ASTM D5299/D5299M-18 PDF Download

ASTM D5299/D5299M-18 is a standard guide that provides procedures for decommissioning groundwater wells, vadose zone monitoring devices, boreholes, and other devices used in environmental activities. The standard recognizes that the decommissioning process should be tailored to the specific characteristics of each site, including geological, biological, and physical conditions, construction practices, and chemical composition of the surrounding soil, rock, waste, and groundwater. The guide aims to assist geologists and engineers in planning, selecting materials, and carrying out effective permanent decommissioning operations.

The standard emphasizes the importance of considering decommissioning as part of the design of monitoring wells from the early stages, as this can facilitate the decommissioning process. It also highlights the need to comply with statutes and regulations of local governing bodies and to seek approval from appropriate regulatory authorities during the decommissioning process.

The guide acknowledges that the competence of personnel, as well as the suitability of equipment and facilities, will impact the quality of the decommissioning result. It recommends compliance with ASTM Practice D3740, which evaluates the quality of agencies engaged in laboratory testing and inspection of soils and rock. However, it clarifies that there is no known qualifying national authority that inspects agencies performing the decommissioning practice.

The standard further provides important notes regarding the use of suitable sealants for annular sealing and the challenges associated with decommissioning wells that intersect openings or fractured layers. It also clarifies that temporary decommissioning is not covered in the guide, and highlights that compliance with national, state, or local regulations may dictate specific decommissioning procedures.