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Triad is a Federal/State Interagency Partnership
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Reference Documents/Internet Resources
There are a wide range of documents, including papers, publications, guidance, reports, etc., that provide useful Triad-pertinent information.
 Summary of the Triad Approach (38 KB)
Project Management
- 3d Solids & Parameter Modeling to Facilitate Triad-Compliant Rapid Site Characterization - Todd R. Kincaid, Kevin E. Day, and Roger Lamb, This paper discusses using a Triad approach that combines Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI), Soil Conductivity/Membrane Interface Probe (SC/MIP), and targeted soil and groundwater analytical sampling to aid in redevelopment analysis of a 13-acre property former oil refinery. A digital 3D site conceptual model was developed for the property using the EarthVisionTM software in order to more rapidly and effectively visualize and interpret the field data.
 3d Solids & Parameter Modeling to Facilitate Triad-Compliant Rapid Site Characterization (1.21 MB)
- Advancing Best Management Practices: Applying the Triad Approach in the Superfund Program - USEPA, This EPA memorandum requests Regional cooperation in the Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation's (OSRTI) effort to expand the use of the Triad approach to save time and money in the Superfund program where appropriate. Specifically, OSRTI is asking each Region to name a staff contact to serve as the Superfund Regional Triad Lead, who would coordinate ongoing and future Triad efforts in their Region and serve on a new Superfund Triad Workgroup, and to nominate at least two Superfund sites at which to initiate use of the complete Triad process during FY 2007.
 Advancing Best Management Practices: Applying the Triad Approach in the Superfund Program (941 KB)
- Assessing Contractor Capabilities for Streamlined Site Investigations - USEPA EPA/542-R-00-001, The purpose of this document is to assist Brownfields decision makers during the procurement process as they interview vendors to determine their qualifications to provide streamlined and innovative strategies.
Assessing Contractor Capabilities for Streamlined Site Investigations (204 KB)
- Best Management Practices: Use of Systematic Project Planning Under a Triad Approach for Site Assessment and Cleanup - USEPA-OSWER, The document explains how systematic project planning (SPP), a comprehensive planning process for environmental cleanup projects, can be used to plan and execute projects more
effectively to achieve the often diverse strategic objectives of all stakeholders, while satisfying the specific technical and quality objectives required for each stage of a
project life cycle.
Best Management Practices: Use of Systematic Project Planning Under a Triad Approach for Site Assessment and Cleanup (1.16MB)
- Conceptual Site Models for Ordnance and Explosives (OE) and Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste (HTRW) Projects - USACE, This USACE Engineer Manual describes the CSM development process, which is an integral component of both the USACE's TPP process and the Triad approach. The CSM is a description of a site and its environment that encompasses what is known and what needs to be known in order to make project decisions. It describes sources and receptors and the interactions that link these to estimate risk and design risk reductions strategies. It assists the project team to plan data collection and remediation activities, interpret data, and communicate with other parties. An accurate CSM is a primary Triad product that supports defensible decisions and cost-effective remedial designs.
Download Manual and Sections of Manual
- EPA Superfund Program Encouraging Dynamic Work Strategies Website - USEPA, EPA is supporting the use of dynamic work strategies through release of a 2003 guidance designed to provide USEPA project managers with information allowing them to oversee dynamic field activities at their sites. The guidance document, accompanying fact sheet and transmittal memo are available on this website.
Guidance Documents
- Environmental Cleanup Best Management Practices: Effective Use of the Project Life Cycle Conceptual Site Model - USEPA, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports the use of best management practices (BMPs) as a mechanism for maximizing technical effectiveness and resource efficiency in the execution of site assessment and cleanup projects. This fact sheet is the first in a series of documents that address conceptual site models (CSMs). This fact sheet summarizes how environmental practitioners can use CSMs to achieve, communicate, and maintain stakeholder consensus on site understanding, while satisfying the technical and quality objectives required for each stage of a cleanup project's life cycle. The focus is on defining stages and products of CSMs along with potential applications of CSMs at various stages of a project life cycle. Content herein is presented in a Superfund Program context; however, to the extent practical, text has been written to maximize applicability in other programs and regulatory frameworks. Other agencies and programs may find these concepts useful and environmental cleanup practitioners are encouraged to explore the utility and integration of a project life cycle CSM within their own program requirements and deliverable schedules.
