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ASTM E2893-25

Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups
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ASTM E2893-25

Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups

PUBLISH DATE 2025
PAGES 38
ASTM E2893-25

1.1 Cleaning up sites improves environmental and public health conditions and as such can be viewed as “green.” However, cleanup activities use energy, water, and natural resources. The process of cleanup therefore creates its own environmental footprint. This guide describes a process for evaluating and implementing activities to reduce the environmental footprint of a cleanup project in the United States while working within the applicable regulatory framework and satisfying all applicable legal requirements.

1.2 This guide may also be used as a process for sites that are not located in the United States; however, the specific legal references are not applicable.

1.3 This guide describes a process for identifying, evaluating, and incorporating best management practices (BMPs) and, when deemed appropriate, for integrating a quantitative evaluation into a cleanup to reduce its environmental footprint.

1.4 This guide is designed to be implemented in conjunction with any cleanup framework and should be used with other technical tools, guidance, policy, laws, and regulations to integrate greener cleanup practices, processes, and technologies into cleanup projects (see Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 23, 40 CFR 247, and EPA Policy on Consultation with Indian Tribes).

1.5 This guide provides a process for evaluating and implementing activities to reduce the environmental footprint of a cleanup and is not designed to instruct users on how to clean up contaminated sites.

1.6 ASTM also has a guide on Integrating Sustainable Objectives into Cleanup (E2876). That guide provides a broad framework for integrating elements of environmental, economic, and social aspects into cleanups. This guide may provide assistance with implementing E2876 and other sustainable remediation guidance, such as Holland, et al. (2011) (1).

1.7 This guide specifically applies to the cleanup of a site. However, the reasonably anticipated use of a site, if known, may influence the cleanup goals and scope (see Section 5 of Guide E2091).

1.8 This guide should not be used as a justification to avoid, minimize, or delay implementation of specific cleanup activities. Nor should this guide be used as a justification for selecting cleanup activities that compromise stakeholder interests or goals for the site.

1.9 This guide does not supersede federal, Tribal, state, or local regulations relating to protection of human health and the environment. No action taken in connection with implementing this guide should generate unacceptable risks to human health or the environment.

1.10 This guide may be integrated into complementary standards, site-specific regulatory documents, guidelines, or contractual agreements relating to sustainable or greener cleanups.

  • 1.10.1 If the cleanup is governed by a regulatory program, the user should discuss with the regulator responsible for the site how this guide could be incorporated into the cleanup and whether the regulator deems it appropriate for the user to report the process and results to the regulatory program.
  • 1.10.2 The contractual relationship or legal obligations existing between and among the parties associated with a site or site cleanup are beyond the scope of this guide.

1.11 This guide is composed of the following sections: Referenced Documents (Section 2); Terminology (Section 3); Significance and Use (Section 4); Planning and Scoping (Section 5); BMP Process (Section 6); Quantitative Evaluation (Section 7); Documentation and Reporting (Section 8); and Keywords (Section 9).

1.12 This guide focuses on green remediation. There are a number of synergies between green remediation and climate impact (change mitigation and adaptation or resilience). BMPs that also address climate impact are identified in this guide (Table X3.1).

1.12.1 This guide may also be applied to remediation of orphan and abandoned oil and natural gas wells on federally-owned and Tribal land.

1.13 Implementing this guide may result in reduced life cycle costs.

1.14 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.15 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

4.1 Purpose— This guide provides a process for identifying, prioritizing, selecting, implementing, documenting, and reporting activities to reduce the environmental footprint of a cleanup as defined by the following core elements.

4.1.1 Minimize Total Energy Use and Maximize Use of Renewable Energy— Reducing total energy use while also identifying means to increase the use of renewable energies throughout the cleanup. Possible methods may include reducing energy use, using energy efficient equipment, using on-site renewable resources (for example, wind, solar), and purchasing commercial energy from renewable resources.

4.1.2 Minimize Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gas Emissions— Reducing total air emissions, including emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, throughout the cleanup. Possible methods may include minimizing the generation and transport of airborne contaminants and dust, using efficient emitting equipment (for example, vehicles and heavy equipment), using advanced emission controls, and using cleaner fuels or hybrid technologies.

4.1.2.1 This guide, when applied to orphan and abandoned oil and natural gas wells strongly encourages plugging and capping the wells to prevent emissions of methane and VOCs in conformance with §40601 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

4.1.3 Minimize Water Use and Impacts to Water Resources— Minimizing the use of water and impacts to water resources throughout the cleanup. Possible methods may include conserving water use in cleanup processes, using water efficient products, capturing and reclaiming water for reuse, revegetating with water efficient plants, and employing traditional BMPs for storm water, erosion, and sedimentation control.

4.1.4 Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Materials and Waste— Minimizing the use of virgin materials and generation of waste throughout the cleanup as well as maximizing the use of recycled materials. Possible methods may include using recycled and locally generated materials, reusing waste materials (for example, concrete made with coal combustion products), diverting construction and demolition debris from disposal by recycling recovered resources, and using rapidly renewable materials or certified wood products.

