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Interim Soil, Soil Leachate, and Indoor Air Criteria, Reporting Limits, and Remediation Standards

The remediation standards for soil and indoor air are numeric, health-based concentrations or levels of contaminants that, when exceeded, pose an unacceptable human health risk from exposure through either ingestion, dermal contact, or inhalation of soil, soil particulates or vapors. These health-based criteria are derived to protect public health without consideration of analytical feasibility, treatability, or cost. The health-based criteria reflect the most recent toxicological information to ensure adequate protection of human health. The soil or indoor air remediation standard implemented by the Department's regulatory programs is the higher of the health-based criterion and the corresponding reporting limits (RLs) for each constituent. The RL represents the lowest concentration of a constituent that can be reliably achieved among laboratories within specified limits of precision and accuracy during routine laboratory operating conditions (i.e., the lowest quantifiable concentration).

The remediation standards for the migration to ground water exposure pathway consist of two sets of standards. Both were developed to protect the ground water from future exceedances of Ground Water Remediation Standards, N.J.A.C. 7:26D, that may result from leaching of contaminants from the unsaturated soil zone to the underlying ground water. The first set, the Soil Remediation Standards for the Migration to Ground Water Exposure Pathway, are based on the Soil-Water Partition Equation and are soil standards which should be compared to total soil concentrations. The second set, the Soil Leachate Remediation Standards for the Migration to Ground Water Exposure Pathway, are used for soil tested with the Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP). SPLP analytical results, adjusted to field conditions through the Department's calculator, are compared to the Soil Leachate Remediation Standards.

There are four exposure pathways with five types of remediation standards as follows:

  • Interim Soil Remediation Standards for the Ingestion-Dermal Exposure Pathway: N.J.A.C 7:26D-6.2(a) and 6.2(c)2i allow the Department to establish interim soil remediation standards for the ingestion-dermal exposure pathway prior to the adoption of soil remediation standards that are not listed in Appendix 1, Tables 1 and 2. Interim soil remediation standards for the ingestion-dermal exposure pathway are derived using the same assumptions and equations used to develop promulgated standards. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26D-6.3, interim soil remediation standards for the ingestion-dermal exposure pathway become effective when they are listed in the "Table of Interim Soil Remediation Standards for the Ingestion-Dermal Exposure Pathway" as shown below.
  • Interim Soil Remediation Standards for the Inhalation Exposure Pathway: N.J.A.C 7:26D-6.2(a) and 6.2(c)2ii allow the Department to establish interim soil remediation standards for the inhalation exposure pathway prior to the adoption of soil remediation standards that are not listed in Appendix 1, Tables 3 and 4. Interim soil remediation standards for the inhalation exposure pathway are derived using the same assumptions and equations used to develop promulgated standards. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26D-6.3, interim soil remediation standards for the inhalation exposure pathway become effective when they are listed in the "Table of Interim Soil Remediation Standards for the Inhalation Exposure Pathway" as shown below.
  • Interim Soil Remediation Standards for the Migration to Ground Water Exposure Pathway: N.J.A.C 7:26D-6.2(a) and 6.2(c)2iii allow the Department to establish interim soil remediation standards for the migration to ground water exposure pathway prior to the adoption of remediation standards that are not listed in Appendix 1, Table 5. Interim soil remediation standards for the migration to ground water exposure pathway are derived using the same assumptions and equations used to develop promulgated standards. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26D-6.3, interim soil remediation standards for the migration to ground water exposure pathway become effective when they are listed in the "Table of Interim Soil Remediation Standards for the Migration to Ground Water Exposure Pathway" as shown below.
  • Interim Soil Leachate Remediation Standards for the Migration to Ground Water Exposure Pathway: N.J.A.C 7:26D-6.2(a) and 6.2(c)2iii allow the Department to establish interim soil leachate remediation standards for the migration to ground water exposure pathway prior to the adoption of remediation standards that are not listed in Appendix 1, Table 6. Interim soil leachate remediation standards for the migration to ground water exposure pathway are derived using the same assumptions and equations used to develop promulgated standards. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26D-6.3, interim soil leachate remediation standards for the migration to ground water exposure pathway become effective when they are listed in the "Table of Interim Soil Leachate Remediation Standards for the Migration to Ground Water Exposure Pathway" as shown below.
  • Interim Indoor Air Remediation Standards for the Vapor Intrusion Exposure Pathway: N.J.A.C 7:26D-6.2(a) and 6.2(c)3 allow the Department to establish interim indoor air remediation standards for the vapor intrusion exposure pathway prior to the adoption of indoor air remediation standards that are not listed in Appendix 1, Table 7. Interim indoor air remediation standards for the vapor intrusion exposure pathway are derived using the same assumptions and equations used to develop promulgated standards. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26D-6.3, interim indoor air remediation standards for the vapor intrusion exposure pathway become effective when they are listed in the "Table of Interim Indoor Air Remediation Standards for the Vapor Intrusion Exposure Pathway" as shown below.

The tables shown below are provided as a courtesy. Please refer to the official version of N.J.A.C. 7:26D, Remediation Standards, for the most accurate information about the remediation standards currently in effect. Instructions on obtaining official versions of Department rules are available on the Department's website (www.nj.gov/dep/legal/get_rule.htm).

