ASTM E1943-98

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E 1943 – 98
Standard Guide for
Remediation of Ground Water by Natural Attenuation at
Petroleum Release Sites
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1943; 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 1.3.2 Secondary lines of evidence for remediation by natu-
ral attenuation are provided by geochemical indicators of
1.1 This is a guide for determining the appropriateness of
naturally occurring degradation and estimates of attenuation
remediation by natural attenuation and implementing remedia-
rates.
tion by natural attenuation at a given petroleum release site,
1.3.3 Additional optional lines of evidence can be provided
either as a stand alone remedial action or in combination with
by microbiological information and further analysis of primary
other remedial actions.
and secondary lines of evidence such as through solute
1.2 Natural attenuation is a potential remediation alternative
transport modeling or estimates of assimilative capacity.
for containment and reduction of the mass and concentration of
1.4 The emphasis in this guide is on the use of remediation
petroleum hydrocarbons in the environment to protect human
by natural attenuation for petroleum hydrocarbon constituents
health and the environment. Remediation by natural attenua-
where ground water is impacted. Though soil and ground water
tion depends upon natural processes such as biodegradation,
impacts are often linked, this guide does not address natural
dispersion, dilution, volatilization, hydrolysis, and sorption to
attenuation in soils separate from ground water or in situations
attenuate petroleum constituents of concern to achieve reme-
where soils containing constituents of concern exist without an
dial goals.
associated ground water impact. Even if natural attenuation is
NOTE 1—Remedial goals must be established through another process
selected as the remedial action for ground water, additional
as determined by the appropriate regulatory agency.
remedial action may be necessary to address other completed
1.3 In general, remediation by natural attenuation should
exposure pathways at the site.
not be considered a presumptive remedy. A determination of
1.5 This guide does not address enhanced bioremediation or
whether remediation by natural attenuation is appropriate for
enhanced attenuation.
an individual petroleum release site, relative to site-specific
1.6 Also, while much of what is discussed is relevant to
remedial goals, requires site characterization, assessment of
other organic chemicals or constituents of concern, these
potential risks, evaluation of the need for source area control,
situations will involve additional considerations not addressed
and evaluation of potential effectiveness similar to other
in this guide.
remedial action technologies. Application and implementation
1.7 The guide is organized as follows:
of remediation by natural attenuation requires demonstration of
1.7.1 Section 2 lists referenced documents.
remedial progress and attainment of remedial goals by use of
1.7.2 Section 3 defines terminology used in this guide.
converging lines of evidence obtained through monitoring and
1.7.3 Section 4 describes the significance and use of this
evaluation of resulting data. When properly applied to a site,
guide.
remediation by natural attenuation is a process for risk man-
1.7.4 Section 5 provides an overview of the use of natural
agement and achieving remedial goals. Monitoring should be
attenuation as a remedial action alternative, including;
conducted until it has been demonstrated that natural attenua-
1.7.4.1 Advantages of remediation by natural attenuation as
tion will continue and eventually meet remedial goals.
a remedial alternative;
1.3.1 The primary line of evidence for remediation by
1.7.4.2 Limitations of remediation by natural attenuation as
natural attenuation is provided by observed reductions in
a remedial alternative; and
plume geometry and observed reductions in concentrations of
1.7.4.3 Using multiple lines of evidence to demonstrate the
the constituents of concern at the site.
appropriateness of remediation by natural remediation.
1.7.5 Section 6 describes the decision process for appropri-
ate application and implementation of remediation by natural
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental
attenuation including;
Assessment and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E50.04 on Performance
1.7.5.1 Initial response, site characterization, selection of
Standards Related to Environmental Regulatory Programs.
