ASTM D6009-96

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
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Designation: D 6009 – 96
Standard Guide for
Sampling Waste Piles
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6009; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 5730 Guide to Site Characterization for Environmental
Purposes with Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone
1.1 This guide provides guidance for obtaining representa-
and Ground Water
tive samples from waste piles. Guidance is provided for site
evaluation, sampling design, selection of equipment, and data
3. Terminology
interpretation.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.2 Waste piles include areas used primarily for waste
3.1.1 hot spots—strata that contain high concentrations of
storage or disposal, including above-grade dry land disposal
the characteristic of interest and are relatively small in size
units. This guide can be applied to sampling municipal waste
when compared with the total size of the materials being
piles.
sampled.
1.3 This guide addresses how the choice of sampling design
3.1.2 representative sample—a sample collected such that it
and sampling methods depends on specific features of the pile.
reflects one or more characteristics of interest (as defined by
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
the project objectives) of the population from which it was
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
collected.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.2.1 Discussion—A representative sample can be a single
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
sample, a set of samples, or one or more composite samples.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1.3 waste pile—unconfined storage of solid materials in
2. Referenced Documents an area of distinct boundaries, above grade and usually
uncovered. This includes the following:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.3.1 chemical manufacturing waste pile—a pile consist-
D 1452 Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by
ing primarily of discarded chemical products (whether market-
Auger Borings
able or not), by-products, radioactive wastes, or used or unused
D 1586 Test Method for Penetration Test and Split-Barrel
feedstocks.
Sampling of Soils
3.1.3.2 scrap metal or junk pile—a pile consisting primarily
D 1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Geotechnical Sam-
of scrap metal or discarded durable goods such as appliances,
pling of Soils
automobiles, auto parts, or batteries.
D 4547 Practice for Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile
3.1.3.3 trash pile—a pile of waste materials from municipal
Organics
sources, consisting primarily of paper, garbage, or discarded
D 4687 Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling
nondurable goods that contain or have contained hazardous
D 4700 Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone
substances. It does not include waste destined for recyclers.
D 4823 Guide for Core-Sampling Submerged, Unconsoli-
dated Sediments
4. Significance and Use
D 5088 Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment
5 4.1 This guide is intended to provide guidance for sampling
Used at Nonradioactive Sites
5 waste piles. It can be used to obtain samples for waste
D 5314 Guide for Soil Gas Monitoring in the Vadose Zone
3 characterization related to use, treatment, or disposal; to
D 5451 Practice for Sampling Using a Trier Sampler
monitor an active pile; to prepare for closure of the waste pile;
D 5518 Guide for Acquisition of File Aerial Photography
or to investigate the contents of an abandoned pile.
and Imagery for Establishing Historic Site-Use and Surfi-
5 4.2 Techniques used to sample include both in-place evalu-
cial Conditions
ations of the pile and physically removing a sample. In-place
evaluations include techniques such as remote sensing, on-site
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-34 on Waste
gas analysis, and permeability.
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01 on Sampling
and Monitoring. 4.3 Sampling strategy for waste piles is dependent on the
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1996. Published December 1996.
following:
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
4.3.1 Project objectives including acceptable levels of error
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.04.
when making decisions;
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 6009
4.3.2 Physical characteristics of the pile, such as its size and 5.2.1 The date of generation could be important with respect
configuration, access to all parts of it, and the stability of the to the types of processes that generated the waste, the charac-
pile; teristics of the waste, the distribution of the constituents, and
4.3.3 Process that generated the waste and the waste char- regulatory concerns.
acteristics, such as hazardous chemical or physical properties, 5.2.2 The type of process that generated the waste will
whether the waste consists of sludges, dry powders or granules, determine the types of constituents that may be present in the
and the heterogeneity of the wastes; waste pile. Chemical variability will influence the number of
4.3.4 History of the pile, including dates of generation, samples that are required to characterize the waste pile unless
methods of handling and transport, and current management a directed (biased) sampling approach is acceptable.
methods; 5.2.3 The delivery method of the material to the waste pile
4.3.5 Regulatory considerations, such as regulatory classi- could influence the concentrations of the constituents, affect
fication and characterization data; the overall shape of the pile, or create physical dissimilarity
4.3.6 Limits and bias of sampling methods, including bias within the waste pile through sorting by particle size or density.
that may be introduced by waste heterogeneity, sampling 5.2.4 If the pile is under current management and use, the
design, and sampling equipment. variability in constituent types and concentrations may be
4.4 It is recommended that this guide be used in conjunction affected. Current management activities also may influence the
with Guide D 4687, which addresses sampling design, quality regulatory status of the waste pile.
assurance, general sampling considerations, preservation and 5.2.5 Regulatory considerations will typically focus on
containerization, cleaning equipment, packaging, and chain of waste identification questions, in other words is the material a
custody. solid waste that should be regulated and managed as a
4.5 A case history of the investigation of a waste pile is hazardous waste (1). This may involve a limited, directed
included in Appendix X1. sampling approach, particularly if a regulatory agency is
conducting the investigation. A more comprehensive sampling
5. Site Evaluation
design may be required to determine if the waste classifies as
5.1 Site evaluations are performed to assist in designing the
hazardous. Remediation efforts and questions regarding per-
most appropriate sampling strategy. An evaluation may consist mits may focus on characterizing the entire pile, possibly as the
of on-site surveys and inspections, as well as a review of
removal of material is occurring. It should be noted that
historical data. Nonintrusive geophysical and remote sensing concentrations of contaminants near regulatory levels may
methods are particularly useful at this stage of the investigation
increase the number of samples required to meet the objectives
(see Guide D 5518). Table 1 summarizes the effects that of the investigation. These regulatory levels could be those
various factors associated with the waste pile, such as the
established to determine if a waste is hazardous, or “cleanup”
history of how the pile was generated, have upon the strategy
levels set for a removal or remediation.
