Laserfiche WebLink
FIELD PROCEDURES <br /> ATC ASSOCIATES <br /> STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR <br /> HOLLOW STEM AUGER DRILLING <br /> Prior to drilling, all boring locations are marked with white paint or other discernible marking and cleared for <br /> underground utilities through Underground Service Alert (USA). In addition, the first five feet of each <br /> borehole is cleared using an air knife and vacuum truck to evaluate the presence of underground structures <br /> or utilities. <br /> Once pre-drilling efforts to identify subsurface structures are complete, pre-cleaned hollow stem augers <br /> (typically 8 or 10 inches in diameter) are advanced using a rotary drill rig for the purpose of collecting <br /> samples and evaluating subsurface conditions. Upon completion of drilling and sampling the augers are <br /> retracted and the borehole is filled with cement, bentonite grout, hydrated bentonite chips or pellets as <br /> required by the regulatory agency. In areas where the borehole penetrates asphalt or concrete, the <br /> borehole is capped with an equivalent thickness of asphalt or concrete patch to match finish grade. <br /> During the drilling process a physical description of the encountered soil characteristics (i.e. moisture <br /> content, consistency, odor, color, etc.), drilling difficulty and soil type as a function of depth are described <br /> on boring logs. The soil cuttings are classified in accordance with the USCS. <br /> All soil cuttings are temporarily stored on-site in 55-gallon DOT approved drums pending laboratory <br /> analysis, waste profiling and proper disposal. A label is affixed to the drums indicating the contents of the <br /> drum, suspected contaminants, date of drilling, borehole number, and depth interval from which the <br /> contents were generated. <br /> STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR SOIL SAMPLING <br /> SPLIT SPOON SAMPLING <br /> The pre-cleaned split spoon sampler lined with three 6-inch long brass or stainless steel tubes is driven 18 <br /> inches into the underlying soils at the desired sample depth interval. The sampler is driven by repeatedly <br /> dropping a 140-pound hammer a free fall distance of 30 inches. The numbers of blows (blow count) to <br /> advance the sampler for each six-inch drive length are recorded on the field logs. Once the sampler is <br /> driven the full 18-inch drive length or the sampler has met refusal (typically 50 blows per six inches), the <br /> sampler is retrieved. <br /> Of the three sample tubes, the bottom sample is generally selected for laboratory analysis. The sample is <br /> carefully packaged for chemical analysis by capping each end of the sample with a Teflon sheet followed <br /> by a tight-fitting plastic cap and sealing the cap with non-VOC, self-adhering silicon tape. A label is affixed <br /> to the sample indicating the sample identification number, borehole number, sampling depth, sample <br /> collection date and time, the sampler's name, job number, etc. The sample is then annotated on a chain- <br /> of-custody form and placed in an ice-filled cooler for transport to the laboratory. <br /> The remaining soil samples are used for soil classification and field evaluation of headspace volatile <br /> organic vapors, where applicable, using a photo ionization or flame ionization detector calibrated to a <br /> calibration gas (typically isobutylene or hexane). VOC vapor concentrations are recorded on the boring <br />