Current edition approved April 10, 1998. Published August 1998. chemicals of concern, and establishment of remedial goals;
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E1943–98
1.7.5.2 Evaluation of plume status; Overdamped Well Response to Instantaneous Change in
1.7.5.3 Collection and evaluation of additional data; Head (Slug Tests)
1.7.5.4 Comparing remediation by natural attenuation per-
D 4105 Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determin-
formance to remedial goals;
ing Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky
1.7.5.5 Comparing remediation by natural attenuation to
Confined Aquifers by the Modified Theis Nonequilibrium
other remedial options;
Method
1.7.5.6 Implementation of a continued monitoring program;
D 4106 Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determin-
1.7.5.7 Evaluation of progress of remediation by natural
ing Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky
attenuation; and
Confined Aquifers by the Theis Nonequilibrium Method
1.7.5.8 No further action.
D 4372 Specification for Flame-Resistant Materials Used in
1.7.6 Section 7 lists keywords relevant to this guide.
Camping Tentage
1.7.7 Appendix X1 describes natural attenuation processes;
D 4448 Guide for Sampling Groundwater Monitoring
1.7.8 Appendix X2 describes site characterization require-
Wells
ments for evaluating remediation by natural attenuation;
D 4658 Test Method for Sulfide Ion in Water
1.7.9 Appendix X3 describes considerations for designing
D 4700 Guide for Soil Sampling From the Vadose Zone
and implementing monitoring for remediation by natural at-
D 4750 Test Method for Determining Subsurface Liquid
tenuation;
Levels in a Borehole or Monitoring Well (Observation
1.7.10 Appendix X4 describes sampling considerations and
Well)
analytical methods for determining indicator parameters for
remediation by natural attenuation;
D 5092 Practice for Design and Installation of Ground
1.7.11 Appendix X5 describes the interpretation of different Water Monitoring Wells in Aquifers
lines of evidence as indicators of natural attenuation;
D 5269 Test Method for Determining Transmissivity of
1.7.12 Appendix X6 describes methods for evaluation and
Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Recovery
quantification of natural attenuation rates; and
Method
1.7.13 Appendix X7 describes example problems illustrat-
D 5270 Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and
ing the application and implementation of remediation by
Storage Coefficient of Bounded, Nonleaky, Confined Aqui-
natural attenuation.
fers
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
D 5434 Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explora-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tions of Soil and Rock
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D 5473 Test Method for (Analytical Procedure For) Ana-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
lyzing the Effects of Partial Penetration of Control Well
bility of any regulatory limitations prior to use.
and Determining the Horizontal and Vertical Hydraulic
Conductivity in a Nonleaky Confined Aquifer
2. Referenced Documents
E 1599 Guide for Corrective Action for Petroleum Re-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
leases
D 888 Test Methods for Dissolved Oxygen in Water
E 1689 Guide for Developing Conceptual Site Models for
D 1125 Test Methods for Electrical Conductivity and Re-
Contaminated Sites
sistivity of Water
E 1739 Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action Applied at
D 1293 Test Methods for ph of Water
Petroleum Release Sites
D 1452 Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by
Auger Borings E 1912 Guide for Accelerated Site Characterization for
D 1498 Practice for Oxidation-Reduction Potential of Wa-
Confirmed or Suspected Petroleum Releases
ter
D 1586 Test Method for Penetration Test and Split-Barrel
3. Terminology
Sampling of Soils
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
D 4043 Guide for Selection of Aquifer-Test Method in
3.1.1 assimilative capacity—a semi-quantitative estimate of
Determining of Hydraulic Properties by Well Techniques
the potential mass of hydrocarbons per unit volume of ground
D 4044 Test Method (Field Procedure) for Instantaneous
water that can be metabolized by aerobic and anaerobic
Change in Head (Slug) Tests for Determining Hydraulic
biodegradation under existing site conditions.
Properties of Aquifer Systems
3.1.2 attenuation rate—measured reduction in concentra-
D 4050 Test Method (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal and
tion or mass of a compound with time or distance expressed as
Injection Well Tests for Determining Hydraulic Properties
3 an amount of reduction per unit time or per unit distance.
of Aquifer Systems
D 4104 Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determin-
ing Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.04.
2 6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
3 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.05.
