any solid
guide does not identify as acceptable, activities for anything
materials produced primarily from the combustion of coal (a
other than land-based uses.
type of industrial waste). Examples include fly ash, bottom
3.1.22 development, n—act of taking a greenfield or restor-
ash, and boiler slag.
ing a waste / chemically impacted site and providing living
3.1.13 coal ash dry management unit, n—coal ash landfill,
space, recreational space, nature preserves, commercial / em-
a material management unit that is characteristically more
ployment opportunities, agricultural products, and/or opportu-
stable(thatis,hasahigherloadbearingcapacity)andtherefore
nities for recovering value from a site.
ispotentiallyavailablefortheeighttypesofbeneficial site uses
3.1.23 due diligence, n—the reasonable, environmental pro-
identified herein.
fessional approach to research of readily available information
3.1.14 coal ash wet management unit, n—coal ash surface
and documents and interviews with available current or past
impoundment; a material management unit less stable than a
owners or operators of property for the purpose of creating
dry management unit, associated with sidewall failures and
knowledge regarding the known or likely presence of pollut-
spills into the environment. These types of units are not to be
ants in assessing potential adverse impacts to human health,
considered for any of the eight types of beneficial site uses
public safety, or welfare at a specific site that includes
identified herein. See Katz (2015)(5) and US EPA (2015) (6),
consideration of: (1) past land usage; (2) releases of chemicals
for more information.
on the site or upon adjacent properties that might be expected
3.1.15 community engagement, n—pro-active reaching out
to migrate onto the site; and (3) past placement of fill soils or
to neighbors of a waste / chemically impacted site, adjacent
waste and, if known, the origin of those materials. The
property owners, stakeholders, and civic leaders by the owner
performance of a Phase I environmental site assessment (in
of the waste / chemically impacted site, the guide user,
accordance with Practice E1527 or Practice E2247)isnot
Environmental Professional, and the Project Team for the
required by this guide, but information resources referenced in
purpose of selecting an acceptable site use activity. See Guide
those Practices should be considered. See 5.6.3 for a descrip-
E2876 for more information.
tion of the due diligence process.
3.1.16 completed site evaluation, n—the end of this guide’s
3.1.24 due diligence threshold of the environmental
process; a report (prepared by an Environmental Professional)
professional, n—the criteria used by an Environmental Profes-
that accepts or rejects a proposed beneficial use of a waste /
sional for rendering judgment that sufficient knowledge has
chemically impacted site.If accepted, one or more of the
been reached whereupon the Environmental Professional may
Appendix X4 forms are completed as described therein. See
offerrecommendationsconcerningwhatisan acceptable useat
7.2 for additional information.
a selected landfill or chemically impacted site. The Environ-
3.1.17 concurrence, n—agreement among two or more in-
mental Professional should only offer beneficial use recom-
dividuals or organizations that a course of action provides mendations until she/he has reviewed readily available infor-
acceptable protection of human health, public safety, and
mation and the eighteen considerations listed in Appendix X6.
welfare.
3.1.25 easements, buffers, and rights-of-way, n—typically,
3.1.18 conditional expedited use, n—a timely approval (that narrow but long corridors of land that are used by municipal
is,between2weeksand90days)foraproposedbeneficialuse. service or public or private utility vehicles for maintenance,
E3033−16
repair, or service; could contain buried or overhead utility centers (that is, Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast U.S.), with
systems or could be green spaces used innovatively for constituents of lead, mercury, chromium, semivolatile
recreationalspace,stormwatermanagement, nature-based land
organics, and PCBs; typically disposed without a 40 CFR Part
usage,or nature preserve land usage.
264 or Part 265 (RCRA) (or equivalent) permit. This is a type
of industrial waste. See (8) for additional information.
