Costs and Benefits of Delaying Remediation on Ecological Resources at Contaminated Sites

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6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The USA and other nations have massive industrial, radiologic, and chemical legacy wastes on numerous sites, for example from the Cold War and industrial activities. Most of these sites will require remediation (cleanup of contaminants). Prioritization is essential to determine the order of cleanup, leaving some tasks for a later time. This paper examines the potential costs and benefits of delaying remediation on ecological resources on contaminated sites. Aspects to consider include those related to management and planning, source term and pathways, risks and resources, and external drivers (regulations and laws, stakeholders). The US Department of Energy was used as a case study to examine the effects of delaying remediation. The conceptual model and tables provided here can serve as guidance or checklists for site managers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)454-475
Number of pages22
JournalEcoHealth
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ecology
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Keywords

  • Delaying remediation
  • Department of energy
  • Ecological resources
  • Metrics

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