Development and Types of Conceptual Site Models (CSMs)

There are vast resources, including publications and guidance documents on the topic of Conceptual Site Models (CSMs), and the term “CSM” can mean many different things to different people depending on their technical area of expertise and their expectation about the goal or purpose of the subject CSM. One thing that all CSMs have in common is a “life cycle,” beginning with initial development and progression that mirrors the environmental investigation, evaluation and cleanup process where available information is used or new information acquired. The CSM is a living document that is continuously updated as new information is acquired through the project lifecycle. It is important for industrial companies, other large businesses, law firms, the regulatory community and scientists to be aware of the various types of CSMs to successfully apply the most appropriate method for any given environmental project evaluation.