SOP No. EM - 22 Page 1 of 6

Guidelines for Selecting Environmental Monitoring Sites

Revision: #2 Replaces: 4/8/02 version Effective: 9/3/19

1. Purpose and Scope: Qualitative method to assist Environmental Monitoring Coordinators

(EMC) select monitoring sites based on site-specific conditions. Sites selection should be based

on a calculated risk score that is derived from two general predictors of risk:

• The potential for human, environmental or non-target species exposure .

• The potential for adverse health or environmental effects.

These guidelines are primarily for use when the number of sensitive sites in the Program area are

too numerous to monitor all of them. However, this general approach to ranking sites may also

be helpful when initially selecting sensitive sites. 

These guidelines can help identify sites that have the greatest potential to demonstrate USDA

and Program commitment to insuring the protection of human health and the environment during

control and eradication operations. In addition, field environmental monitoring teams can use

their time and other resources more efficiently while providing the most useful and

representative sampling data.

2. Reasons for Monitoring: The selection of appropriate sensitive sites for monitoring is

essential to demonstrating the effectiveness of Program operational procedures to exclude or

minimize exposure of people and the environment to Program-applied pesticides.

Sampling will be conducted at sensitive areas as defined in the applicable Environmental

Monitoring Plan (EMP). Each work unit should inventory all sensitive sites within the unit. 

Sufficient personnel to monitor all sites should be hired. If for any reason, sensitive sites are too

numerous (as defined in the EMP) to be effectively sampled, EMCs need to provide a statement

of the number of sensitive sites within the work unit area, a description of all sites and the reason

why all sites cannot be monitored (e.g.,staff shortages, size of program area, time constraints). 

Then using these guidelines, select a sample of representative sensitive sites and identify these

sites to the EMT.

Some of the key factors that must be considered are:

• Number of persons at risk

• Persons at increased risk (children, ill, disabled, elderly or hypersensitive)

• Exposure potential (food crops, livestock, fish)

• Potential for drift (distance to site, prevailing winds)

• Potential for runoff (topography, soil type, surface type, distance to site)

• Sensitive species (bees, fish farm)
SOP No. EM - 22 Page 2 of 6

Guidelines for Selecting Environmental Monitoring Sites

Revision: #1 Replaces: 4/8/02 version Effective: 9/3/19

Threatened and endangered species habitats are not covered in these guidelines because sites and

applicable protective measures are established through consultation with the US Fish and

Wildlife Service and other appropriate agencies. These sites will be identified in the

environmental monitoring plan and must be monitored.

3. Determining the Potential for an Adverse Effect: Table 1 ranks sensitive sites for their

potential for an adverse effect either on human health or the environment. The list of locations

and sites in the table do not account for all possible situations. It is designed to provide a guide

for identifying sites based on risk. EMCs should use the information in the tables in combination 

with their knowledge of the community to rank specific sites as high (3), moderate (2) or low (1) 

risk.

Table 1. Potential for Adverse Effects

Site Description Site Risk Site Description Site Risk

Residential Commercial

If the following present:

(Kitchen garden, orchid,

pool, play area, children,

elderly resident, chemically

sensitive resident, bee

hives)

3 Auction barn 1

Residences with none of

the above

2 Slaughterhouse 2

Holding pens 1

Community Dairy 3

Elementary school 3 Grain storage 2

Jr. high or middle school 2 Food processing plant 2

High school 2 Apiary 3

Church 2 Fish or shrimp farm 3

Play ground 3 Organic Farm 3

Public buildings: post office,

courthouse, etc

1 Research Farm 3

Shopping center 1

Ball fields 1 Restaurant 1

Public pool 2 Health club 1

Nursing home or other adult

care facility

2 Food crops 2

Orchid 2

Child day care 3 Airport 1

Health clinic or hospital 2 Industrial park or strip 1

Fairgrounds 1

Beach 1 Non-target Species
SOP No. EM - 22 Page 3 of 6

Guidelines for Selecting Environmental Monitoring Sites

Revision: #2 Replaces: 4/8/02 version Effective: 9/3/19

Stadium 1 General habitat 3

Reservoir (drinking water) 2 Critical habitat 3

Water treatment facility 2 Breeding area 3

Reservoir (non-drinking

water)

