What Regulators Want: Quality Site Assessments & Investigations Using the Conceptual Site Model Approach

At the University of Massachusetts Lowell Inn & Conference Center in Lowell, MA

This in-person workshop focused on the basics of conducting a Site Assessment and a Site Investigation, including developing and revising the conceptual site model (CSM).

Agenda:

9:00     Registration & Coffee/Pastries

9:30     Welcome & Logistics

9:45     What is a Quality Site Assessment? [PDF]
Presenter: Nicholas Guidi, Tighe & Bond

• ASTM & EPA standards
• Sources of information
  • What is important to include and what isn’t
  • Developing the initial CSM
    • Contaminants
    • Fate & Transport
    • Exposure

10:45     Networking Break

11:00     Site Investigation: Testing the CSM [PDF]
Presenter: Nicholas Guidi, Tighe & Bond

• Developing the Site Investigation Workplan
• Exposure routes
• Data needs
  • Soil
  • Groundwater
  • Surface water/sediment
  • Air/vapor intrusion
  • Other considerations
  • Data quality objectives

12:00     Lunch (provided)

12:45     Understanding the Collected Data [PDF]
Presenter: Daniel Voisin, Stone Environmental

• Boring logs
  • Fundamentals
  • What to look out for – red flags
  • Laboratory data
    • Fundamentals
    • What to look out for – red flags

1:45      Networking Break

2:00      Data Usability & Presentation [PDF]
Presenters: Elizabeth Denly and/or Emily Wassmer, TRC Companies

• Determining which data is usable
• Presenting data in the report

3:00      Evolving the CSM, Making Decisions, & Preparing a Good Report [PDF]
Presenters: Alex Howe, WSP & John Fitzgerald, Mass DEP

• Updating the CSM and deciding when the picture is complete enough – or not
  • Types of decisions
  • Additional data needs
  • When is enough enough?
  • Common report problems

4:00        Adjourn