ASTM International approved a new standard on applying greener best management practices to site assessment and cleanup projects. ASTM E2893, Guide for Greener Cleanups, was approved Sept. 15 by Subcommittee E50.04 on Corrective Action, part of ASTM International Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action.
“Greener cleanups protect human health and the environment while minimizing use of energy, water and material resources to achieve cleanup objectives,” says John Simon, Gnarus Advisors LLC, editor-in-chief, Remediation Journal, and E50 member. “The proposed standard will enable environmental professionals to assess greener best management practices in a systematic fashion and then prioritize and select the BMPs to apply during a project.”
Simon adds that ASTM E2893 will be pragmatic in that it will not require specific remedies. Instead, the new standard will set forth a process to reduce the environmental footprint of activities during all phases of site cleanup, from investigation to long-term monitoring.
ASTM E2893 will be used primarily by environmental professionals in the site assessment and remediation fields, as well as other specialists, in managing contaminated properties, such as real estate developers, regulatory agencies and corporate managers. Eventually, the standard may be integrated into cleanup regulations on a state level.
All interested parties are invited to participate in the ongoing promotion of ASTM E2893. E50.04 is particularly interested in tracking case studies applicable to the standard.
ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.
For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-environmental or follow us on Twitter @ASTMEnvironment.
ASTM Committee E50 Next Meeting: April 7-10, 2014, April Committee Week, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Technical Contact: John A. Simon, Gnarus Advisors LLC, Arlington, Va., Phone: 202-505-1906; jsimon@gnarusllc.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Kathleen McClung, Phone: 610-832-9717; kmcclung@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org
Release #9525