Appendix 5. Geotechnical Engineering Report [As Published] · 132007.2399

extent that a report indicates "general compliance" with a
standard, you may wish to speak with your Geo-
environmental professional to learn more about what was
and was not done. Do not assume a given standard was
followed to the letter. Research indicates that that
seldom is the case.

Realize That Recommendations May Not Be
Final

The technical recommendations included in a Geo-
environmental report are based on assumptions about
actual conditions, and so are preliminary or tentative.
Final recommendations can be prepared only by
observing actual conditions as they are exposed. For that
reason, you should retain your Geo-environmental
professional to observe construction and/or remediation
activities on site, to permit rapid response to
unanticipated conditions. The Geo-environmental
professional who prepared the report cannot assume
responsibility or liability for the  report’s
recommendations if that professional is not retained to
observe relevant site operations.

Understand That Geotechnical Issues Have
Not Been Addressed

Unless geotechnical engineering was specifically
included in the scope of professional service, a report is
not likely to relate any findings, conclusions, or
recommendations about the suitability of subsurface
materials for construction purposes, especially when site
remediation has been accomplished through the removal,
replacement, encapsulation, or chemical treatment of on-
site soils. The equipment, techniques, and testing used
by geotechnical engineers differ markedly from those
used by Geo-environmental professionals; _ their
education, training, and experience are also significantly
different. If you plan to build on the subject site, but
have not yet had a geotechnical engineering study
conducted, your Geo-environmental professional should
be able to provide guidance about the next steps you
should take. The same firm may provide the services
you need.

Read Responsibility Provisions Closely
Geo-environmental studies cannot be exact; they are
based on professional judgement and _ opinion.
Nonetheless, some clients, contractors, and others
assume Geo-environmental reports are or certainly
should be unerringly precise. Such assumptions have
created unrealistic expectations that have led to wholly
unwarranted claims and disputes. To help prevent such
problems, Geo-environmental professionals have
developed a number of report provisions and contract
terms that explain who is responsible for what, and how
risks are to be allocated. Some people mistake these for
"exculpatory clauses," that is, provisions whose purpose
is to transfer one party's rightful responsibilities and
liabilities to someone else. Read the responsibility
provisions included in a report and in the contract you
and your Geo-environmental professional agreed to.
They are important.

Rely on Your Geo-environmental
Professional for Additional Assistance
Membership in ASFE exposes Geo-environmental
professionals to a wide array of risk management
techniques that can be of genuine benefit for everyone
involved with a Geo-environmental project. Confer with
your ASFE-member Geo-environmental professional for
more information.

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GAP - Form No. 34