3.1.26 engineering control, n—a constructed measure that
minimizes the flow of liquids into or out of a post-RCRA
3.1.34 historic fill site, n—the location where historic fill
landfill (for example, compacted clay bottom, sidewalls, and
materialwasplacedbeforeeffectiveenvironmentalregulations
cap; leachate and methane collection and removal systems)
(typically, in the U.S., before 1970 to as late as the 1990s,
that may include below ground slurry walls (to block ground-
known as a pre-regulatory site) for the purpose of leveling
water infiltration or outward migration) and lined drainage
property, filling in wetlands to increase acreage, and to discard
swales. For chemically impacted sites, an engineering control
waste materials at low cost.
may include a dense grass cover or vegetation that limits
3.1.35 imminent threat to human health, public safety, or
exposuretochemicallyimpactedsoil. Generic coversaretypes
of an engineering control. welfare, n—the conclusion of an Environmental Professional
(after a site evaluation), expressed at the instant she/he realizes
3.1.27 environmental justice, n—the public administrative
that the current or proposed use of a site may have immediate
effort to question and/or prevent the siting of waste sites in
adverse impacts on human health, public safety, or welfare,
poor neighborhoods, and those of people of color. Also
including death or injury from: a) Exposure to pollutants;b)
includessucheffortstomakecurrentlyusedofabandonedsites
conditions that might pose a likelihood of fire or explosion; or
acceptable for use or continued use.
c) conditions that present tripping or falling hazards due to
3.1.28 environmental professional, n—a person trained and
variable surface features of a waste / chemically impacted site.
experienced in the management of waste materials and chemi-
See Ref. (2) and 3.1.51 for additional information.
cally impacted soils or materials, meeting the requirements of
40 CFR 312.10(b) (7); some U.S. State agencies identify this
3.1.36 industrial waste, n—materials that are not
person as a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP). In
putrescible, as is household waste (that contains a high
this document, this person is identified as an Environmental
percentage of food waste), but rather includes non-hazardous
Professional,asshe/hehasthecredentialstomakeprofessional
chemicals and by products of manufacturing, processing, and
judgments about the acceptability of how land is used in spite
refining.
of potential adverse impacts to human health, public safety, or
3.1.37 institutional control, n—administrative measures (of
welfare should protective barriers (that is, engineering con-
a regulatory agency) that guide property owners of waste /
trols) or schedules for use (that is, institutional controls)to
chemically impacted sites on required or prohibited activities,
waste and chemically impacted soils be compromised or
and deliverable documents concerning the control of leachate,
exceeded. See (7) for additional information.
methane, storm drainage, and water infiltration. These condi-
3.1.29 established, adj—description of municipal code, law,
tions may include what is allowed (when, how long, where,
regulation, or best management practice that is currently in
and by whom), what is to be measured during inspections, and
effect regarding conditions of acceptable use of property and
what is to be done if conditions exceed what is considered
the prominent display (that is, signage, posting) of such
acceptable. The Environmental Professional may recommend
conditions at the entrance(s) of the site (being or to be
such controls in her/his evaluation of a site using this guide, in
beneficially used), or in brochures, pamphlets, or programs
addition to what a regulatory agency requires.
available to site users.
3.1.30 expedited use, n—approval of a proposed beneficial 3.1.38 landfill, v—theactofplacingdiscardedmaterialsinto
a land surface depression (for example, wetlands) and/or upon
use within two weeks of a request. See Appendix X2 for a
discussion of the expedited use process and guidance on filling uplands; (n) the accumulated mass of discarded materials,
out Form 1 – Expedited Use, and Appendix X4 for Form 1 that typicallyofamoundedshapethatoftencontainsenvironmental
the Environmental Professional uses to identify an acceptable pollutant media in the form of solids, liquids (leachate) and
expedited use. See 7.2.2 for additional information. gases (for example, methane).
