ASTM Committee Seeks Participation In Development Of Brownfield Flood Vulnerability Standard

Proposed standard will provide guidance for using geospatial data to screen Brownfields.

W. Conshohocken — ASTM International’s environmental assessment, risk management, and corrective action committee (E50) is developing a new standard that will be used to screen Brownfield properties with potential contamination for flood vulnerability.

The climate and community subcommittee (E50.07) is developing the proposed guide (WK98437), which will provide technical guidance for using publicly available geospatial data to screen Brownfields for potential precipitation-driven, inland flooding.

ASTM member Cynthia Annett notes that Brownfield sites are often located in urban areas, which can be vulnerable to flooding due to heavy precipitation, especially in low-lying areas. The resulting runoff and infiltration can then transport any present contaminants at Brownfield sites to downstream waterways and communities, endangering human health and threatening sensitive ecological and human receptors.

Guidance on the steps and information needed for screening will be provided by the proposed standard and will be useful for risk management and planning. Screening leverages data on factors that can contribute to inland flooding.

Such data include:

• Precipitation;
• Floodplains;
• Digital elevation;
• Flood control infrastructure;
• Land cover;
• Soils;
• Brownfield locations,
• Site characteristics, and;
• Other relevant information.

The proposed standard will be used by government agencies, environmental planners, private developers, construction/engineering firms, community organizations, and Brownfield site owners, among other entities. All interested parties are invited to join E50.07 in developing the proposed standard. The subcommittee is specifically seeking participants with expertise in flooding and Brownfields, resilient redevelopment, and geospatial data from government agencies, academia, non-profits, consultant groups and the private sector.

This effort directly relates to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including #3 on good health and well-being, #6 on clean water and sanitation, and #11 on sustainable cities and communities.

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.

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