New Guidance on Measuring Vapor Intrusion Risk Adds Additional Uncertainty to Environmental Assessment Process

A new industry guidance document on conducting assessment of vapor intrusion into structures adds an additional layer of complexity to environmental assessments in real estate transactions and other efforts to get state-approved determinations that no additional remediation is required.

The guidance document, Standard Practice for Assessment of Vapor Intrusion into Structures on Property Involved in Real Estate Transactions, Standard E 2600-08, was issued by ASTM on March 3, 2008 (“Standard E 2600”). ASTM is an organization that develops procedures that often become “industry standards.” This voluntary standard describes a four-step process intended to determine whether a significant “vapor intrusion condition” exists or may exist on a property that is the subject of a pending real estate transaction.