3.1.31 freedom of information request, n—a written or
3.1.39 landfill closure, n—the transition period (of a dura-
electronically composed and delivered message to a regulatory
tion of relative certainty) of a landfill, between the active
agency with jurisdiction over land being considered for ben-
receipt of discarded material and the start of the period of
eficial use that asks for all correspondence and reports regard-
post-closure care; often involves the installation of a landfill
ing the site, that are not already in the public domain.
cap (that is, low permeability soils, synthetic liner, gas collec-
3.1.32 generic cover, n—concrete, asphalt, or soil used to
tion wells, and piping systems) that isolates (that is, prevents
provide a physical barrier against contact with a soil pollutant;
the upward migration of) low density, discarded materials (that
considered an engineering control.These materials impede but
include automobile tires and glass) while accommodating the
do not prevent the flow of liquids or gases into or out of a
ability of gases and liquids to be removed during waste
landfill / chemically impacted site.
decomposition. Pre-regulatory landfills cannot achieve “clo-
sure;” all that they may attain is a periodically reviewable
3.1.33 historic fill material, n—primarily soil and soil-like
waste generated near 19th and 20th century industrial urban status of acceptable use.
E3033−16
3.1.40 landfill gas, n—typically, the gaseous byproduct of 3.1.50 passive use, n—typically expressed as “passive rec-
anaerobic decomposition of organic discarded material; in- reational use,” this term is used to describe a use that has a
cludes methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and
similarpotentialforexposuretochemicalsinsoil.See4.1.2for
carbon dioxide. However, this gas could also be that of the a discussion of this type of activity.
discarded material itself, such as gasoline or other volatile
3.1.51 pollutant, n—any element, substance, compound, or
liquids.
mixture, including disease-causing agents, which after release
3.1.41 landfill post-closure care period, n—an indefinite
into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation,
span of time that ends when landfill decomposition gases and
or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the
liquid no longer pose potentially adverse impacts to human
environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains,
health, public safety, or welfare to the satisfaction of appli-
will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease,
cable local, State, or tribal (regulatory agency) organiza-
behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiologi-
tion(s); may include a period of time of infrequent monitoring
cal malfunctions (including malfunctions in reproduction) or
to assess when terminal conditions for monitoring or mainte-
physical deformations, in such organisms or their offspring;
nance have been reached. See 3.1.52 and Appendix X3 for
this may include the above-mentioned materials or agents as
additional information.
wellasvolatilechemicals,includingpetroleum,naturalgasand
syntheticgasflowingasafreeproductmaterialoraconstituent
3.1.42 latchkey landfill, n—an unwanted landfill that has a
ofgas,liquid,orsolid,whetherabovethegroundsurface,upon
caretakerparty/agencythatprovidesminimallegalcareofthe
the ground surface, or within (that is, dissolved) groundwater.
property; such properties have potential values that are not
This definition is similar to that found in (6).
currently recognized. See 3.1.8 for additional information.
3.1.52 post-closure care measures, n—activitiesthata waste
3.1.43 leachate, n—the liquid byproduct of landfilling dis-
carded materials whose origin may be of four sources: (1) The site owner must take in order to maintain the effectiveness of
engineering and institutional controls that protect against
discarded material itself; (2) the result of anaerobic decompo-
sition of organic waste; (3) waste dissolved in rainwater that potential adverse impacts to human health, public safety, or
infiltrates the landfill;or(4) waste dissolved in groundwater welfare; applies to a site under the authority of a regulatory
that has infiltrated the landfill (typically at the base of a agency.
pre-regulatory landfill) that began as a filled-in wetland,
3.1.53 post-RCRA landfill, n—a landfill built to the specifi-
sandpit, natural surface depression, or man-made ditch or
cations of 40 CFR Part 264 or Part 265 (1), or the regulations
canal.
of a State authorized to administer the similar requirements.
