Recovery of contaminated soils
Introduction
Generally, remediation means to provide remedy.[1] In this article, the term refers to the removal of contamination or pollutants from the environment (soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water) for the general protection of human health and the environment, or from lands provided for redevelopment.
Remediation is generally the subject of regulatory requirements and, in addition, may be based on human health concerns and ecological risks where there are no legislated standards or where the standards are advisory.[2].
Remediation in terms of new media, is the representation of one medium in another (Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin, 1999).
Remediation standards
ELOTE in the United States the most comprehensive Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRG'S) system is from EPA Region 9, although the Canadian EPA also has a comprehensive PRG'S sheet.[3] A set of standards used in Europe that already exists is often called the Dutch Standards. The European Union is moving rapidly towards European standards, although most industrialized nations in Europe have their own standards at present.
Place the lien
Once contamination is suspected, there is a need to determine it. The history of site use and the materials used and produced at the site will guide the assessment strategy and the type of imaging and chemical testing that will be performed. Often, nearby sites belonging to the same company have been reclaimed when they have become contaminated, even where the land use appears innocuous. For example, a car park could have been leveled with the use of polluting waste on the embankment. It is also important to consider external or nearby contamination through decades of emissions to soil, groundwater and air. Dust, topsoil, surface water and groundwater from nearby properties should also be examined before and after remediation. This is a controversial step as listed below:.
Funded remediation
In the United States there has been a mechanism to tax polluting industries and form a foundation to remediate abandoned sites, or to litigate forcing corporations to remediate their contaminated sites. Other countries have other mechanisms and commonly sites are rezoned for "higher" uses, such as high-density housing, to give the land a higher value, so that after deducting clearance costs, there is still an incentive for a developer to purchase the land, clear it, redevelop it and sell it, often as apartments (housing units).