Effective Use of the Project Life Cycle Conceptual Site Model (1.8 MB)
- Fact Sheet Describing the Triad Approach - USEPA, The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports the adoption of streamlined approaches to sampling, analysis, and data management activities conducted during site assessment, characterization, and cleanup. This position reflects the growing trend towards using smarter, faster, and better technologies and work strategies. EPA is coordinating with other federal and state agencies to educate regulators, practitioners, site owners, and others involved in site cleanup decisions about the benefits of a streamlined approach. Ultimately, EPA expects to institutionalize these newer approaches and anticipates that the principles will guide the way data are collected and analyzed for future site cleanup decisions.
Improving Sampling, Analysis, and Data Management for Site Investigation and Cleanup (128 KB)
- Guidance for Monitoring at Hazardous Waste Sites: Framework for Monitoring Plan Development and Implementation - USEPA, This USEPA guidance presents a framework for technically defensible monitoring plans for hazardous waste sites, written for site managers. It is intended for use at hazardous waste sites that have completed site characterization, risk assessment, and remedy selection and are in the process of implementing a removal action or site mitigation.
Guidance for Monitoring at Hazardous Waste Sites: Framework for Monitoring Plan Development and Implementation (363 KB)
- Hazardous Waste Site Characterization Library on CD-ROM - USEPA EPA 600-C-96-001, The Hazardous Waste Site Characterization Library CD-ROM (EPA 600-C-96-001) compiles guidance documents and software to aid environmental professional in the complex, multidisciplinary, characterizing of hazardous waste sites.
National Technical Information Service Website
- ITRC Technical/Regulatory Guidelines: Technical and Regulatory Guidance for the Triad Approach: A New Paradigm for Environmental Project Management - ITRC, The Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) Sampling, Characterization and Monitoring (SCM) Team has prepared a guidance document for the Triad approach. It introduces the Triad approach as an integrated package of concepts leading to modernized practices for how contaminated site work is conducted.
Technical and Regulatory Guidance for the Triad Approach: A New Paradigm for Environmental Project Management (1.1 MB)
- Improving Site Investigation: A guide for property owners, buyers and sellers, attorneys, bankers,
insurance representatives, and their environmental consultants - Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association, A site investigation (SI) determines whether a property has been affected by chemical contamination and whether the contamination is at levels that require cleanup under state regulations. The concepts promoted in this brochure may or may not be required by state regulations. However, following the 4C's (comprehensive planning at the beginning of the project, collection of sufficient data, both on and off the property, clear reporting about what was done and why, and compliance with state Site Investigation report requirements) is more likely to result in a project that moves through the system faster and is more resource-efficient for all involved - responsible parties, consultants, and state regulators.
Improving Site Investigation: A guide for property owners, buyers and sellers, attorneys, bankers,
insurance representatives, and their environmental consultants (384 KB)
- Improving Soil Investigations at Brownfield Sites Using a Flexible Work Strategy and Screening Methods Inspired by the US Environmental Protection Agency's Triad Approach -
Christian Maurice et al., This paper compares the Triad and the present Swedish brownfield investigation strategy; discusses how uncertainties regarding the nature and levels of pollution can be
estimated and addressed by means of sample size and measurement times; and highlights the possibilities of using several toxicity tests to identify the risk carrying soil
fraction and to determine their potential as screening methods.