1 Nesting area 3

Foraging or hunting zone 3

Jail or prison 2 Migration route 3

Campground 2 Pollinator habitat 3

Fishing pond 2
SOP No. EM - 22 Page 4 of 6

Guidelines for Selecting Environmental Monitoring Sites

Revision: #2 Replaces: 4/8/02 version Effective: 9/3/19

4. Determining the Potential for Human, Environmental or Non-Target Species Exposure:

Table 2 ranks site-specific characteristics for their potential to result in human, environmental or

non-target species exposure to Program pesticides. EMCs should use this table as a guide in

completing the Sensitive Site Selection Worksheet.

Table 2. Potential for human, environmental or non-target species exposure

Exposure Factors Site Conditions Score

Drift

Potential

Distance from treated

field to site

0-100 feet

101-250 feet

251-500 feet

501-1000 feet

More than 1001 feet or not applicable

4

3

2

1

0

Prevailing Winds Generally towards site

Generally not towards site or not applicable

1

0

Runoff

Potential

Soil type Relatively non-porous (clay)

Moderately (loamy)

Highly porous (sandy) or not applicable 

2

1

0

Slope Land generally slopes down towards site

Land generally does not slope towards site or not

applicable

1

0

Protection Natural or Manmade

barrier between treated

field and site

No

Yes or not applicable

1

0
SOP No. EM - 22 Page 5 of 6

Guidelines for Selecting Environmental Monitoring Sites

Revision: #2 Replaces: 4/8/02 version Effective: 9/3/19

5. Risk Assessment for Selecting Environmental Monitoring Sites: Using the attached

worksheet calculate a risk assessment score for sites in your work area or zone. Enter the site’s

potential for adverse effects score and exposure potential scores in the appropriate boxes. Sum

the scores in each column to get the total risk assessment score. Using table 3 below or the

instructions on the form, which show the recommended risk management strategies based on the

risk assessment score, to institute an appropriate level of environmental monitoring.

For some sites the calculated score may not suggest an appropriate risk management strategy. In

those cases, use you judgment and knowledge of the site to apply a strategy that is more

appropriate to the situation than that suggested by the calculated score. 

Note that there are certain sensitive sites that regardless of the calculated score may require

environmental sampling:

• Presence of person(s) identified as being highly sensitive to Program pesticide.

• An adverse effect was possibly caused by program.

• Sampling has been requested by property owner, resident, etc.

• Endangered and threaten species habitat

Table 3. Environmental monitoring Guidelines

Risk Assessment Score Environmental Monitoring Strategy

9 to 12 High risk location, monitoring highly recommended

5 to 8 Moderate risk location, monitoring recommended 

1 to 4 Low risk location, monitor if time and resources permit
Sensitive Site Selection Worksheet / Environmental Monitoring

Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 

Adverse effects potentialDescription of siteSelect score from Table 1Potential for exposure (NA= not applicable)Distance from field tosite

4 = 0-99 feet3 = 100-249 feet2 = 250-499 feet1 = 500-999 feet0 = More than 1000 feet or NA

Prevailing Winds 1 = Generally towards site

0 = Generally not towards site or NA

Soil type 2 = Relatively non-porous (clay)

1 = Moderately (loamy)0 = Highly porous (sandy) or NA

Slope 1 = Generally down towards site

0 = Generally not towards site or NA

Natural or manmadebarrier present

1 = No0 = Yes or NA

Risk Assessment Score (Column totals)

Risk Assessment Environmental Monitoring Strategy

9 to 12 = High Risk Monitoring highly recommended5 to 8 = Moderate Risk Monitoring recommended1 to 4 = Low Risk Monitor if time and resources permit

Refer to the your program’s Environmenta

or contact the USDA-APHIS Environmentat 301-851-2351 or -2345 for information form. Please photocopy this form as nee