Environmental Site Characterization Guidance Manual provides essential protocols for assessing contaminated sites in Canada. Developed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, this manual aims to support environmental and human health risk assessments. It replaces earlier guidance from 1993, offering updated methodologies for sampling, analysis, and data management. The manual is part of a four-volume series that includes checklists, suggested operating procedures, and analytical methods. This resource is crucial for environmental professionals involved in site investigations and remediation efforts.

Key Points

  • Offers updated methodologies for environmental site characterization in Canada
  • Supports human health risk assessments at contaminated sites
  • Part of a four-volume series including checklists and analytical methods
  • Developed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
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343 pages
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GUIDANCE MANUAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SITE
CHARACTERIZATION IN SUPPORT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RISK
ASSESSMENT
VOLUME 1 GUIDANCE MANUAL
PN 1551
ISBN 978-1-77202-026-7 PDF
© Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 2016
Volume 1: Guidance Manual i
PREFACE
This manual is one of a series of volumes dedicated to providing guidance on environmental site
characterization in support of environmental and human health risk assessment at contaminated
sites. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) initiated the National
Contaminated Sites Remediation Program (NCSRP), a five year program (1989-1995), to
develop a consistent national approach for the assessment and remediation of Canada’s
contaminated sites, and specifically to clean up high-risk orphan contaminated sites. As part of
providing national tools for site characterization, the NCSRP released the Guidance Manual on
Sampling, Analysis, and Data Management for Contaminated Sites (Volume I: Main Report, and
Volume II: Analytical Method Summaries) in 1993, and the Subsurface Assessment Handbook
for Contaminated Sites in 1994. The purpose of this document, and related volumes, is to provide
a replacement of the 1993 sampling and analytical guidance. This work is being done by the Soil
Quality Guidelines Task Group, which was established by CCME to develop Canadian Soil
Quality Guidelines and to continue providing national guidance on contaminated sites after
sunsetting of the NCSRP.
The goal of the environmental site characterization guidance is to provide Canadians with a
consistent approach to sampling and analyzing complex environmental matrices, such that the
data obtained will be representative and of known quality. The guidance provides a summary of
key elements that should be performed, and reported, during site investigations. The guidance
also recommends sample handling and storage requirements, analytical methods, and method
specific quality control and assurance procedures to ensure that the results of laboratory analyses
are reported for Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines with sufficient quality upon which
to base decisions.
The environmental site characterization guidance consists of four volumes:
Volume 1: Guidance Manual [this document]
Volume 2: Checklists
Volume 3: Suggested Operating Procedures
Volume 4: Analytical Methods
Methods and any reference to specific sampling equipment provided in this guidance are
provided for information purposes only. CCME does not warrant the use of any of these methods
or equipment. The responsibility for selection and use lies solely with the user.
Volume 1: Guidance Manual ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The primary authors of the four volume Site Characterization guidance were: Dr. Ian Hers, Mr.
Guy Patrick, Dr. Reidar Zapf-Gilje (Golder Associates Ltd) for volume 1 (chapters 1-8), volume
2, and volume 3, and SOPs 1-6; Ms. Miranda Henning, Ms. Andrea Fogg, Ms. Katrina Leigh
(Environ International Corp.) for volume 1 (chapters 9-11) and sections of chapter 4, media
specific material in volume 2, volume 3, and SOPs 7-17; Barry Loescher, with the assistance of
Elizabeth Walsh, (Maxxam Analytics) volume 4.
Golder, Environ and Maxxam provided assistance in addressing public review comments. The
four volumes were extensively reviewed by members of the CCME Soil Quality Guidelines Task
Group, and colleagues within their respective jurisdictions.
CCME would like to thank reviewers who provided feedback during the public review process.
The contribution of time and expertise of all participants is gratefully acknowledged.
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FAQs

What is the purpose of the Environmental Site Characterization Guidance Manual?
The Environmental Site Characterization Guidance Manual aims to provide a consistent approach for assessing contaminated sites in Canada. It is designed to support environmental and human health risk assessments by offering updated methodologies for sampling, analysis, and data management. This manual replaces earlier guidance from 1993 and is part of a broader initiative by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment to ensure high-quality data is obtained during site investigations. The guidance is essential for environmental professionals tasked with remediation and assessment of contaminated sites.
What are the key components of the Environmental Site Characterization Guidance Manual?
The Environmental Site Characterization Guidance Manual consists of several key components, including protocols for sampling, analytical methods, and quality control procedures. It emphasizes the importance of obtaining representative data from complex environmental matrices. Additionally, the manual outlines sample handling and storage requirements to ensure data integrity. This guidance is part of a four-volume series that includes checklists, suggested operating procedures, and analytical methods, providing a comprehensive resource for environmental assessments.
Who were the primary authors of the Environmental Site Characterization Guidance Manual?
The primary authors of the Environmental Site Characterization Guidance Manual include Dr. Ian Hers, Mr. Guy Patrick, and Dr. Reidar Zapf-Gilje from Golder Associates Ltd., who contributed to the first volume. Additional contributions were made by Ms. Miranda Henning, Ms. Andrea Fogg, and Ms. Katrina Leigh from Environ International Corp., focusing on specific chapters and sections. The manual also benefited from public review comments, and various experts provided feedback to enhance its content.
How does the Environmental Site Characterization Guidance Manual support risk assessments?
The Environmental Site Characterization Guidance Manual supports risk assessments by providing standardized methodologies for the assessment of contaminated sites. By ensuring that data collected during site investigations is of known quality and representative of the environmental conditions, the manual helps in making informed decisions regarding remediation and management of contaminated areas. The guidance also includes quality control and assurance procedures, which are critical for meeting Canadian environmental quality guidelines.

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