Improving Soil Investigations at Brownfield Sites Using a Flexible Work Strategy and Screening Methods Inspired by the US Environmental Protection Agency's Triad Approach (4.75 MB)
- Management and Interpretation of Data Under a Triad Approach - Technology Bulletin - USEPA, The Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center (BTSC) created this bulletin to focus on implementing a data management program for a Triad project. It includes a brief introduction to the Triad approach, answers to frequently asked questions about data management on Triad projects, three examples of data management with state agencies as the primary regulatory body, and sources of additional information for project teams and stakeholders who develop or provide input on a data management.
Management and Interpretation of Data Under a Triad Approach - Technology Bulletin (717 KB)
- Quality Assurance Guidance for Conducting Brownfields Site Assessments - USEPA EPA 540-R-98-038, This document servers to inform Brownfields site managers of important quality assurance concepts and issues, providing general guidance for identifying the type and quality environment data needed to present a clear picture of the site's environmental conditions.
Quality Assurance Guidance for Conducting Brownfields Site Assessments (1.4 MB)
- Road Map to Understanding Innovative Technology Options for Brownfields Investigation and Cleanup, Third Edition - USEPA, The Road Map includes an index of more than 150 resources identifying potential technology options available at each of the basic phases involved in the characterization and cleanup of Brownfields sites and connects those steps with available resources. Appendices in the Road Map include a list of common contaminants found at typical Brownfields sites, a detailed guide to common environmental terms and acronyms, and a list of state and EPA points of contact.
Road Map to Understanding Innovative Technology Options for Brownfields Investigation and Cleanup, Third Edition (2.5 MB)
- Standard Guide for Accelerated Site Characterization for Confirmed or Suspected Petroleum Releases, E1912-98 (2004) - ASTM, This guide covers an accelerated site characterization (ASC) approach to rapidly and accurately characterize a confirmed or suspected petroleum release site. ASTM standards can be purchased through their website.
ASTM International Standards Worldwide Website
- Standard Practice for Expedited Site Characterization of Vadose Zone and Ground Water Contamination at Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites, D6235-04 (2010) - ASTM, This practice describes expedited site characterization (ESC) for hazardous waste contaminated sites to identify vadose zone, ground water and other relevant contaminant migration pathways and determine the distribution, concentration, and fate of contaminants for the purpose of guiding a course of action. ASTM standards can be purchased through their website.
ASTM International Standards Worldwide Website
- Streamlining Site Cleanup in New York City - USEPA and NYC, The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center (BTSC) and the New York City (NYC) Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) have jointly prepared this document as a technical transfer resource for organizations and individuals involved in the redevelopment of contaminated properties in NYC. This joint effort, supported by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), advances the environmental cleanup goals of PlaNYC 2030, the city's comprehensive sustainability plan. The purpose of this document is to present how Triad Approach best management practices (BMP) for site investigation and remediation advance EPA's and NYC Mayor's Office initiatives in the areas of community revitalization and Brownfields redevelopment.
Streamlining Site Cleanup in New York City (6.6 MB)
- Summary of Recent Improvements in Methods for the Study of Contaminated and Potentially Contaminated Sites (White paper prepared for EPA under contract No. 68-W5-0055) - USEPA, This white paper summarizes initiatives by various agencies and organizations (including ASTM, DOE, DoD, and EPA) to develop strategies and technologies to streamline and improve the study of contaminated and potentially contaminated sites.
Summary of Recent Improvements in Methods for the Study of Contaminated and Potentially Contaminated Sites (241 KB)
- Technical Project Planning (TPP) Process Manual - USACE, This USACE Engineer Manual describes the Technical Project Planning (TPP) process which may be used to guide Triad systematic planning. The TPP process can be used from investigation through closeout at small, simple sites as well as large, complex sites to comply with the USACE quality management system and the American National Standard for planning the collection and evaluation of environmental data.
