ASTM E3358-23a
(Guide)Standard Guide for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Site Screening and Initial Characterization
Standard Guide for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Site Screening and Initial Characterization
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 PFAS are widely used in commercial and industrial applications worldwide (see Fig. 1). PFAS are of concern due to their documented persistence and their studied impacts on human health and the environmental. While there is no comprehensive source of information on the many individual PFAS substances and their functions in different applications, a range of resources are available to the practitioner. This guide provides information to assist the practitioner in navigating these challenges during the initial screening and site characterization process.
FIG. 1 Activity/Industry that may be Sources of PFAS Use and Release
Source: AEI Consultants
4.2 The user should note that PFAS regulatory management framework at the federal and state level are evolving quickly. Therefore, consultation with legal and technical representatives with knowledge of federal, state, and local PFAS regulations is advised prior to use of this guide. Environmental audit policies or privileges may be applicable to some of the steps described in this guide (see EPA, 2000).
4.3 Multi-step Risk Management Framework:
4.3.1 The actions described in this guide are intended to provide a multi-step risk management framework to confirm, with reasonable certainty, that PFAS may have been used at a federally-owned, publicly-owned, or privately-owned property. This standard provides guidance on how to focus limited resources on using a multi-step process, illustrated in Fig. 2, to identify property potentially impacted by on-site or off-site uses and releases of PFAS. Section 4.5 describes the use and occurrence of PFAS. Section 4.6 describes activities at government and federal installations where PFAS use is expected. Section 4.7 broadly outlines the industry sectors where the use of PFAS has been documented (Glüge, 2020 (2), Gaines, 2022 (3)).
FIG. 2 Initial Site Screening and Characterization Flow Diagram
4.4 PFAs History and Use:
4.4.1 In the 1940s, industrial processes to co...
SCOPE
1.1 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of over 7,000 manmade compounds consisting of polymeric chains of carbon bonded to fluorine atoms, usually with a polar functional group at the head. This guide recognizes that PFAS can be categorized as polymeric or nonpolymeric, collectively amounting to more than 4,700 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS)-registered substances. Environmental concerns pertaining to PFAS are centered primarily on the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), a subclass of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which display extreme persistence and chain-length dependent bioaccumulation and adverse effects in biota.
1.2 The regulatory framework for PFAS continues to evolve, both domestically and internationally. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proceeding with a wide-ranging set of PFAS regulatory actions (EPA, 2021). While the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) does not currently recognize PFAS as hazardous substances, the statute does require actions to protect public health and the environment from contaminants and pollutants released to the environment. Other federal regulatory programs, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act are being used to address drinking water supplies adversely impacted by releases of PFAS. The Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program is tool that both federal and state regulators are using to regulate the inflows of PFAS-impacted wastewaters at both publicly-owned treatment works (POTW) and federally-owned wastewater treatment plants and the concentration of PFAS in permitted effluent. EPA continues to add additional per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances to the list of substances reportable under the federal Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting program. International efforts to address per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances include Australia’s PFAS Nation...
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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: E3358 − 23a
Standard Guide for
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Site Screening and
1
Initial Characterization
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3358; 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
This guide discusses the key decision considerations and best practices for the screening and initial
characterization of sites to evaluate the potential release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
into the environment. This guide provides a flexible, defensible framework applicable to a wide range
of environment programs. It is structured to support a tiered approach with procedures and techniques
of increasing complexity as the user proceeds through the site evaluation process to aid users in
achieving project objectives. There are numerous technical policy decisions that must be made in the
screening and initial characterization of sites. It is not the intent of this guide to define appropriate
technical policy decisions, but rather to provide technical support within existing decision frame-
works.
1. Scope Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permitting program is tool that both federal and state
1.1 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group
regulators are using to regulate the inflows of PFAS-impacted
of over 7,000 manmade compounds consisting of polymeric
wastewaters at both publicly-owned treatment works (POTW)
chains of carbon bonded to fluorine atoms, usually with a polar
and federally-owned wastewater treatment plants and the
functional group at the head. This guide recognizes that PFAS
concentration of PFAS in permitted effluent. EPA continues to
can be categorized as polymeric or nonpolymeric, collectively
add additional per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances to the list of
amounting to more than 4,700 Chemical Abstracts Service
substances reportable under the federal Toxic Release Inven-
(CAS)-registered substances. Environmental concerns pertain-
tory (TRI) reporting program. International efforts to address
ing to PFAS are centered primarily on the perfluoroalkyl acids
per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances include Australia’s PFAS
(PFAA), a subclass of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances,
National Environmental Management Plan, Version 2 (2020),
which display extreme persistence and chain-length dependent
Canada’s Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations,
bioaccumulation and adverse effects in biota.