3.1.44 legacy landfill, n—a landfill containing municipal
RCRA is the acronym for Resource Conservation and Recov-
solid waste, typically disposed in the U.S. during the 1940s to ery Act of 1976. This type of landfill accepts(ed) waste
the 1990s, without regulatory agency oversight (also called a
according to a permit, usually issued by a U.S. State that
pre-regulatory landfill). specifies(ed) what waste could and could not be buried; the
landfillisconstructedwithprotectivemeasurestolimitreleases
3.1.45 monofill landfill, n—the accumulation of a homoge-
of leachate, the infiltration of surface water and groundwater,
neous waste material (a type of industrial waste) configured
and to control the release of gases that include methane.
and protected in ways to limit erosion, airborne dispersion, or
Landfillsofthistypeincludesitesthatbeganpre-RCRA(thatis,
the generation of leachate. See 3.1.13 for an example.
pre-regulatory) but were closed post-RCRA, meaning that no
3.1.46 municipal solid waste, n—putrescible, organic waste
landfill bottom or sidewall protective measures (that is, liners)
thatincludesfoodwasteandhouseholdgarbage.Anothername
were installed, although a cap was installed.
for solid waste, known by the acronym MSW. See 3.1.66 and
3.1.54 potential adverse impacts to human health, public
3.1.73 for additional information.
safety or welfare, n—the condition exhibited when chemicals
3.1.47 nature preserve land use, n—a landscape large
insurfacesoilsatasiteunderconsiderationforabeneficialuse
enough for the maintenance of an ecosystem and/or isolated
exceed the concentrations listed in Appendix X5 for either
(thatis,fromhumanpresence)enoughtoprovideacorridorfor
active or passive use, depending on the proposed use. The
wildlife movement.
Environmental Professional may use professional judgment to
advise (on a case-by-case basis) that such an impact has not
3.1.48 nature-based land use, n—alandscapeorconstructed
been reached although one or more Soil Cleanup Objective of
recreational park feature with barriers to human entry (for
example, fencing, thick brush or bushes) such that the feature Appendix X5 has been exceeded. See 1.8, 3.1.21, 3.1.24,
3.1.28, 3.1.35, 3.1.65, and 4.4 for additional information.
exists for visual pleasure and/or the sake of a non-human
habitat; chemical concentrations in soil may exceed that which
3.1.55 pre-RCRA landfill, n—this type of waste disposal site
are acceptable for passive recreational use, as these barriers
(in the U.S.) was operated out of the necessity to discard
limit human exposures.
unwanted materials, including MSW and/or industrial waste.
Some federal, State, and local landfill regulations specified
3.1.49 orphan landfill, n—an unwanted and abandoned,
pre-regulatory waste site that has no active caretaker party / minimal standards for operation (including the federal Solid
Waste Disposal Act of 1965). See (9) for additional informa-
agency. Such properties may have potential values but are not
currently recognized. tion.
E3033−16
3.1.56 pre-regulatory landfill, n—a type of waste disposal and other structures that keep trespassers out and keep wells
site that is/was operated outside of the legal sanction of and vents available for use by authorized environmental
RCRA-type laws and regulations (designed to protect human technicians. Property owners of sites being beneficially used
health and the environment from chemical and waste expo- should exclude access to these areas by establishing appropri-
sures). This guide may be used to evaluate the acceptability of ate measures.
a beneficial use at a specific waste / chemically impacted site,
3.1.63 site use, n—the alternative to abandonment of prop-
but should not be used to designate a waste or chemically
erty that includes the active preparation of land for productive
impacted site as closed, unless a regulatory agency with
utilization, also known as development.
jurisdiction over the site adopts this guide for that purpose.