E1943–98
3.1.3 conceptual site model—a written or pictorial represen- 3.1.15 receptor—persons, structures, utilities, ecological re-
tation of an environmental system and the biological, physical, ceptors, and water supply wells that are or may be adversely
and chemical processes that determine the transport of con- affected by a release.
stituents of concern from sources through environmental media 3.1.16 remedial goals—remediation objectives established
to environmental receptors within the system. to protect human health and the environment. Remedial goals
may be concentration-based target levels applied at specific
3.1.4 constituents of concern—specific petroleum constitu-
points throughout the plume or performance-based criteria,
ents that are identified as posing a potential risk to human
such as demonstrated containment of the solute plume or
health or the environment.
demonstrated reduction in concentrations of constituents of
3.1.5 corrective action—actions taken to identify and clean
concern over time within the plume or with distance from the
up a release of petroleum. These activities include site assess-
source area.
ment, interim remedial action, remedial action, operation and
3.1.17 remediation/remedial action—activities conducted to
maintenance of equipment, monitoring of progress, and termi-
protect human health, safety, and the environment. These
nation of the remedial action.
activities include evaluating risk, making no further action
3.1.6 electron acceptors—elements or compounds that are
determinations, monitoring, and designing and operating
reduced by receiving electrons produced by the oxidation of
cleanup equipment.
organic compounds through microbial metabolism or abiotic
3.1.18 remediation by natural attenuation—a remedy where
chemical oxidation processes.
naturally occurring physical, chemical, and biological pro-
3.1.7 expanding plume—configuration where the solute
cesses will achieve remedial goals. The use of natural attenu-
plume margin is continuing to move outward or down gradient
ation processes as a remedial action also has been described by
from the source area.
a variety of other terms, such as intrinsic remediation, intrinsic
3.1.8 institutional controls—the restriction on use or access
bioremediation, passive remediation, natural biodegradation,
(for example, fences, deed restrictions, restrictive zoning) to a
passive bioremediation, etc. Remediation by natural attenua-
site or facility to eliminate or minimize potential exposure to a
tion does not include remediation methods that require human
constituent(s) of concern.
intervention beyond monitoring.
3.1.9 monitoring points—a monitoring well or other moni-
3.1.19 secondary lines of evidence—geochemical indicators
toring device placed in a selected location for observing
of naturally occurring biodegradation and estimates of natural
parameters such as liquid levels or pressure changes, or for
attenuation rate.
collecting liquid samples. The monitoring point may be cased
3.1.20 sentinel well—monitoring points established at a
or uncased, but if cased the casing should have openings to
location(s) between the leading edge of the solute plume and a
allow flow of borehole liquid into or out of the casing
sensitive receptor (for example, drinking water well) to ensure
(modified from Test Method D 4750).
that there will be time for other remedial actions to be taken, if
3.1.10 natural attenuation—reduction in mass or concen-
the plume does migrate beyond predicted boundaries.
tration of a compound in ground water over time or distance
3.1.21 shrinking plume—configuration where the solute
from the source of constituents of concern due to naturally
plume margin is receding back toward the source area over
occurring physical, chemical, and biological processes, such
time and the concentrations at points within the plume are
as; biodegradation, dispersion, dilution, sorption, and volatil-
decreasing over time.
ization.
3.1.22 source area—the location of free phase liquid hydro-
3.1.11 optional lines of evidence—solute transport model- carbons or the location of highest soil and ground water
ing, estimates of assimilative capacity (to estimate the mass of
concentrations of constituents of concern.
BTEX and other constituents of concern degraded), and 3.1.23 stable plume—configuration where the solute plume
microbiological studies.
margin is stationary over time and concentrations at points
within the plume are relatively uniform over time or may
3.1.12 plume—volume of ground water where constituents
decrease over time.
of concern are present.
3.1.24 user—an individual or group involved in the correc-
3.1.13 point of compliance—a location(s) selected between
tive action proc
...