and design of the sampling plan. The strategic and design
5.3 Physical Characteristics of Pile—Several physical char-
considerations are discussed as well.
acteristics of the waste pile must be considered during the site
5.2 Generation History—The waste pile may have been
evaluation. Variability in size, shape, and stability of the pile
created over an extended time period. A remote sensing method
affects access to it to obtain samples as well as safety
that is very useful in establishing historical management
considerations. Physical variability will influence the number
practices for waste piles is aerial imagery. Aerial photographs
of samples that are required to characterize the waste pile
are widely available and may be used to determine the history
unless a directed (biased) sampling approach is considered to
of a waste pile, sources of waste, and the presence and
be acceptable. Techniques that might be used include resistivity
distribution of different strata. Satellite imagery could be used and seismic refraction (for determining the depth of very large
for larger waste piles.
piles).
5.3.1 The size of the waste pile will influence the sampling
TABLE 1 Strategy Factors
strategy in that increasing size is often accompanied by
increased variability in the physical characteristics of the waste
Waste Pile Factors Strategic Considerations Design Considerations
pile. The number of samples, however, that are needed to
Generation history Date of generation Analysis required
Types of processes Location of samples
characterize a waste pile adequately will typically be a function
Characteristics by process
of the study objectives as well as the inherent variability of the
Delivery method
pile.
Current management
Regulatory considerations
5.3.2 The shape of the waste pile can influence the sampling
Physical characteristics Physical variability of pile Number of samples
strategy by limiting access to certain locations within the pile,
of pile:
and if it is topologically complex it is difficult to lay out a
– size Access Location of samples
– shape Safety Equipment selection
sampling grid. Also, a waste pile may extend vertically both
– stability
above and below grade, making decisions regarding the depth
Waste characteristics Constituents present Number of samples
of sample collection difficult.
Constituent distribution Analysis required
Heterogeneity Location of samples
– physical variability Representative
samples
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
– chemical variability Equipment selection
this standard.
D 6009
5.3.3 The stability of the waste pile also can limit access to 5.5.3 When stratification, layering, or solid phasing occurs
both the face and the interior of the pile. The use of certain it may be necessary to obtain and analyze samples of each of
types of heavier sampling equipment also could be limited by the distinct phases separately to minimize sampling bias. Care
the ability of the pile to bear the weight of the equipment. should be taken when sampling stratified layers to minimize
cross contamination. Proper decontamination procedures
5.4 Waste Characteristics:
should be used for all sampling equipment (see Practice
5.4.1 The constituents could include inorganics, volatile
D 5088).
organic compounds (VOCs), and semivolatile organic com-
5.5.4 Statistical bias includes situations where the data are
pounds (including pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls
not normally distributed or when the sampling strategy does
(PCBs)) (see Practice D 4547). Speciality analyses may be
not allow the potential for every portion of the pile to be
warranted, such as leaching tests or analyses for dioxin/furans
sampled.
or explosive compounds. Soil gas sampling is a minimally
intrusive technique that may detect the presence and distribu-
6. Sampling Strategy
tion of volatile organic compounds in soils and in porous,
6.1 Developing a strategy for sampling a waste pile requires
unconsolidated materials. Appropriate applications for soil gas
a thorough examination of the site evaluation factors listed in
monitoring are identified in Guide D 5314.
Section 5. The location and frequency of sampling (number of
5.4.2 The distribution of constituents in the waste pile could
samples) should be outlined clearly in the sampling plan, as
be influenced by changes in the manufacturing process which
well as provisions for the use of special sampling equipment,
resulted in changes in the composition of the waste; the length
access of heavy equipment to all areas of the pile, if necessary,
of time the material has remained in the pile (particularly for
and so forth.
VOCs); the mode of delivery of the waste materials to the pile;
6.1.1 Representative Sampling—The collection of a repre-
and management practices, such as mixing together wastes
sentative set of samples from a waste pile typically will be
from more than one process.
complicated by the presence of a number of the site evaluation
5.4.3 Physical and chemical variabilities would include
factors (2,3).
variability in the chemical characteristics of the material within
6.1.2 Heterogeneous Wastes—Waste piles may be homoge-
the pile, as well as variability in particle size, density, hardness,
neous, for applied purposes, or may be quite heterogeneous in
whether brittle or flexible, moisture content, consolidated, or
particle size and contaminant distribution. If the particle sizes
unconsolidated. The variability may be random or found as
of the material in the waste pile and the distribution of
strata of materials having different properties or containing
contaminants are known, or can be estimated, then less
different types or concentrations of constituents.
sampling may be necessary to define the properties of interest
5.4.3.1 Geophysical survey methods may be used on piles to
in the waste pile. An estimate of the variability in contaminant
estimate physical homogeneity, which may or may not be
distribution may be based on process knowledge or determined
related to chemical homogeneity, and to detect buried objects,
by preliminary sampling (4). The more heterogeneous the
both of which may need to be considered during the develop-
waste pile is, the greater the planning and sampling require-
ment of the sampling design and the safety plan for the
ments.
investigation. The most suitable technique for detecting non-
6.1.3 Strata and Hot Spots—A waste pile also could contain
metallic objects is electromagnetics. Ground-penetrating radar,
strata that have less internal variati
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