Remediation of Sites
Remediation of Sites

If production ceases and installations like mines, mills and refineries have reached end of service life, it is aimed to re-establish conditions of pre-production time as far as reasonable. As a minimum this requires decommissioning of facilities. In the case radionuclides incidentally spread during past operation, even remediation of contaminated sites can become necessary: i.e. removal of contamination from soil or groundwater. 

While intervention levels derive both from international radiological requirements (e.g. by ICRP) as well as from national regulations, clean-up criteria/end-state definitions are usually based on national regulations, if available. For all measures early consultation with authorities should be seeked.
 
Fundamental is assessing the environmental impact through reliable characterization of the site to determine the contamination state and whether any remediation is required. This might involve assessment of historical/operational data, evaluation of monitoring data on environmental media up to sampling and laboratory analyses etc. If indicated, numerical modeling of radionuclide migration supports this assessment. For highest efficiency a sequence of three phases appears advisable:


Final objective is verification of contamination-free site condition allowing release from regulatory control, ideally already after qualitative (screening) phase I. If this is not yet possible (if contamination is determined higher than acceptable), sampling density and analytical validity will be refined in the quantitative phase II, followed by specifically designed remediation measures (phase III).


In particular kind and size of determined contamination (as well as regulatory requirements, safety, re-use as well as efficiency/cost considerations etc.) rule the specific remediation technologies to be used. In general certain state-of-the-art technologies are available like:


  • Soilwater extraction

- Bio-/Phytoremediation

- Pump & Treat


  • Soil washing/separation

- Soil washing

- Conveyor belt monitoring


  • Contamination confinement

- Seal wall


  • Treatment of seepage

- Permeable Reactive Barrier

- Constructed Wetland


GeoEnergy Consult will adapt technologies to specific needs of clients’ sites or even develop innovative approaches, if necessary.


Site remediation usually generates (TE-) NORM waste, which requires to be managed. This waste can result e.g. from excavated contaminated soil or from any treatment like separation of radionuclides, while cleaning contaminated soil etc. If activity and volume of the waste are relatively low, even on-site disposal could be an option. The higher the activity becomes, the more likely is off-site disposal of generated waste.


Post-remediation monitoring verifies the success of performed remediation measures over the long-term and builds on data of previously conducted Radioecological Assessments or similar programs.


With regard to costs it should be noted that site characterization (phase I) – which could already allow release from regulatory control, if no significant contamination is found – produces comparatively moderate costs.


If you have any specific question, feel free to contact us.

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