How to Navigate the Analytical Method Maze

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Annual Book of Standards is another important source of consensus methods used in environmental project work. 

The EPA approved many of the methods published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards for compliance monitoring under the CWA. ASTM methods used in environmental remediation projects determine soil properties, such as organic content, porosity, permeability, soil grain size, or the properties of free petroleum product contained in the subsurface, such as viscosity, density, and specific gravity. 

The use of American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practices is not uncommon in environmental project work, particularly for the characterization of recovered petroleum products that have accumulated in the subsurface from leaking USTs and pipelines. 

In recent years, many of the technologically outdated methods of 40 CFR Part 136 have been upgraded to incorporate the latest advances in instrumental analysis. For example, capillary chromatographic columns with superior compound resolution replaced obsolete packed columns in gas chromatography (GC) and GC/MS analytical methods Freon 113, a chlorofluorocarbon harmful to the environment, was phased out as the extraction solvent in oil and grease analysis and replaced with hexane in Method 1664 (EPA, 1999b). 

To prevent trace level contamination, the EPA established special sampling techniques for trace elements in ambient water in Method 1669 (EPA, 1996c). The EPA also provided the guidance for clean room laboratory analysis and for documentation and evaluation of trace element data (EPA, 1996d EPA, 1996e). 

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