Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) Update

Click here to read the ISM Update Fact Sheet.
Click here to view the ISM Update Team Materials published in 2020.

The 2012 ITRC guidance document on Incremental Sampling Methodology (ISM) presents an advancement in how sites with soil and sediment contamination are characterized for risk assessment and remediation purposes. Done properly, ISM significantly improves the reliability of sample data, as well as the time and cost needed to investigate and remediate soil and sediment contamination by using structured protocols that reduce data variability and provide reasonably unbiased estimates of mean contaminant concentrations. In the past six years, ISM-type investigation methods have evolved, and regulators have gained more experience in the application of ISM in the field. This update team revised the ISM guidance document and training to focus on the practical implementation of ISM-type sample collection and analysis, and incorporate the experience gained since 2012. The updated guidance document and training are organized to mirror the stages of a site investigation.