WAC 173-340-830   Analytical procedures.  (1) Purpose. This section specifies acceptable analytical methods and other testing requirements for sites where remedial action is being conducted under this chapter.

     (2) General requirements.

     (a) All hazardous substance analyses shall be conducted by a laboratory accredited under chapter 173-50 WAC, unless otherwise approved by the department.

     (b) All analytical procedures used shall be conducted in accordance with a sampling and analysis plan prepared under WAC 173-340-820.

     (c) Tests for which methods have not been specified in this section shall be performed using standard methods or procedures such as those specified by the American Society for Testing of Materials, when available, unless otherwise approved by the department.

     (d) Samples shall be analyzed consistent with methods appropriate for the site, the media being analyzed, the hazardous substances being analyzed for, and the anticipated use of the data.

     (e) The department may require or approve modifications to the standard analytical methods identified in subsection (3) of this section to provide lower quantitation limits, improved accuracy, greater precision, or to address the factors in (d) of this subsection.

     (f) Limits of quantitation. Laboratories shall achieve the lowest practical quantitation limits consistent with the selected method and WAC 173-340-707.

     (g) Where there is more than one method specified in subsection (3) of this section with a practical quantitation limit less than the cleanup standard, any of the methods may be selected. In these situations, considerations in selecting a particular method may include confidence in the data, analytical costs, and considerations relating to quality assurance or analysis efficiencies.

     (h) The department may require an analysis to be conducted by more than one method in order to provide higher data quality. For example, the department may require that different separation and detection techniques be used to verify the presence of a hazardous substance ("qualification") and determine the concentration of the hazardous substance ("quantitation").

     (i) The minimum testing requirements for petroleum contaminated sites are identified in Table 830-1.

     (3) Analytical methods.

     (a) The methods used for sample collection, sample preservation, transportation, allowable time before analysis, sample preparation, analysis, method detection limits, practical quantitation limits, quality control, quality assurance and other technical requirements and specifications shall comply with the following requirements, as applicable:

     (i) Method 1. Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, U.S. EPA, SW-846, fourth update (2000);

     (ii) Method 2. Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants, 40 C.F.R. Chapter 1, Part 136, and Appendices A, B, C, and D, U.S. EPA, July 1, 1999;

     (iii) Method 3. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Pollution Control Federation, 20th edition, 1998;

     (iv) Method 4. Recommended Protocols for Measuring Selected Environmental Variables in Puget Sound, Puget Sound Estuary Program/Tetra Tech, 1996 edition;

     (v) Method 5. Quality Assurance Interim Guidelines for Water Quality Sampling and Analysis, Groundwater Management Areas Program, Washington Department of Ecology, Water Quality Investigations Section, December 1986;

     (vi) Method 6. Analytical Methods for Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Ecology publication #ECY 97-602, June 1997; or

     (vii) Equivalent methods subject to approval by the department.

     (b) The methods used for a particular hazardous substance at a site shall be selected in consideration of the factors in subsection (2) of this section.

     (c) Groundwater. Methods 1, 2, 3 and 4, as described in (a) of this subsection, may be used to determine compliance with WAC 173-340-720.

     (d) Surface water. Methods 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 as described in (a) of this subsection, may be used to determine compliance with WAC 173-340-730.

     (e) Soil. Method 1, as described in (a) of this subsection, may be used to determine compliance with WAC 173-340-740 and 173-340-745.

     (f) Air. Appropriate methods for determining compliance with WAC 173-340-750 shall be selected on a case-by-case basis, in consideration of the factors in subsection (2) of this section.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.105D RCW. 01-05-024 (Order 97-09A), § 173-340-830, filed 2/12/01, effective 8/15/01; 91-04-019, § 173-340-830, filed 1/28/91, effective 2/28/91; 90-08-086, § 173-340-830, filed 4/3/90, effective 5/4/90.]