Download Manual and Sections of Manual
- The Maturing of the Triad Approach: Avoiding Misconceptions - Article that was published in the Fall 2004 issue of the journal Remediation: The Journal of Environmental Cleanup Costs, Technologies & Techniques© 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Maturing of the Triad Approach: Avoiding Misconceptions (186 KB)
- The Triad Approach: A Catalyst for Maturing Remediation Practice - The Triad approach is well placed to catalyze maturation of the remediation field because it emphasizes 1) a central theme of managing decision uncertainty, 2) unambiguous technical communications, 3) shortened project lifecycles and multidisciplinary interactions that rapidly build professional expertise, and provide feedback to test and perfect programmatic and field practices, and 4) concepts from "softer" sciences (such as economics, cognitive psychology, and decision theory) to capture important human factors. Triad pushes the cleanup industry toward an integrated, practical, second-generation paradigm that can successfully manage the complexities of today's cleanup projects. This is a preprint of an article published in Remediation: The Journal of Environmental Cleanup Costs, Technologies & Techniques, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 3-19. The published reprint is available through http://www.interscience.Wiley.com/.
A Catalyst for Maturing Remediation Practice (125 KB)
- UFP-QAPP Workbook - Intergovernmental Data Quality Task Force, The Intergovernmental Data Quality Task Force (IDQTF) has developed a Uniform Federal Policy (UFP) guiding the development of Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs). UFP-QAPP worksheets streamline the process of documenting the systematic project planning process and data collection plans. The UFP-QAPP Workbook contains the individual QAPP worksheets. A fillable Workbook in MSWord format and a 20-minute video answering common questions about the relevance of the UFP QAPP can be downloaded. The UFP-QAPP Manual and other UFP information can be accessed on EPA's website. UFP-QAPP classroom instruction in using the Workbook is coordinated through the Navy. Course delivery information is available.
 UFP-QAPP Fillable Workbook (480 KB)
20-minute video (245 MB)
EPA's website
Course delivery information
- Use of Dynamic Work Strategies Under a Triad Approach for Site Assessment and Cleanup - Technology Bulletin, This nine page bulletin presents an overview of using dynamic work strategies in Brownfields site assessments.
Use of Dynamic Work Strategies (1.4 MB)
- Visual Sample Plan (VSP) - USDOE, If appropriate to the CSM, statistical equations may be used to help design sampling plans. Visual Sampling Plan (VSP) is a user-friendly, interactive classical statistics-based calculator to determine the number of samples and aid placement of sample locations. The user must ensure that assumptions inherent to the statistical equations used are valid for the application.
Data Quality Objectives Website
Sampling and Analysis
- A Data Integration Framework to Support Triad Projects - Because of the wide variety of decisions faced by site cleanup professionals, a constructive data quality framework must anchor data quality assessment in the specific needs of the decision-making process. This paper explores such a framework. This is a preprint of an article published in Remediation: The Journal of Environmental Cleanup Costs, Technologies & Techniques, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 21-37. The published reprint is available through http://www.interscience.Wiley.com/.
Data Integration Winter Remediation Preprint (176 KB)
- A Rationale for the Assessment of Errors in the Sampling of Soils - USEPA EPA/600/4-90/013, This document provides a foundation for answering two basic questions: How many, and what type, of samples are required to assess the quality of data in a field sampling effort (quality assessment samples)? How can the information from the quality assessment samples be used to identify and control sources of error and uncertainties in the measurement process?
A Rationale for the Assessment of Errors in the Sampling of Soils (499 KB)
- A Review of Emerging Sensor Technologies for Facilitating Long-Term Ground Water Monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds - USEPA EPA/542-R-03-007, This report summarizes the status of emerging sensor technologies for facilitating long-term ground water monitoring for a class of contaminants called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The focus is on long-term ground water monitoring that is generally associated with a selected remedy, such as monitored natural attenuation or pump and treat.
