Remediation

Remediation may be required to address environmental or human health impacts identified as a result of risk assessment or observation of actual harm occurring to land, water or property. It is generally associated with historic and current industrial activity, where previous poor practices or accidents resulted in the escape of contaminative substances, resulting in environmental damage.

 

 

This intervention can take the form of numerous physical, chemical and biological processes, potentially involving extensive groundworks and the need for regulatory approval prior to and on completion of activities.

What is the benefit?

Remediation can be undertaken to return land to a condition suitable for beneficial use, so that development can take place. On a large scale, it can eliminate blight and enable the regeneration of substantial areas of land.

Alternatively, contaminated land issues are frequently addressed within the planning process of any redevelopment proposals. On rare occasions it may be carried out by the polluter or appropriate person (under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1995), to prevent the migration of contamination and to repair any harm caused. With the introduction of the Environmental Damage Regulations and Civil Sanctions, the requirement to assess and remediate potentially contaminated land will continue to form a major consideration of any site owner.

Why CRA?

CRA provides services for the development, design, and implementation of remediation programmes for contaminated sites. Our professionals have up-to-date knowledge of applicable environmental laws and regulations. They are experienced in applying engineering principles and specialised skills to develop solutions for a range of contaminated site conditions. CRA has successfully completed remediation projects at complex chemical plants, oil and gas facilities, manufacturing facilities, refineries, rail depots, airports, and municipal infrastructure.

A strength of the company is the strategic development of responsive and cost-effective remediation plans that meet regulatory requirements. CRA is experienced in all aspects of project delivery methods for remediation including advisory, traditional engineering/oversight approaches, design-build, design-build-operate, and design-build-own-operate.

CRA has constructed hundreds of remediation systems using both traditional and innovative technologies, often providing significant cost-saving solutions. Typical remedial technologies include.

  • Soil vapour extraction;
  • Sparging;
  • Vapour enhanced recovery;
  • In situ/ex situ enhanced biological treatment;
  • Stabilisation/solidification/fixation;
  • Groundwater extraction;
  • Soil flushing;
  • Bioreactors;
  • Air stripping;
  • Carbon adsorption;
  • Chemical reduction treatment for heavy metals; and
  • Product recovery (LNAPL and DNAPL).

For additional information on how CRA could help you, please contact Adrian Quinn on aquinn@cra.co.uk or 0115 965 6700.