3.1.64 slope stability, n—a physical condition of an engi-
Beneficial use requires the attainment of a periodically review-
neered or natural mound, slope, hill, berm, or wall that is at a
able status of acceptable use. See 3.1.2, 3.1.3, and 3.1.39 for
low risk of failure (that is, it is constructed or is naturally
additional information.
configured to safely support surface loads with a reasonable
3.1.57 project team, n—two or more professionals (includ-
factor of safety, typically several times what is required to just
ing the Environmental Professional) who collaborate on the
preclude failure). See Appendix X3 for additional information.
evaluation and selection of a particular use at a landfill or
3.1.65 soilcleanupobjective(SCO),n—theconcentrationof
chemically impacted site in conformance with this guide. The
achemicalorchemicalcompoundinexposedsoilthatsuggests
team may include additional Environmental Professionals, the
an unacceptable condition exists for active recreational or
user (for example, the environmental consultant), the State
passive recreational uses. Soils under pavement, a nature-
and/or federal regulator, site owner and/or her/his
based land use, or other use feature that blocks the exposure
representative, and additional experts, as needed. For some
pathway of subsurface chemicals or wastes has no SCO. See
sites,theprojectteammayincludecommunity stakeholders.In
Appendix X5 for a listing of these chemicals and chemical
addition, the Environmental Professional and user can be the
compounds. The Environmental Professional may identify
same person or work for the same entity.
SCOs at a particular site for pollutants not listed in Appendix
3.1.58 readily available information, n—that which in-
X5. Note that the SCO table in Appendix X5 is based on
creases the knowledge of the Environmental Professional
regulations identified in (10). These SCOs identify bare soil
concerning the physical conditions at a landfill or chemically
concentrations of chemicals that pose a risk of cancer at the
impacted site through: a) Real-time observations; b) electronic
rate of one cancer per one million people exposed. The user of
recordings; c) physical investigation and subsequent reports
theguidemayusesimilartablesofotherregulatoryagenciesin
(including laboratory results of various environmental media
place of one in Appendix X5. See (11) for additional informa-
analysis); and d) review of documents regarding prior
tion on the creation of the SCO table in Appendix X5.
ownership, use, and ownership/use of nearby and adjacent
3.1.66 solid waste, n—discarded materials contained in a
properties. See Appendix X6 for additional information.
landfill that include municipal solid waste (garbage), construc-
3.1.59 regulatory agency, n—a governmental authority that
tion & demolition debris, coal ash,urban historic fill,andother
is tasked to assure compliance with environmental protection
unwanted materials. As with US EPA definition, solid waste
and public / worker safety laws and regulations concerning the
may be physically a solid, liquid, or gas.
management of waste and chemically impacted sites; this
3.1.67 spill, n—the accidental release of waste or chemicals
includescities,counties,States,federalgovernments,andtribal
into the air, land, surface water, or groundwater.
organizations. See (2, 10, and 11) for the identification of such
an organization.
3.1.68 stakeholder, n—a person with an interest in the
outcome of a decision to create a site use at a waste /
3.1.60 release of a hazardous substance, n—chemicals,
chemically impacted site; includes the property owner, neigh-
chemical compounds, pure substances, or pollutants that are
boring property owners, neighbors of the site, and community
observed by the Environmental Professional or reasonably
representatives.
assumed by the Environmental Professional to be emitted to
the air, surface water, soils, or groundwater upon her/his
3.1.69 sustainability, n—the achievement of institutional
Completed Site Evaluation using Form 2 – Conditional Expe-
arrangements of human actions today that are guided by a
dited Use and/or Form 5 – Site-Specific Use. Such a release
vision of desired future arrangements which allow present
maybeareasontheEnvironmentalProfessionalchoosestoend
societal needs to be met without compromising the ability of
her/his evaluation without recommending that the site be
future generations to meet theirs.
beneficially used. See Appendix X2 for a discussion of filling
3.1.70 sustainable urban governance, n—an integrated sys-
out those forms and Appendix X4 for the forms. See 3.1.21,
tem of: city planning, capital projects, operations, and mainte-
3.1.26, 3.1.35, 3.1.37, and 3.1.51 for additional information.
nance; security (police and fire protection); critical utility
3.1.61 restoring land, v—bringing a land surface to its
assurance (water supply, sanitary sewerage systems, power
original condition, or modifying it to a desired condition.
