Risk Assessment

Within Chapter 2 of the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE's) Environmental Site Characterization and Remediation Design Guidance (ASCE Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 99; ASCE, 1999), standard methodologies for the completion of human and ecological risk assessments are provided as an example and a starting point for understanding the risk assessment process. While it is important to understand the technical manner in which a risk assessment is conducted, one must first understand the role of the risk assessment in a site characterization and remediation design project prior to embarking on one. A risk assessment can serve a variety of important roles throughout the site characterization and remediation design process.