A Review of Emerging Sensor Technologies for Facilities Long-Term Ground Water Monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds (594 KB)
- Assistance with Soil CSMs - USEPA, EPA's Soil Screening Guidance consists of 2 parts: 1) a User's Guide provides advice on the development of conceptual site models (CSMs) for contaminated surface and subsurface soils. Attachment A of the User's Guide provides template forms to help practitioners work through CSM development. 2) The Technical Background Document provides detailed science behind the recommendations in the shorter User's Guide.
Soil Screening Guidance Website
- Clarifying the Use of SW-846 Test Methods - USEPA Memo, It has become a widespread misconception that EPA restricts which methods may be used to generate data within the RCRA or Superfund programs. This August 7, 1998 Memorandum reiterates previous EPA guidance that "SW-846 methods need not be applied in a prescriptive manner.
Clarification Regarding Use of SW-846 Methods Memo
- Soil Sampling Quality Assurance User's Guide, 2nd Edition - EPA/600/8-89/046, This document describes the complexities of adequate quality assurance for soil sampling aspects of environmental monitoring programs. Soil sampling aspects treated include sample site selection, sample collection, sample handling sample analysis, and interpretation of resulting data.
Soil Sampling Quality Assurance User's Guide, 2nd Edition (1.7 MB)
- Superfund Representative Sampling Guidance - USEPA, (December 1995), This EPA guidance describes variables related to representative sampling, such as site-specific conditions, sampling design, the CSM, and the techniques for collection and preparation of samples. There are 5 PDF volumes covering soil, water, waste, air and biological materials.
Soil (PDF) (1.06 MB)
Water (PDF) (1.57 MB)
Waste (PDF) (959.23 KB)
Air (PDF) (1.06 MB)
Biological Materials (PDF) (787.08 KB)
- Topical Papers on Environmental Data Quality - USEPA, Substantial costs are incurred to obtain and analyze samples. But, there are common pitfalls in the field and in the laboratory that can compromise the reliability of environmental data. These papers have been published by experienced environmental and laboratory professionals to help environmental regulators and practitioners avoid data quality problems. (These papers are from literature in the public domain, or are posted here with permission. Note that they are all pre-2000.)
View Papers on Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN) Website
Statistics
- A Rationale for the Assessment of Errors in the Sampling of Soils - USEPA EPA/600/4-90/013, This document provides a foundation for answering two basic questions: How many, and what type, of samples are required to assess the quality of data in a field sampling effort (quality assessment samples)? How can the information from the quality assessment samples be used to identify and control sources of error and uncertainties in the measurement process?
A Rationale for the Assessment of Errors in the Sampling of Soils (499 KB)
- EPA Observational Economy Series, Volume 1 - USEPA, These two documents describe novel ways to use classical statistics to determine an average contaminant concentration: compositing and ranked sets.
EPA Observational Economy Series, Volume 1: Composite Sampling (914 KB)
- EPA Observational Economy Series, Volume 2 - USEPA, These two documents describe novel ways to use classical statistics to determine an average contaminant concentration: compositing and ranked sets.
EPA Observational Economy Series, Volume 2: Ranked Set Sampling (973 KB)
- Evaluating the Attainment of Cleanup Standards for Soils, Solid Media, and Groundwater: Overview + Volumes 1, 2, and 3. - USEPA, If appropriate to the CSM, statistical tests may aid decisions that the cleanup of a contaminated site complete. These 4 documents cover the ways classical statistics may be used.
An Overview of Methods for Evaluating the Attainment of Cleanup Standards for Soils, Solid Media, and Groundwater, EPA Volumes 1, 2, and 3 (PDF) (1.1 MB)
Volume 1: Soils (PDF) (3.9 MB)
Volume 2: Groundwater (PDF) (6.5 MB)
Volume 3: Reference-based Soils (PDF) (3.6 MB)
- Making Data Meaningful: A Guide to Writing Stories About Numbers - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), This guide was prepared within the framework of the UNECE Work Session on Statistical Dissemination and Communication. It is intended as a practical tool to help managers, statisticians and media relations officers use text, tables, graphics and other information to bring statistics to life using effective writing techniques. It contains suggestions, guidelines and examples but not golden rules. This publication recognizes that there are many practical and cultural differences among statistical offices, and that approaches vary from country to country.
