HAZARD EVALUATION & EMERGENCY RESPONSE (HEER) OFFICE

Foreword to Sections 3 and 4 of the HEER Office Technical Guidance Manual

The guidance presented in Sections 3 and 4 of the Hawai´i Department of Health (HDOH), Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response (HEER) Office represents the collective experience of a large group local, national and international environmental experts trained in Gy’s Theory of Sampling. The guidance focuses on the use of “Decision Unit (DU)” and “Multi Increment® Sample” investigation methods for characterization of environmental media. (Multi Increment is a registered trademark of EnviroStat, Inc.). Although primarily focused on soil, the methods introduced are also applicable to the investigation of contaminated sediment and other particulate media. Concepts of Systematic Planning and the use of DUs to design risk-based sampling plans also apply to the investigation of contaminated groundwater and surface water (Section 6) as well as indoor air, outdoor air and subsurface vapors (Section 7).

Section 3 and Section 4 of this guidance replace Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the original (pre-2023) Technical Guidance Manual (TGM), with a separate “Section 5” no longer utilized. Copies of the original sections are available for download in the Archives folder of the HEER Office DU-MIS webpage.

The guidance is presented in three parts that reflect different audiences. Appendix A in Section 4 of the guidance provides brief Fact Sheet overviews of DU-MIS. The first fact sheet serves as an introduction to DU-MIS for the general as well as environmental professionals new to the subject. Section 3 of the guidance provides a basic but concise overview of the site investigation process. This section is intended for senior- and management-level staff and as an introduction for field workers. Included is an introductory review of the Theory of Sampling for particulate matter and an overview of the Systematic Planning process and the use of DU-MIS collection methods to rapidly and reliably characterize contaminated land. Section 4 of the guidance is a series of appendices that provide detailed discussions and examples of each aspect of the site investigation process as well as references for additional information. These sections are intended for those tasked with implementation of DU-MIS investigation methods in the field and laboratory as well as assessment of risk and design and implementation of remedial actions.

Reference: HIDOH, 2024, Technical Guidance Manual, Sections 3&4 Site Investigation Design and Implementation: State of Hawai´i, Department of Health, June 2024 (and updates).

Comments and suggestions for future updates of the guidance are welcome and can be submitted to the HEER Office contact:

Roger Brewer, PhD
Environmental Health Administration
Hawaii Department of Health
Honolulu, Hawaii USA
Email: [email protected]