This guide is intended to provide a systematic approach for the application and execution of early actions for purposes of remediating sites of both hazardous and non-hazardous contamination. Fundamental to the use of this guide is the iterative development of a CSM.

Anticipated users of this guide are owners or operators at sites of environmental contamination; technical professionals involved in the field of environmental site characterization and remediation; environmental regulators, property owners, employees, and residents adjacent to sites of environmental contamination; and lenders, sureties, and persons of general interest within an affected community.

This guide is not intended to replace legal requirements for remediating sites of environmental contamination. This guide should be used to supplement existing regulatory guidance and to focus remedial efforts toward final remedy solutions.

1.1 The purpose of this guide is to provide guidance for assisting in the development, selection, design, and implementation of partial, short-term, or early action remedies undertaken at sites of waste contamination for the purpose of managing, controlling, or reducing risk posed by environmental site contamination. Early action remedies and strategies are applicable to the management of other regulatory processes (for example, state UST programs are equally applicable) in addition to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)/NCP process. This guide identifies and describes a standard process, technical requirements, information needs, benefits, and strategy for early actions.

1.2 This guide is applicable to both nonhazardous and hazardous sites of contamination as defined by CERCLA as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) of 1986.

1.3 To the extent that this guide may be used for hazardous materials actions operations, it does not address the applicability of regulatory limitations and local requirements.

1.4 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.