supply, and communication systems); sanitation and food
3.1.62 secured monitoring infrastructure, n—constructed security (health protection); natural environment systems
wells and vents that are used to periodically measure concen- (waste management and pollutant exposure protection); transit
trationsofchemicalsinair,surfacewater,groundwater, landfill systems (roads, bridges, tunnels, and tracks); cultural,
or soil pore gas, and/or leachate that are enclosed by fences entertainment, and recreational venues; education provision;
E3033−16
andsafehousingandpublicbuildings(throughbuildingcodes) Nature-based / Buffer Area Use. The waste / chemically
that provides continually improving, higher quality of services impacted sites include: (1) MSW / Pre-RCRA; (2) MSW /
at lesser per capita costs through focusing on key objectives Post-RCRA Closure – Operated pre-RCRA; (3) MSW / Oper-
thatvaryyeartoyear,usingoutcomemeasurementandmetrics ating(ed) or Closed Post-RCRA; (4) MSW / In-design; (5)
to identify objectives to be met and results to be achieved. See C&D Landfill / Closed; (6) C&D Landfill / Operating or
Rowland (2008)(3) for additional information. In-design; (7) Historic Fill; (8) Airborne Deposition; (9)
Monofill / Coal Ash; (10) Monofill / Foundry Sand; (11)
3.1.71 technician, n—a person with technical training in the
Non-impacted BufferArea. More detailed descriptions of these
monitoring and maintenance at a waste / chemically impacted
use activities follow.
site who periodically visits the site to perform tasks identified
4.1.1 Active Recreation—Utilization of a waste / chemically
by the Environmental Professional that include: (1) Assuring
impacted sitewherethelikelihoodofphysicalcontactwithand
that all technical settings of gauges and flow meters have
accidental ingestion of soil is high, due to the nature of the
nominal readings (that is, there is no threat of a chemical
sport (for example, football, baseball, soccer). Note that active
release or condition that would put the technician, the public,
sports played on synthetic turf are not active recreational uses
or other people at risk of harm); (2) assessing the site for
in this definition, as the focus is on potential human exposure
trespassactivityandcorrectinganyinfrastructuresystemthatis
to chemicals in soil and not on the activity, per se. See
deficient; (3) collecting air, gas, soil, or water samples; and (4)
Appendix X5 for a listing of chemical compounds and their
respondingtocomplaintsbythepublicorneedsoftheproperty
concentrations considered appropriate for this site use. Also,
owner.
see 3.1.65 for additional discussion of SCOs.
3.1.72 terminal conditions of a landfill that is beneficially
4.1.2 Passive Recreation—Utilization of a waste / chemi-
used, n—the measured concentration(s) of marker chemicals
cally impacted site where physical contact with and ingestion
and leachate markers that meet (an) agreed upon target(s) for
of soil is possible but unlikely (for example, biking, walking,
use activities [for example, the measured concentration,
bird watching). See Appendix X5 for a listing of chemical
pressure, and flow (both onsite and de minimis offsite migra-
compoundsandtheirconcentrationsconsideredappropriatefor
tion) of methane; and the absence of upwardly migrating,
thissiteuse.Also,see3.1.65foradditionaldiscussionofSCOs.
low-density buried solids (for example, glass) through a
4.1.3 Alternate Energy / Deep Anchoring Need—
landfill cap] that is(are) evidence that a landfill no longer
Penetration of the cover soil or capping layer of a waste /
needs: (1) Frequent monitoring (that is, monthly or quarterly),
chemically impacted site to establish a foundation for a
but rather annual or less frequent monitoring; and/or (2) its
structure subject to weight or wind loading, or seismic forces
leachate to be discharged to a municipal wastewater treatment
(for example, photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines, solar water
plant, but rather allowed to flow to a receiving water body;
heating systems).
