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Accordingly,when geoenvironmental professionals indicate in their equipment,techniques,and testing used by geotechnical engineers reports that they have performed a service"in general compliance" differ markedly from those used by geoenvironmental professionals; with one standard or another, it means they have applied professional their education,training,and experience are also significantly differ- judgement in creating and implementing a scope of service designed ent. If you plan to build on the subject site,but have not yet had a for the specific client and project involved,and which follows some of geotechnical engineering study conducted,your geoenvironmental the general precepts laid out in the referenced standard.To the extent professional should be able to provide guidance about the next steps that a report indicates"general compliance"with a standard,you may you should take.The same firm may provide the services you need. wish to speak with your geoenvironmental professional to learn more about what was and was not done. Do not assume a given standard Read Respenslhility PPeuislens Closely was followed to the tetter. Research indicates that that seldom is the Geoenvironmental studies cannot be exact;they are based on profes- case. sional judgement and opinion. Nonetheless,some clients,contrac- tors,and others assume geoenvironmental reports are or certainly Realize/hat Recommendallons N4ay Not Be Final should be unerringly precise.Such assumptions have created unreal- The technical recommendations included in a geoenvironmental istic expectations that have led to wholly unwarranted claims and dis- report are based on assumptions about actual conditions,and so are putes.To help prevent such problems, geoenvironmental profession- preliminary or tentative. Final recommendations can be prepared only als have developed a number of report provisions and contract terms by observing actual conditions as they are exposed. For that reason, that explain who is responsible for what,and how risks are to be allo- you should retain the geoenvironmental professional of record to cated.Some people mistake these for"exculpatory clauses," that is, observe construction and/or remediation activities on site,to permit provisions whose purpose is to transfer one party's rightful responsi- rapid response to unanticipated conditions. The geoenvironmental bilities and liabilities to someone else. Read the responsibility provi- professional who prepared the report cannot assume responsibility or sions included in a report and in the contract you and your geoenvi- liability for the reports recommendations it that professional is not ronmental professional agreed to. Responsibility provisions are not retained to observe relevant site operations. boilerplate."They are important. Iludersland That Geetechelcal Issues Rate Not Been Addressed Rely on Your GeoenulPonmenlal PPOSSIoeal hP Unless geotechnical engineering was specifically included in the Additional Assistance scope of professional service,a report is not likely to relate any find- Membership in ASFE exposes geoenvironmental professionals to a ings, conclusions, or recommendations about the suitability of sub- wide array of risk management techniques that can be of genuine l surface materials for construction purposes,especially when site benefit for everyone involved with a geoenvironmental project. Confer remediation has been accomplished through the removal,replace- with your ASFE-member geoenvironmental professional for more ment,encapsulation, or chemical treatment of on-site soils.The information. I . I ASFE 8811 Colesville Road/Suite G106,Silver Spring, MD 20910 Telephone:3011565-2733 Facsimile:301/589-2017 e-mail: into@asfe.org www.asfe.org Copyright 2000 by ASF&,Ina Duplication,reproduction,or copying of this document,in whole or in pad,by any means wlialsoever,rs strictlyprohibited,except with ASFE's specific wriBen permission.Excerplrng,quoting,or otherwise exlractrng wording tram this document is permitted only with the express written permission of ASFE,and only for purposes of scholarly 1 research or book review.Because use of this document may imoy membership in ASFE,any firm,individual,or other entity that uses this document without being an ASFE Member Firm may be found liable for negligent or intentional flraudulent)misrepresentation. IIGRO6005.OM