Making Data Meaningful: A Guide to Writing Stories About Numbers (502 KB)
- Statistical Analysis of Groundwater Monitoring Data at RCRA Facilities - Unified Guidance - USEPA, This guidance contains a compilation of statistical methods recommended for groundwater monitoring at RCRA and other facilities. It provides comprehensive
strategies for designing the statistical aspects of facility detection, compliance, or corrective action monitoring systems.
Statistical Analysis of Groundwater Monitoring Data at RCRA Facilities - Unified Guidance (7.3 MB)
Triad Tools
- Conceptual Site Model—A conceptual site model (CSM) is a representation of the relationships among key site features that pertain to the decisions that need to be made.
- Conceptual Site Model Checklist (PDF) (63 KB) | MS Word Version (62 KB)
- Examples of Conceptual Site Models Presentations
- Example of Preliminary Conceptual Site Model Report—These files make up the preliminary CSM for Operable Unit 4 of the CORNELL DUBILIER ELECTRONICS SUPERFUND site. The focus at OU 4 is the sediments, floodplains soils and surface waters of the Bound Brook in the vicinity of the former Cornell Dubilier facility property. The property, presently known as the Hamilton Industrial Park, is located at 333 Hamilton Boulevard in South Plainfield, NJ.
- Decision Tool for Groundwater Cleanup of Chlorinated Solvent Plumes at DOE Sites—The objective of this project was to develop and test a decision tool and process to support responsible decisionmaking regarding alternative remedial approaches at sites containing groundwater contaminated with cVOCs. The cVOC Remediation Decision Tool (cVOC Tool) has been designed specifically to be useful at sites with any type of ongoing treatment, and to give fair consideration of all types of alternatives, including EA and MNA.
Decision Tool for Groundwater Cleanup of Chlorinated Solvent Plumes at DOE Sites (1.3 MB)
- High Level Decision Analysis
- Decision Logic Flowchart (PDF) (13 KB)—This flowchart represents a high level decision logic generated from a systematic planning meeting for the North River Remote Relay Station in Alaska. This meeting was conducted for the US Air Force. It was used to connect current land ownership, the preferred exit strategy of land transfer, and Air Force guidance on extent of conducting cleanups. The decision logic presented on this flowchart was then used in the meeting to determine whether individual sites at the installation would be characterized to develop cleanup action or characterized to ensure institutional controls.
- Decision Logic Diagram (PDF) (16 KB)—The decision logic presented in this figure was created for the Fairbanks North Star Borough. It shows the overall decision logic that will be used for brownfields redevelopment of the Old City Landfill. It presents options for site development pending determination of the nature of releases from the landfill site, and allows for the site to be broken into parcels depending on the extent of encountered releases.
- Contracting Option Award Decision Flow Process (PDF) (40 KB)—This flow chart was developed for the Fairbanks North Star Borough to provide guidance on how to set up and manage a dynamic sampling contract at the Old City Landfill. Proposed activities include soil gas sampling, soil sampling, and groundwater sampling with options for real time sampling technologies. Options were developed for likely contingencies that could occur based on the initial base sampling.
- Sample Uncertainties Worksheets—Within the context of the Triad approach, the term "uncertainty" is used broadly to refer to things that are unknown or incompletely understood. Uncertainty associated with hazardous waste sites can be decision-related, model-related, analytical, sampling-related, or relational.
- Systematic Project Planning—Systematic project planning (SPP) is the most important and universally applicable element of the Triad approach. Triad systematic planning is a common sense approach used to identify the decision that needs to be made to reach project goals, determine the uncertainty associated with the decision based on current site understanding, and develop methods for managing that uncertainty so that decisions can be made with acceptable levels of confidence.
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