FIELD CHARACTERIZATION

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

From: Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>

The work of a CMECC (California Military Environmental Coordination 
Committee) process action team culminated this April in the publication 
of "Field Analytical Measurement Technologies, Applications, and 
Selection." CMECC is a joint effort of U.S. EPA's Region IX Federal 
Facility Compliance Office, Cal-EPA's Department of Toxic Substances 
Control, and the armed services. 
The goal of the document is "to promote cost and time savings by 
reducing the need for laboratory analyses and remobilization of 
equipment and contractors through the application of field measurement 
technologies at former, active and closing military bases."
The report describes several successful applications of field 
characterization at California military bases, but it points out that 
the technology must be carefully matched to needs at each location. 
Requirements vary both with the nature of the contamination or medium 
and by the purpose for which the investigation is being conducted.
For example, it recommends, "RPMs [Remedial Project Managers] must 
identify the constituents of concern (CoCs) at their sites to select 
field analytical measurement technologies having the appropriate 
detection capabilities." It warns, "For example, investigation for BTEX 
[benzene, toluene, ethylene, and xylene] in soil using a TPH [total 
petroleum hydrocarbon] method may yield a false negative result which 
limits the applications.
The CMECC team also finds, "Some field analytical measurement 
technologies are only capable of generating qualitative screening 
detection results at high concentrations rather than definitive 
numerical data. However, screening data are sufficient for some 
applications in the site restoration process. For example, the 
SCAPS-LIF [Site Characterization and Analysis Penetrometer System-Laser 
Induced Fluorescence] may be applied to assess the vertical and 
horizontal extent of fuel plumes which may only require 
detect/non-detect results to delineate the limits of 
contamination/clean areas. Whereas, monitoring the effectiveness of a 
treatment process, or the lack of effectiveness, would normally require 
definitive numeric data."
The report also discusses data quality objectives and quality control 
procedures. For example, it urges that field analytical measurement 
instruments be calibrated BEFORE undertaking field work: "split samples 
should be analyzed using the field instrument and a reference control 
method at a fixed laboratory."
Finally, CMECC compiled a 17-page Appendix, "Field Analytical 
Measurement Technologies Matrix, designed to aid project managers in 
selecting such technologies to fit site requirements. Copies of the 
report were distributed directly to both military and regulatory RPMs, 
and CMECC plans to sponsor pilot demonstrations and perhaps training to 
facilitate use of the techniques described in the report.
The report is 18 pages plus appendices. For copies, call 916/227-4368.
Lenny Siegel