Table of Interim Soil Remediation Standards for the Ingestion-Dermal Exposure Pathway

Contaminant CAS No. Non-Carcinogenic Health-Based Criterion (mg/kg) Carcinogenic Health-Based Criterion (mg/kg) Reporting Limit (mg/kg) Interim Soil Remediation Standard (mg/kg) Effective Date Fact Sheet
Residential Criterion Nonresidential Criterion Residential Criterion Nonresidential Criterion Residential Standard Nonresidential Standard
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) 375-95-1 0.047 0.67 NA NA 0.0013 0.047 0.67 10/17/2022 October 2022
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 335-67-1 0.13 1.8 NA1 NA1 0.0013 0.13 1.8 10/17/2022 October 2022
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 1763-23-1 0.11 1.6 NA2 NA2 0.0013 0.11 1.6 10/17/2022 October 2022
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and Its ammonium salt (GenX) 13252-13-6 & 62037-80-3 0.23 3.9 NA NA 0.013 0.23 3.9 10/17/2022 October 2022

Explanation of Terms:
CAS No. = Chemical Abstracts System Registration Number

NA = Not applicable because appropriate toxicological information is not available

NA1 = The NJDWQI cancer slope factor for PFOA was not used to calculate carcinogenic ingestion-dermal health-based criteria but was used to evaluate whether the calculated noncarcinogenic ingestion-dermal human health-based criteria were protective of carcinogenic effects. The noncarcinogenic health endpoint is considered sufficiently protective when the uncertainties in the cancer risk assessment for PFOA are considered. See "Chemical Specific Information" in the Fact Sheet for additional details.

NA2 = Carcinogenic ingestion-dermal human health-based criteria were not used as the basis for the interim SRS for PFOS due to uncertainties associated with the study used to derive the NJDWQI cancer slope factor for PFOS. Instead, a quantitative estimate of cancer risk was used to provide context, and for informational purposes, and it was concluded that the noncarcinogenic human health-based criteria were sufficiently protective of potential carcinogenic effects. See "Chemical Specific Information" in the Fact Sheet for additional details.

3The value was obtained from User-defined methods approved and certified by the Office of Quality Assurance.

Table of Interim Soil Remediation Standards for the Inhalation Exposure Pathway

Contaminant CAS No. Non-Carcinogenic Health-Based Criterion (mg/kg) Carcinogenic Health-Based Criterion (mg/kg) Soil Saturation Limit (mg/kg) Reporting Limit (mg/kg) Interim Soil Remediation Standard (mg/kg) Effective Date Fact Sheet
Residential Criterion Nonresidential Criterion Residential Criterion Nonresidential Criterion Residential Standard Nonresidential Standard
There are currently no interim standards.
Explanation of Terms:
CAS No. = Chemical Abstracts System Registration Number

Table of Interim Soil Remediation Standards for the Migration to Ground Water Exposure Pathway

Contaminant CAS No. Ground Water Remediation Standard (μg/L) Migration to Ground Water Soil Criterion (mg/kg) Soil Saturation Limit (mg/kg) Reporting Limit (mg/kg) Interim Soil Remediation Standard (mg/kg) Effective Date Fact Sheet
Methanol 67-56-1 4,000 12 160,000 5 12 11/17/2021 April 2022
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) 375-95-1 0.013 Area of concern / Site-specific1 NA 0.0012 Area of concern / Site-specific1 10/17/2022 October 2022
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 335-67-1 0.014 Area of concern / Site-specific1 NA 0.0012 Area of concern / Site-specific1 10/17/2022 October 2022
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 1763-23-1 0.013 Area of concern / Site-specific1 NA 0.0012 Area of concern / Site-specific1 10/17/2022 October 2022

Explanation of Terms:
CAS No. = Chemical Abstracts System Registration Number

NA = Not applicable because a chemical-specific value could not be calculated. See fact sheet for additional information.

1To be calculated using the synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) and the Department's PFAS SPLP calculator.

2The value was obtained from User-defined methods approved and certified by the Office of Quality Assurance.

Table of Interim Soil Leachate Remediation Standards for the Migration to Ground Water Exposure Pathway

Contaminant CAS No. Ground Water Remediation Standard (μg/L) Soil Leachate Standard* (μg/L) Effective Date
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) 375-95-1 0.013 0.26 10/17/2022
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 335-67-1 0.014 0.28 10/17/2022
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 1763-23-1 0.013 0.26 10/17/2022
Explanation of Terms:
CAS No. = Chemical Abstracts System Registration Number

Soil Leachate standard is the Ground Water Remediation Standard multiplied by a dilution attenuation factor (DAF) of 20, therefore no comparison to a Reporting Limit or soil saturation limit is required, and no fact sheet is necessary.

Table of Interim Indoor Air Remediation Standards for the Vapor Intrusion Exposure Pathway

Contaminant CAS No. Carcinogenic Health-Based Criterion (μg/m3) Noncarcinogenic Health-Based Criterion (μg/m3) RL Constituent Standard=Higher of RL and Health-Base Criteria Effective Date Fact Sheet
Residential Criterion Nonresidential Criterion Residential Criterion Nonresidential Criterion Residential Standard Nonresidential Standard
There are currently no interim standards.
Explanation of Terms:
CAS No. = Chemical Abstracts System Registration Number
RL = Reporting Limit

The Department has developed an electronic compendium of standards for water, soil, indoor air, and soil leachate promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Included are Surface Water Quality Standards, N.J.A.C. 7:9B; Ground Water Quality Standards, N.J.A.C. 7:9C; Drinking Water Quality Standards, N.J.A.C. 7:10; and soil, indoor air, and soil leachate remediation standards from the Remediation Standards, N.J.A.C. 7:26D. The compendium includes the standards and information about the basis for the standards contained in the above referenced rules. The standards in these rules are used by the Department's regulatory programs to establish site-specific requirements in accordance with the appropriate regulations. Please refer to the official versions of these rules for the most accurate information about the standards currently in effect and how they are administered by the Department. Instructions on obtaining official versions of Department rules are available on the Department's website at www.nj.gov/dep/legal/get_rule.htm.

For more information, please contact Allan Motter, Rule Manager,
Bureau of Environmental Evaluation and Risk Assessment at allan.motter@dep.nj.gov or (609) 984-4532.