PDFWAC 173-340-707
Analytical considerations.
(1) Analytical methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of a cleanup action shall comply with the requirements in WAC 173-340-830.
(2) The department recognizes that there may be situations where a hazardous substance is not detected or is detected at a concentration below the practical quantitation limit utilizing sampling and analytical procedures which comply with the requirements of WAC 173-340-830. If those situations arise and the practical quantitation limit is higher than the cleanup level for that substance, the cleanup level shall be considered to have been attained, subject to subsection (4) of this section, only when the more stringent of the following conditions are met:
(a) The practical quantitation limit is no greater than ten times the method detection limit; or
(b) The practical quantitation limit for the particular hazardous substance, medium, and analytical procedure is no greater than the practical quantitation limit established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and used to establish requirements in 40 C.F.R. 136, 40 C.F.R. 141 through 143, or 40 C.F.R. 260 through 270.
(3) In cases where a cleanup level required by this chapter is less than the practical quantitation limit using an approved analytical procedure, the department may also require one or more of the following:
(a) Use of surrogate measures of hazardous substance contamination;
(b) Use or development of specialized sample collection or analysis techniques to improve the method detection limit or practical quantitation limit for the hazardous substances at the site; or
(c) Monitoring to assure that the concentration of a hazardous substance does not exceed detectable levels.
(4) When the practical quantitation limit is above the cleanup level, the department shall consider the availability of improved analytical techniques when performing periodic reviews under WAC 173-340-420. Subsequent to those reviews, the department may require the use of improved analytical techniques with lower practical quantitation limits and other appropriate actions.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.105D RCW. WSR 91-04-019, ยง 173-340-707, filed 1/28/91, effective 2/28/91.]