and/or (3) its methane to be collected and flared, but rather
4.1.4 Materials Recovery—Capture and utilization of land-
allowed to passively vent or beneficially used. See Appendix
fill gas, or excavation of materials once considered waste but
X3, and Appendix X7, sections X7.3 and X7.5 for additional
information. found to have high value (for example, beneficial capture and
recoveryof MSWmethane,orexcavationof coal ashforuseas
3.1.73 waste, n—discarded household, agricultural,
a beneficial cement or grout additive or fill material in soil
construction, or industrial materials that no longer serve their
stabilization projects such as those involving road beds). See
intended purposes, including soil and debris from a construc-
Appendix X2, item 6 for additional information.
tion site that are in excess of need; contains a high percentage
4.1.5 Stormwater Management—Installation of a stormwa-
of food waste.
ter management practice that retains, detains, or slows down
3.1.74 waste / chemically impacted site, n—property that
the flow of rainwater into an urban combined sewer (that is,
contains waste or chemicals. See Table 1 for examples of six
combination sanitary and storm sewer) (for example,
categories and eleven types of such sites.
raingarden, bioswale, constructed wetland) and/or allows
3.1.75 waste site, n—there are three categories of a MSW
eroded sediments to settle out before entering a natural surface
(waste) landfill site: pre-regulatory landfill; pre-RCRA landfill;
water body.
and open or closed post-RCRA landfill. See 3.1.56, 3.1.55, and
4.1.6 Composting Imported Debris—Placement of non-site
3.1.53, respectively, for additional information.
organic waste and non-site soil upon a waste / chemically
impacted site, and allowing the organic waste to decompose
4. Significance and Use
while the mixture is blended and turned; site cover material
risks becoming part of the composting product unless a barrier
4.1 Purpose—This guide provides a process (complemen-
is placed between the compost and cover.
tary to various regulatory agency waste site use programs) for
evaluating and restoring among eight site use activities at 4.1.7 Agricultural Cultivation (non- or lightly mechanized)
eleven types of waste / chemically impacted sites. The site use or Marketing—The placement of soil (assured quality appro-
activities include: (1) Active Recreation; (2) Passive Recre- priate for the intended use) upon a waste / chemically impacted
ation; (3) Alternate Energy / Deep Anchoring Need; (4) site in raised beds for the growing of vegetables (that is, leaf,
Materials Recovery; (5) Stormwater Management; (6) Com- root, or fruit types) (for example, community gardens and
posting Imported Debris; (7) Agricultural Cultivation (non- or cooperativefarms);theraisingofanimalsforhumanconsump-
lightly mechanized) or Marketing; and, (8) Nature Preserve / tion at a waste site; and, the marketing of produce from the
E3033−16
TABLE 1 Types of Waste / Chemically Impacted Sites
Site Types Description
This type of site was not planned for environmental protection assurance. Prior to the 1980s (and even several
years after), MSW landfills in the U.S. began as a desire to reclaim land through the filling in of wetlands. This is
Municipal Solid
1- Pre-RCRA why many early such landfills have no bottom liner and are in hydraulic connection with open waters. Also, if the site
Waste Landfill
ended operations before the 1980s, there may not be a surface cap to prevent the infiltration of rainwater, and thus
there is an elevated risk of leachate generation and leachate discharges to surface water and groundwater.
Landfills of this type began as pre-RCRA but were closed with post-RCRA controls, such as an impermeable
surface cap, a methane collection and flaring system, a leachate collection /treatment /discharge system, and a
Municipal Solid Closed Post-RCRA/ stormwater management system. An important monitoring feature is an array of methane migration observation wells
2-
Waste Landfill Operated pre-RCRA on every border between the landfill and adjacent properties. If a methane capture and withdrawal system
malfunctions, the impact may be the migration of methane to neighboring properties, and if the migration is strong
enough, the methane could enter dwellings and be ignited (for example) by the pilot light of a water heater.
Operating MSW landfills or ones that operated and closed post-RCRA have all the required RCRA landfill features,
including those mentioned immediately above, plus a bottom liner and bottom leachate collection system. This type
Municipal Solid Operating(ed) /
3- of landfill
...