(2022), the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
1.2 The regulatory framework for PFAS continues to evolve,
Pollutants, and the European Union’s Water Framework Direc-
both domestically and internationally. The United States Envi-
2
tive (1).
ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proceeding with a
wide-ranging set of PFAS regulatory actions (EPA, 2021).
1.3 Hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facili-
While the Comprehensive Environmental Response, ties (TSDF) currently operating under the Resource Conserva-
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) does not currently
tion and Recovery Act (RCRA) via a Part B Permit may be
recognize PFAS as hazardous substances, the statute does
ordered to investigate releases of PFAS under a RCRA Correc-
require actions to protect public health and the environment
tive Action order. EPA made a policy decision in the 1990s to
from contaminants and pollutants released to the environment.
defer many potential CERCLA enforcement actions to the
Other federal regulatory programs, such as the Safe Drinking
RCRA Corrective Action Program (EPA, 1999). Permitted
Water Act are being used to address drinking water supplies
TSDFs at refineries may be subject to RCRA Corrective Action,
adversely impacted by releases of PFAS. The Clean Water
as opposed to other regulatory programs, to address the
releases of PFAS associated past and current use of aqueous
film-forming foam (AFFF).
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental
Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil-
ity of Subcommittee E50.04 on Corrective Action.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2023. Published August 2023. Originally
2
approved in 2023. Last previous edition approved in 2023 as E3358–23. DOI: The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
10.1520/E3358–23A this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Co
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E3358 − 23 E3358 − 23a
Standard Guide for
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Site Screening and
1
Initial Characterization
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3358; 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
This guide discusses the key decision considerations and best practices for the screening and initial
characterization of sites to evaluate the potential release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
into the environment. This guide provides a flexible, defensible framework applicable to a wide range
of environment programs. It is structured to support a tiered approach with procedures and techniques
of increasing complexity as the user proceeds through the site evaluation process to aid users in
achieving project objectives. There are numerous technical policy decisions that must be made in the
screening and initial characterization of sites. It is not the intent of this guide to define appropriate
technical policy decisions, but rather to provide technical support within existing decision frame-
works.
1. Scope
1.1 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of over 7,000 manmade compounds consisting of polymeric chains
of carbon bonded to fluorine atoms, usually with a polar functional group at the head. This guide recognizes that PFAS can be
categorized as polymeric or nonpolymeric, collectively amounting to more than 4,700 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS)-
registered substances. Environmental concerns pertaining to PFAS are centered primarily on the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), a
subclass of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which display extreme persistence and chain-length dependent bioaccumulation
and adverse effects in biota.
1.2 The regulatory framework for PFAS continues to evolve, both domestically and internationally. The United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proceeding with a wide-ranging set of PFAS regulatory actions (EPA, 2021). While the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) does not currently recognize PFAS as
hazardous substances, the statute does require actions to protect public health and the environment from contaminants and
pollutants released to the environment. Other federal regulatory programs, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act are being used to
address drinking water supplies adversely impacted by releases of PFAS. The Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program is tool that both federal and state regulators are using to regulate the inflows of
PFAS-impacted wastewaters at both publicly-owned treatment works (POTW) and federally-owned wastewater treatment plants
and the concentration of PFAS in permitted effluent. EPA continues to add additional per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances to the list
of substances reportable under the federal Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting program. International efforts to address per-and
polyfluoroalkyl substances include Australia’s PFAS National Environmental Management Plan, Version 2 (2020), Canada’s
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee E50.04 on Corrective Action.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2023Aug. 1, 2023. Published May 2023August 2023. Originally approved in 2023. Last previous edition approved in 2023 as E3358–23.
DOI: 10.1520/E3358–2310.1520/E3358–23A
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E3358 − 23a
Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, (2022), the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the
2
European Union’s Water Framework Directive (1).
1.3 Hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDF) currently operating under the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) via a Part B Permit may be ordered to investigate releases of PFAS under a RCRA Corrective Action order.
EPA made a policy decision in the 1990s to defer many potential CERCLA enforcement actions to the RCRA Corrective Action
Program (EPA, 1999). Permitted TSDFs at refineries may be subject
...
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