4.1.5 Protect Land and Ecosystems— Reducing impacts to the land and ecosystem services throughout the cleanup. Possible methods may include minimizing the area requiring activity and use limitations by the removal or destruction of contaminants; identifying the presence of and limiting the disturbance of mature, non-invasive, native vegetation, surface hydrology, soils, and habitats in the cleanup area; restore habitats; and minimizing noise and light disturbance.

4.1.6 Recognition of Tribal Sovereignty and Tribal Environmental Programs— as discussed in EPA’s Consultation with Indian Tribes (2023) many tribes have environmental programs, game and fish and natural resources programs, brownfields coordinators and Tribal Response Programs that should be consulted for projects impinging on tribal lands (which can include ceded territories, allotments, and other parts of “Indian Country” off reservation). Tribes have various rights with regards to cultural sites off reservation, even in states where they do not currently have reservations.

4.2 Consider Adaption and Resiliency:

4.2.1 Remedies at contaminated sites may be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. Under its CERCLA authority, US EPA developed an approach that raises awareness of these vulnerabilities and applies climate change and weather science as a standard operating practice in cleanup projects. The approach involves periodic screening of Superfund remedy vulnerabilities, prioritizing the Superfund program's steps to adapt to a changing climate, and identifying measures to assure climate resilience of Superfund sites. Under its RCRA authority, US EPA’s hazardous waste corrective action program developed recommendations for EPA regions and RCRA authorized states about how to work with RCRA facility owners and operators to integrate climate change adaptation considerations into the RCRA cleanup process. This integration will help protect human health and the environment by ensuring that RCRA corrective action cleanups remain effective and prevent the migration of hazardous waste or constituents.

4.2.2 The user should assess the risks associated with a changing climate by conducting a site-specific vulnerability assessment (see Consideration of Climate Resilience in the Superfund Cleanup Process for non-Federal NPL Sites, Conducting Climate Vulnerability Assessments at Superfund Sites, and the Navy’s Technical Memorandum: Green and Sustainable Remediation Best Management Practices, as well as the Washington Department of Ecology’s Sustainable Remediation: Climate Change Resiliency and Green Remediation).

4.2.2.1 US EPA guidance supports consideration of climate change at all stages of cleanup, including remedy selection, so that adaptation measures that would increase the selected remedy’s resilience are considered. US EPA’s Conducting Climate Vulnerability Assessments at Superfund Sites, clearly states that vulnerability assessments may be performed at all stages of a cleanup. In addition, US EPA’s Consideration of Climate Resilience in the Superfund Cleanup Process for non-Federal NPL Sites recommends an approach for US EPA Regions to consider using when evaluating climate resilience during the remedy selection and implementation process.

4.2.2.2 The user should identify adaptation measures that increase climate-change resilience across a range of cleanup sites in different phases: site investigation; identifying resilient cleanup remedies, remedial design and implementation; and operation and maintenance. The user should identify green remediation best management practices to increase the environmental benefits and reduce the environmental impacts from cleanup (see EPA’s Integrating Green Remediation and Climate Resilience Under the Superfund Remedial Acquisition Framework: A Primer for Service Contractors and Technical Memorandum: Green and Sustainable Remediation Best Management Practices). In accordance with US EPA’s Incorporating Sustainability Principles in Cleanup Enforcement Actions Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Memorandum, application of Indigenous Knowledge is encouraged, if applicable.

4.2.3 There are synergistic BMPs that provide a site with green remediation and climate resilience - for instance floodplain development that improves infiltration and disperses energy, and also adds ecosystem services to an area. Or solar powered pumps used in a pump and treat system that is susceptible to storm outages.

4.2.4 This guide conforms with several provisions in EPA’s Incorporating Sustainability Principles in Cleanup Enforcement Actions Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Memorandum, September 29, 2023. Specifically, this guide includes provisions for:

  • 4.2.4.1 stakeholder engagement;
  • 4.2.4.2 sustainable reuse;
  • 4.2.4.3 climate change adaptation,
  • 4.2.4.4 mitigation, and resilience; and
  • 4.2.4.5 Tribal consultation

4.2.5 Regulatory drivers for green remediation include, but are not limited to:

  • 4.2.5.1 Executive Orders 14008 and 14057,
  • 4.2.5.2 Remediation under CERCLA, RCRA, TSCA, Tribal, state enforcement or voluntary cleanup programs
  • 4.2.5.3 Corporate environmental management system such as ISO 14001
  • 4.2.5.4 Environmental Risk Management protocols
  • 4.2.5.5 Environmental, social, and governance criteria, if applicable
  • 4.2.5.6 Section 40601 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, (Public Law 117-58)
  • 4.2.5.7 40 CFR 247, and
  • 4.2.5.8 FAR Part 23

4.3 Professional Experience— This guide requires the skills of a lead environmental professional and project team, as appropriate, to evaluate and apply greener cleanup practices, processes, and technologies to each cleanup phase while meeting cleanup program-specific requirements and ensuring protection of human health and the environment. This guide presumes the lead environmental professional
SDO ASTM: ASTM International
Document Number E2893
Publication Date Jan. 1, 2025
Language en - English
Page Count 38
Revision Level 25
Supercedes
Committee E50.04

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