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SITE INVESTIGATIONS (SI) AND FIELD INVESTIGATIONS (FI) OF REGION 4 SUPERFUND HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES: OCTOBER 2006 – JULY 2007
Impact/Purpose:
Site Investigations (SIs) and expanded Field Investigations (FIs) are used in the preliminary assessment of hazardous waste sites and can be used in ranking a site for further investigations and Remedial Investigations (RIs).
Description:
Site Investigations (SIs) and Field Investigations (FIs) conducted by the Region 4 Science and Ecosystem Support Division (SESD) require developing and implementing work plans which include a Project Operations Plan, Field Sampling and Analysis Plan, Quality Assurance Project Plan, and a Health and Safety Plan. In general, these large complex investigations involve: collecting soil, sediment, surface water, ground water and air samples, testing aquifer properties, and conducting ecological assessments and surface geophysical assessments. SESD maintains near state-of-the-art capability using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to log station locations and conduct total site surveys (site mapping). A variety of field sampling/analytical screening techniques may be used to expedite the investigation (including direct push/Geoprobe® technology for soil sampling and temporary well installation for groundwater screening). Analytical instrumentation includes field gas chromatographs (GCs) for volatile organic compounds (VOC) analysis, immunoassay for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) analysis, and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) for metals analysis. Real-time results allow real-time decisions for a variety of site characterization issues while in the field. Once the field investigation is complete, SESD interprets the data and prepares a Site Investigation or Field Investigation Report which may then be used to rank the hazardous waste site for further investigations and Remedial Investigations (RIs). For this reporting period, SESD conducted approximately 18 Site Investigations and 19 expanded Field Investigations.